Fast locking delay-locked loop using initial delay measurement

A delay-locked loop (DLL) architecture capable of incorporating fast locking and low jitter features simultaneously is reported. A test chip was fabricated in a 0.6 μm CMOS process to prove its functionality. The proposed DLL can align the internal clock to the external reference clock within two cycles and maintain its locking state with the aid of feedback operation     

New Syndrome Check Error Estimation and Its Concatenated Coding

A low-complexity and high performance SCEE (Syndrome Check Error Estimation) decoding method for convolutional codes and its concatenated SCEE/RS (Reed–Solomon) coding scheme are proposed. First, we describe the operation of the decoding steps in the proposed algorithm. Then deterministic values on the decoding operation are derived when some combination of predecoder-reencoder is used. Computer simulation results show that the computational complexity of the proposed SCEE decoder is significantly reduced compared to that of conventional Viterbi decoder without degradation of the P_e performance. Also, simulation results of BER performance of the concatenated SCEE/Hard Decision Viterbi (HD-Viterbi) and SCEE/RS (Reed–Solomon) codes are presented.     

Optical orthogonal code design using genetic algorithms

A construction technique for optical orthogonal codes (OOCs) using genetic algorithms (GAs) is proposed. The performance of the GA OOCs is compared to that of four existing OOCs. Results show that the GA OOCs have a lower probability of error     

High‐Performance Transition Metal Dichalcogenide Photodetectors Enhanced by Self‐Assembled Monolayer Doping

Most doping research into transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) has been mainly focused on the improvement of electronic device performance. Here, the effect of self‐assembled monolayer (SAM)‐based doping on the performance of WSe₂‐ and MoS₂‐based transistors and photodetectors is investigated. The achieved doping concentrations are ≈1.4 × 10¹¹ for octadecyltrichlorosilane (OTS) p‐doping and ≈10¹¹ for aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTES) n‐doping (nondegenerate). Using this SAM doping technique, the field‐effect mobility is increased from 32.58 to 168.9 cm² V^?1 s in OTS/WSe₂ transistors and from 28.75 to 142.2 cm² V^?1 s in APTES/MoS₂ transistors. For the photodetectors, the responsivity is improved by a factor of ≈28.2 (from 517.2 to 1.45 × 10⁴ A W^?1) in the OTS/WSe₂ devices and by a factor of ≈26.4 (from 219 to 5.75 × 10³ A W^?1) in the APTES/MoS₂ devices. The enhanced photoresponsivity values are much higher than that of the previously reported TMD photodetectors. The detectivity enhancement is ≈26.6‐fold in the OTS/WSe₂ devices and ≈24.5‐fold in the APTES/MoS₂ devices and is caused by the increased photocurrent and maintained dark current after doping. The optoelectronic performance is also investigated with different optical powers and the air‐exposure times. This doping study performed on TMD devices will play a significant role for optimizing the performance of future TMD‐based electronic/optoelectronic applications.     

Thermally Controlled,Patterned Graphene Transfer Printing for Transparent and Wearable Electronic/Optoelectronic System

Graphene has been highlighted as a platform material in transparent electronics and optoelectronics, including flexible and stretchable ones, due to its unique properties such as optical transparency, mechanical softness, ultrathin thickness, and high carrier mobility. Despite huge research efforts for graphene‐based electronic/optoelectronic devices, there are remaining challenges in terms of their seamless integration, such as the high‐quality contact formation, precise alignment of micrometer‐scale patterns, and control of interfacial‐adhesion/local‐resistance. Here, a thermally controlled transfer printing technique that allows multiple patterned‐graphene transfers at desired locations is presented. Using the thermal‐expansion mismatch between the viscoelastic sacrificial layer and the elastic stamp, a “heating and cooling” process precisely positions patterned graphene layers on various substrates, including graphene prepatterns, hydrophilic surfaces, and superhydrophobic surfaces, with high transfer yields. A detailed theoretical analysis of underlying physics/mechanics of this approach is also described. The proposed transfer printing successfully integrates graphene‐based stretchable sensors, actuators, light‐emitting diodes, and other electronics in one platform, paving the way toward transparent and wearable multifunctional electronic systems.     

Interconnection Technology Based on InSn Solder for Flexible Display Applications

A novel interconnection technology based on a 52InSn solder was developed for flexible display applications. The display industry is currently trying to develop a flexible display, and one of the crucial technologies for the implementation of a flexible display is to reduce the bonding process temperature to less than 150°C. InSn solder interconnection technology is proposed herein to reduce the electrical contact resistance and concurrently achieve a process temperature of less than 150°C. A solder bump maker (SBM) and fluxing underfill were developed for these purposes. SBM is a novel bumping material, and it is a mixture of a resin system and InSn solder powder. A maskless screen printing process was also developed using an SBM to reduce the cost of the bumping process. Fluxing underfill plays the role of a flux and an underfill concurrently to simplify the bonding process compared to a conventional flip‐chip bonding using a capillary underfill material. Using an SBM and fluxing underfill, a 20 μm pitch InSn solder SoP array on a glass substrate was successfully formed using a maskless screen printing process, and two glass substrates were bonded at 130°C.     

Adaptive Multimodal In‐Vehicle Information System for Safe Driving

This paper proposes an adaptive multimodal in‐vehicle information system for safe driving. The proposed system filters input information based on both the priority assigned to the information and the given driving situation, to effectively manage input information and intelligently provide information to the driver. It then interacts with the driver using an adaptive multimodal interface by considering both the driving workload and the driver's cognitive reaction to the information it provides. It is shown experimentally that the proposed system can promote driver safety and enhance a driver's understanding of the information it provides by filtering the input information. In addition, the system can reduce a driver's workload by selecting an appropriate modality and corresponding level with which to communicate. An analysis of subjective questionnaires regarding the proposed system reveals that more than 85% of the respondents are satisfied with it. The proposed system is expected to provide prioritized information through an easily understood modality.     

On location management for personal communications networks

Personal communications services (PCS) support mobile terminals (MTs) which are free to travel within the service coverage area. In order to effectively locate an MT when a called is initiated, location management schemes are used to keep track of the locations of the MTs. The current approach to location management requires each MT to report its location to the network periodically. The location information is then stored in databases. When a call is initiated. The network determines the current location of the called MT through a database lookup and paging procedure. A currently available standard for location management is described. Research results on location management are surveyed in detail     

Optimal predistortion of Gaussian inputs for clipping channels

For a clipped channel with a Gaussian input, a predistortion/restoration technique to reduce clipping-induced nonlinear distortion is proposed and analyzed. The input signal is processed by a nonlinear predistorter circuit, reducing the probability of clipping. The receiver output signal passes through a restorer having an inverse transfer characteristic, which yields the original signal. For both one-sided and two-sided limiter channels, the optimal predistortion curves are determined analytically. A limiter channel with Gaussian input may be used to model clipping-induced nonlinear distortion in optical-fiber common antenna television (CATV) distribution systems using multiple intensity-modulated subcarriers. When applied to an amplitude-modulated vestigial-sideband (AM-VSB) CATV system, the optimal predistortion curves yield sensitivity improvements of 5.3 and 4.4 dB for oneand two-sided limiter channels, respectively