Three-dimensional optoelectronic stacked processor by use of free-space optical interconnection and three-dimensional VLSI chip stacks

We present a demonstration system under the three-dimensional (3D) optoelectronic stacked processor consortium. The processor combines the advantages of optics in global, high-density, high-speed parallel interconnections with the density and computational power of 3D chip stacks. In particular, a compact and scalable optoelectronic switching system with a high bandwidth is designed. The system consists of three silicon chip stacks, each integrated with a single vertical-cavity-surface-emitting-laser-metal-semiconductor-metal detector array and an optical interconnection module. Any input signal at one end stack can be switched through the central crossbar stack to any output channel on the opposite end stack. The crossbar bandwidth is designed to be 256 Gb/s. For the free-space optical interconnection, a novel folded hybrid micro-macro optical system with a concave reflection mirror has been designed. The optics module can provide a high resolution, a large field of view, a high link efficiency, and low optical cross talk. It is also symmetric and modular. Off-the-shelf macro-optical components are used. The concave reflection mirror can significantly improve the image quality and tolerate a large misalignment of the optical components, and it can also compensate for the lateral shift of the chip stacks. Scaling of the macrolens can be used to adjust the interconnection length between the chip stacks or make the system more compact. The components are easy to align, and only passive alignment is required. Optics and electronics are separated until the final assembly step, and the optomechanic module can be removed and replaced. By use of 3D chip stacks, commercially available optical components, and simple passive packaging techniques, it is possible to achieve a high-performance optoelectronic switching system.     

Photoluminescence at the fundamental absorption edge of single-crystal silicon textured without masking

The extraction efficiencies of edge luminescence from single-crystal silicon have been compared for three structures: textured without masking, untextured, and textured with masking by the technology of high-efficiency solar cells. The highest efficiency was obtained for the structure textured without masking. For this structure, the efficiency of power conversion at a wavelength of ~0.66 μm and power of 75 mW into edge PL power emerging from the semiconductor was η ≈ 0.8% under the nonradiative recombination conditions described by the exponential photoluminescence (PL) decay time constant of ~0.11 ms. The directivity diagrams of the edge PL were measured for the three structures under study.     

Control of the apparent acceleration of a rigid body attached to a movable base by means of a two-degree-of-freedom gimbal

A mechanical system consisting of a movable base and an object (rigid body) connected to the base by means of a two-degree-of-freedom gimbal with mutually perpendicular axes is considered. The possibility to eliminate the projection of the apparent acceleration of a given object point on the plane perpendicular to an object-fixed axis by controlling the rotation of the gimbal frames is investigated. The apparent acceleration of a given object point is the difference between the absolute acceleration vector and the gravitational acceleration vector at this point. Sufficient conditions under which this goal is attainable in principle are formulated. Equations governing the rotation of the gimbal frames are derived. This problem is related to the development of control systems for gravity-sensitive technologies in spacecraft.     

hGA: Hybrid genetic algorithm in fuzzy rule-based classification systems for high-dimensional problems

The aim of this work is to propose a hybrid heuristic approach (called hGA) based on genetic algorithm (GA) and integer-programming formulation (IPF) to solve high dimensional classification problems in linguistic fuzzy rule-based classification systems. In this algorithm, each chromosome represents a rule for specified class, GA is used for producing several rules for each class, and finally IPF is used for selection of rules from a pool of rules, which are obtained by GA. The proposed algorithm is experimentally evaluated by the use of non-parametric statistical tests on seventeen classification benchmark data sets. Results of the comparative study show that hGA is able to discover accurate and concise classification rules.     

Automated Process Design of the Optimal Heat-Exchange Network of a Mash Distillation Plant

Theoretical Foundations of Chemical Engineering - Decomposition NLP/LP/NLP methods are considered for the automated process design of the economically optimal distributed heat exchange networks...     

Thermal and Mechanical Properties of Poly(arylene ether ketone)s Based on 5‐tert‐Butyl‐1,3‐bis(4‐fluorobenzoyl)benzene

An aromatic bishalide, 5‐tert‐butyl‐1,3‐bis(4‐fluorobenzoyl)benzene ( 2 ) was synthesized in high yield and purity by the reaction of 5‐tert‐butylisophthaloyl chloride ( 1 ) and fluorobenzene and polymerized by nucleophilic substitution reaction with commercially available aromatic bisphenols to prepare a series of high molecular weight poly(arylene ether ketone)s containing pendant tertiary butyl groups. The effect of molecular structure on the physical, thermal, mechanical and adhesion properties of the polymers was investigated.     

Synthesis and drug-release properties of biodegradable hydrogels having β-cyclodextrin

A new β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) methacrylated monomer was synthesized from the reaction of β-CD, glycidyl methacrylate. Based on inclusion character of β-CD, a series of hydrogels were prepared by irradiating the mixtures of β-CD methacrylate monomer (β-CD-Met), poly(ethylene glycol) monoacrylate, poly(ethylene glycol)diacrylate, fumaric acid monoethyl ester-functionalized poly(lactic-co-glycolic) acid, 1-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone, N,N′-methylene bisacrylamide, and the photoinitiator. Gel percentages and equilibrium swelling ratios (%) of hydrogels were investigated. It was observed that equilibrium-swelling ratio increased with increasing β-CD-Met content in the hydrogel composition. SEM images demonstrated that β-CD-Met-based hydrogel have lots of voids on the fractured surface. In this study, ibuprofen (IBU) which is capable of forming inclusion complex with β-CD was chosen. For the hydrogel with maximum CD content, the IBU drug loading was found as 9 mg/g dry gel. It can be concluded that the inclusion complex-formation capability of β-CD moiety increases the drug release by improving the aqueous solubility of hydrophilic drugs.     

Effect of an Er,Cr:YSGG laser preparation on dentin bond strength of a universal adhesive

The aim of this study was to evaluate the bond strength of a universal adhesive system to dentin prepared with SiC paper or an Er,Cr:YSGG laser using different bonding strategies (etch-and-rinse versus self-etch mode). Ninety-six extracted caries-free, sound human molars were used. The teeth were longitudinally sectioned in the mesiodistal direction and were wet polished with 600-grit SiC paper to obtain a standardized flat dentin surface. All prepared teeth were randomly divided into two groups, according to the surface preparation method: GroupI:an erbium, chromium:yttrium,scandium, gallium, garnet laser; Group II: silicon carbide paper[SiC] (n = 48). Each group was then assigned into three subgroups according to the universal adhesive’s (Single Bond Universal) bonding strategies: (a) etch-and-rinse mode with phosphoric acid, (b) etch-and-rinse mode with a laser, (c) self-etch mode (n = 16). For surface preparation, the Er,Cr:YSGG laser was used at 3 W, 30 Hz with 140 μs pulse duration for 25 s. For etching mode, the laser was used at 1.5 W (60% air, 70% water). Cylinders of composite were fabricated on the bonding area and shear bond strength was determined using a universal testing machine. Failure modes were evaluated using a stereomicroscope. The data were analyzed using two-way ANOVA followed by the Bonferroni test (p < 0.05). Bonding strategies showed statistically significant differences in both the SiC-and laser-prepared groups (p < 0.05).Universal adhesive used in etch-and-rinse mode with acid showed significantly higher bond strength values than in self-etch mode (p < 0.05). The bond strength values did not differ according to the surface preparation method (p > 0.05). Irrespective of preparation method, using universal adhesive in etch-and-rinse mode with acid might improve dentin bond strength. Laser preparation did not affect the bond strength of the universal adhesive tested.     

Washing the hearth of blast furnaces with briquets made from scale

A comparative analysis made of the use of washing sinter and scale briquets to wash the hearth of blast furnaces showed that similar results are obtained in both cases. Scale briquets with a cement binder can be effectively used as a washing material for blast furnaces, which will make it possible to end the production of washing sinter, increase the productivity of sinter plants, and improve the quality of the sinter they produce. __________ Translated from Metallurg, No. 6, pp. 36–39, June, 2007.