Multiple Virtual Interfaces for Multi-homing Hosts to Support Inter-technology Handover in PMIPv6 Network

Proxy Mobile IPv6 (PMIPv6), a network-based mobility management protocol, supports multi-homing, inter-technology handover, and flow mobility, with the help of a host’s virtual interface (VI). Several single virtual interface (SVI) schemes have been proposed to support these functions. In the SVI schemes, the link-layer identifier (LL-ID) should be swapped while the host is processing neighbor discovery (ND) after inter-technology handover or flow mobility. That is, a host must replace the LL-ID of a VI contained in a neighbor advertisement with the LL-ID of a physical interface (PI) related to a real connection. Such LL-ID swapping cannot be executed under secure neighbor discovery, and it causes ND processing delay and high overhead to check all outgoing packets. In this paper, we propose a multiple virtual interfaces scheme to solve the problem related to the LL-ID swapping, and to provide good support to the inter-technology handover. In the proposed scheme, there are the same numbers of VIs as the PIs between the data link layer and the network layer of a host. Since each VI maintains its own neighbor cache, the proposed scheme does not require LL-ID swapping, so that it can keep the standard ND process. We explain the basic operation of PMIPv6 inter-technology handover under the proposed scheme and, through NS-3 simulation, evaluate the performance of the proposed scheme in terms of ND process delay and inter-technology handover latency.     

A dead-time minimization algorithm for improving the output characteristics of the PWM inverter

The dead time in an inverter is necessary to prevent the short circuit of the DC source. However, the dead time may cause serious problems such as waveform distortion, voltage drop, increased torque ripple and heating of the motors. In this paper, a dead-time minimization algorithm is proposed for improving the inverter output performance. The adverse effects of the dead time are investigated, focusing on the voltage drop and the distortion factor of inverter output current. The proposed algorithm consists of forbidding unnecessary triggers for the inverter switches that are not turned on although the gate drive signal is impressed. The proposed algorithm is explained in terms of the conduction modes of the output currents. The validity of the proposed method is verified by comparing the simulated and experimental results with those of the conventional methods. It is concluded from the results that the proposed algorithm can reduce the output current harmonics. Further, the output voltage can be equal to the reference value and the number of inverter switchings can also be reduced to 50% compared with those of conventional methods.     

Coil‐Capacitor Circuit Design of a Transcutaneous Energy Transmission System to Deliver Stable Electric Power

A new transcutaneous energy transmission (TET) system was developed for transmitting electrical power to an implanted device, such as an artificial heart in a patient's body. This new design can maintain a stable output voltage independent of the load resistance. The system includes a compensation capacitor to reduce energy loss and increase power transfer efficiency. Experimental results show that the output voltage of the receiving coil changes very little as the load resistance varies from 14.8 Ω to 15 kΩ, which corresponds to a change in output power from 0.1 to 97 W.     

Design and Implementation of a Multimodal Input Device Using a Web Camera

We propose a novel input pointing device called the multimodal mouse (MM) which uses two modalities: face recognition and speech recognition. From an analysis of Microsoft Office workloads, we find that 80% of Microsoft Office Specialist test tasks are compound tasks using both the keyboard and the mouse together. When we use the optical mouse (OM), operation is quick, but it requires a hand exchange delay between the keyboard and the mouse. This takes up a significant amount of the total execution time. The MM operates more slowly than the OM, but it does not consume any hand exchange time. As a result, the MM shows better performance than the OM in many cases.     

A novel approach to characterization of progressive breakdown in high-k/metal gate stacks

Dielectric breakdown (BD) of nFETs with TiN metal gates and HfO₂/interfacial layer with 1.09 nm EOT is studied. Occurrence of progressive BD at low current levels is demonstrated. A new measurement methodology for extraction of the PBD time and its dependence on gate voltage are reported.     

Facile Fabrication and Superparamagnetism of Silica‐Shielded Magnetite Nanoparticles on Carbon Nitride Nanotubes

Using conventional methods to synthesize magnetic nanoparticles (NPs) with uniform size is a challenging task. Moreover, the degradation of magnetic NPs is an obstacle to practical applications. The fabrication of silica‐shielded magnetite NPs on carbon nitride nanotubes (CNNTs) provides a possible route to overcome these problems. While the nitrogen atoms of CNNTs provide selective nucleation sites for NPs of a particular size, the silica layer protects the NPs from oxidation. The morphology and crystal structure of NP–CNNT hybrid material is investigated by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and X‐ray diffraction. In addition, the atomic nature of the N atoms in the NP–CNNT system is studied by near‐edge X‐ray absorption fine structure spectroscopy (nitrogen K‐edge) and calculations of the partial density of states based on first principles. The structure of the silica‐shielded NP–CNNT system is analyzed by TEM and energy dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy mapping, and their magnetism is measured by vibrating sample and superconducting quantum interference device magnetometers. The silica shielding helps maintain the superparamagnetism of the NPs; without the silica layer, the magnetic properties of NP–CNNT materials significantly degrade over time.     

Restorable Type Conversion of Carbon Nanotube Transistor Using Pyrolytically Controlled Antioxidizing Photosynthesis Coenzyme

Here, a pyrolytically controlled antioxidizing photosynthesis coenzyme, β‐Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide, reduced dipotassium salt (NADH) for a stable n‐type dopant for carbon nanotube (CNT) transistors is proposed. A strong electron transfer from NADH, mainly nicotinamide, to CNTs takes place during pyrolysis so that not only the type conversion from p‐type to n‐type is realized with 100% of reproducibility but also the on/off ratio of the transistor is significantly improved by increasing on‐current and/or decreasing off‐current. The device was stable up to a few months with negligible current changes under ambient conditions. The n‐type characteristics were completely recovered to an initial doping level after reheat treatment of the device.     

Controlled Growth of ZnO Nanowires and Their Optical Properties

This article surveys recent developments in the rational synthesis of single‐crystalline zinc oxide nanowires and their unique optical properties. The growth of ZnO nanowires was carried out in a simple chemical vapor transport and condensation (CVTC) system. Based on our fundamental understanding of the vapor–liquid–solid (VLS) nanowire growth mechanism, different levels of growth controls (including positional, orientational, diameter, and density control) have been achieved. Power‐dependent emission has been examined and lasing action was observed in these ZnO nanowires when the excitation intensity exceeds a threshold (∼40 kW cm^–2). These short‐wavelength nanolasers operate at room temperature and the areal density of these nanolasers on substrate readily reaches 1 × 10¹⁰ cm^–2. The observation of lasing action in these nanowire arrays without any fabricated mirrors indicates these single‐crystalline, well‐facetted nanowires can function as self‐contained optical resonance cavities. This argument is further supported by our recent near‐field scanning optical microscopy (NSOM) studies on single nanowires.