DigiCipher-all digital, channel compatible, HDTV broadcast system

DigiCipher, an all-digital HDTV (high-definition television) system, with transmission over a single 6 MHz VHF or UHF channel, is described. It provides full HDTV performance with virtually no visible transmission impairments due to noise, multipath, and interference. It offers high picture quality, while the complexity of the decoder is low. Furthermore, low transmitting power can be used, making it ideal for simulcast HDTV transmission using unused or prohibited channels. DigiCipher can also be used for cable and satellite transmission of HDTV. There is no satellite receive dish size penalty (compared to FM-NTSC) in the satellite delivery of DigiCipher HDTV. To achieve the full HDTV performance in a single 6 MHz bandwidth, a highly efficient unique compression algorithm based on DCT (discrete cosine transform) transform coding is used. Through the extensive use of computer simulation, the compression algorithm has been refined and optimized. Computer simulation results show excellent video quality for a variety of HDTV material. For error-free transmission of the digital data, power error correction coding combined with adaptive equalization is used. At a carrier-to-noise ratio of above 19 dB, essentially error-free reception can be achieved     

Amorphous Ta-nanocrystalline RuOx diffusion barrier for lower electrode of high density memory devices

The effects of the amount of RuO₂ added in the Ta film on the electrical properties of a Ta-RuO₂ diffusion barrier were investigated using n⁺⁺-poly-Si substrate at a temperature range of 650–800°C. For the Ta layer prepared without RuO₂ addition, Ta₂O₅ phase formed after annealing at 650°C by reaction between Ta and external oxygen, leading to a higher total resistance and a non-linear I-V curve. Meanwhile, in the case of the Ta film being deposited with RuO₂ incorporation, not only a lower total resistance and ohmic characteristics exhibited, but also the bottom electrode structure was retained up to 800°C, attributing to the formation of a conductive RuO₂ crystalline phase in the barrier film by reaction with the indiffused oxygen because of a Ta amorphous structure formed by chemially strong Ta-O or Ta-Ru-O bonds and a large amount of conductive RuO₂ added. Since a kinetic barrier for nucleation in formation of the crystalline Ta₂O₅ phase from an amorphous Ta(O) phase is much higher than that of crystalline RuO₂ phase from nanocrystalline RuO_x phase, the formation of the RuO₂ phase by reaction between the indiffused oxygen and the RuO_x nanocrystallites is kinetically more favorable than that of Ta₂O₅ phase.     

Materials and Wireless Microfluidic Systems for Electronics Capable of Chemical Dissolution on Demand

Electronics that are capable of destroying themselves, on demand and in a harmless way, might provide the ultimate form of data security. This paper presents materials and device architectures for triggered destruction of conventional microelectronic systems by means of microfluidic chemical etching of the constituent materials, including silicon, silicon dioxide, and metals (e.g., aluminum). Demonstrations in an array of home‐built metal‐oxide‐semiconductor field‐effect transistors that exploit ultrathin sheets of monocrystalline silicon and in radio‐frequency identification devices illustrate the utility of the approaches.     

Miniaturized Flexible Electronic Systems with Wireless Power and Near‐Field Communication Capabilities

A class of thin, lightweight, flexible, near‐field communication (NFC) devices with ultraminiaturized format is introduced, and systematic investigations of the mechanics, radio frequency characteristics, and materials aspects associated with their optimized construction are presented. These systems allow advantages in mechanical strength, placement versatility, and minimized interfacial stresses compared to other NFC technologies and wearable electronics. Detailed experimental studies and theoretical modeling of the mechanical and electromagnetic properties of these systems establish understanding of the key design considerations. These concepts can apply to many other types of wireless communication systems including biosensors and electronic implants.     

Multiuser OFDM Using Cyclic Time Shift for Wireless Uplink Broadcasting

A combination of orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) with frequency-division multiple access (FDMA) called orthogonal frequency-division multiple access (OFDMA) is regarded as a promising solution for improving the performance of interactive wireless broadcasting systems. This paper presents our investigation into reducing the multiple access interference (MAI) introduced by symbol timing misalignment in an OFDMA uplink system. To combat the MAI, we provide a new OFDMA symbol frame employing a simple symbol repetition coupled with a cyclic time shift for typical OFDMA uplink scenarios. Theoretical analysis and computer simulations are used to assess the performance of the proposed OFDMA uplink system. It is found that this scheme can decrease the probability of destroying the orthogonality among the users and provide the MAI-free reception.     

Effect of Conductive Particle Properties on the Reliability of Anisotropic Conductive Film for Chip-on-Glass Applications

This paper describes how the material properties of conductive particles in anisotropic conductive films (ACFs) affect the electrical conductivity and the reliability of ACF interconnections for chip-on-glass (COG) applications. For the conductive particles, Au/Ni-coated polymer particles with a 5-diameter were used. Two different types of conductive particles were characterized with respect to their mechanical and electrical properties, such as ball hardness, recovery behavior, and electrical resistance. In addition, two ACFs were fabricated in the form of a double-layered structure, in which the thickness of the ACF and a nonconductive film (NCF) layer were optimized to have as many conductive particles as possible on the bump after COG bonding. The electrical contact resistance of an ACF interconnection in a COG structure depends mainly on the electrical properties of conductive particles in the ACF. The electrical reliability of an ACF interconnection in a COG structure also depends more on the electrical properties than the mechanical properties of conductive particles under a high-temperature and humid condition. Conductive particles with a lower electrical resistance, higher mechanical hardness, and lower recovery rate show better reliability than conductive particles with a higher electrical resistance, lower mechanical hardness, and higher recovery rate. Cross-sectional scanning electron microscopic (SEM) pictures of a COG interconnection show the deformation of two different conductive particles after the reliability tests. The ACF interconnections in the edge or corner of a driver IC show less reliable joints due to high absorption of moisture.     

Epoxy/BaTiO/sub 3/ composite films and pastes for high dielectric constant and low-tolerance embedded capacitors fabrication in organic substrates

Epoxy/BaTiO/sub 3/ composite embedded capacitor films (ECFs) were newly designed for high dielectric constant and low-tolerance (less than /spl plusmn/5%) embedded capacitor fabrication for organic substrates. In terms of material formulation, ECFs are composed of a specially formulated epoxy resin and latent curing agent, and in terms of a coating process, a comma roll coating method is used for uniform film thickness in large area. The dielectric constant of ECF in high frequency range (0.5/spl sim/3 GHz) is measured using the cavity resonance method. In order to estimate dielectric constant, the reflection coefficient is measured with a network analyzer. The dielectric constant is calculated by observing the frequencies of the resonant cavity modes. Calculated dielectric constants in this frequency range are about 3/4 of the dielectric constants at 1 MHz. This difference is due to the decrease of the dielectric constant of the epoxy matrix. The dielectric relaxation of barium titanate (BaTiO/sub 3/: BT) powder is not observed within measured frequency. An alternative material for embedded capacitor fabrication is epoxy/BaTiO/sub 3/ composite embedded capacitor paste (ECP). It uses similar materials formulation like ECF and a screen printing method for film coating. The screen printing method has the advantage of forming a capacitor partially in the desired part. However, the screen printing makes surface irregularities during mask peel-off. Surface flatness is significantly improved by adding some additives and by applying pressure during curing. As a result, a dielectric layer with improved thickness uniformity is successfully demonstrated. Using epoxy/BaTiO/sub 3/ composite ECP, a dielectric constant of 63 and specific capacitance of 5.1 nF/cm/sup 2/ were achieved.     

Atomic Layer Deposition‐Assisted Fabrication of Co‐Nanoparticle/N‐Doped Carbon Nanotube Hybrids as Efficient Electrocatalysts for the Oxygen Evolution Reaction

Transition metal (TM)‐based carbon hybrids have numerous applications in the field of regenerative electrochemical energy. The synergetic effects of high conductivity of carbon supports and abundant catalytic active sites in TMs make these hybrids promising oxygen evolution reaction (OER) electrocatalysts. However, strategies for modulating the catalytic active species in the above hybrids are limited despite being highly sought after. Furthermore, the exact roles of chemical species in the hybrids (e.g., N, C, or TM) mainly responsible for this high OER performance remain unknown. Herein, an innovative approach based on atomic layer deposition is developed to tune the true active species in Co nanoparticle/N‐doped carbon nanotube (Co/N‐CNT) hybrids. Specifically, the configuration predominantly promoting water oxidation in an alkaline medium is identified as pyridinic N–Co–C. Furthermore, a physicochemical intact interface between metallic Co nanoparticles and conductive N‐CNTs is demonstrated to induce synergetic effects for accelerating charge transfer and enhancing electrocatalytic activity as well as stability in the hybrid catalysts. The optimized hybrid catalyst is revealed to exhibit outstanding alkaline OER activity and stability, outperforming RuO₂, a benchmark novel OER electrocatalyst.     

Comparative studies on major nutritional components of black waxy rice with giant embryos and its rice bran

The concentration of nutrients in brown rice is mainly associated with embryo size. Various beneficial components have been purified from rice bran. Recently developed black waxy rice with a giant embryo (‘Milyang 263’, BGE), which is the ge ^t mutant of the GE gene, was selected and analyzed to produce high quality nutritional components. γ-Aminobutyric acid (GABA) content in BGE rice bran, one of the most important nutritional compounds in rice, showed a 10.6-fold increase (2.66±0.48 mg/g) compared to that of BGE brown rice (0.25±0.01 mg/g). In addition, brown rice and BGE rice bran showed enriched amylopectin (94.5±0.5 and 97.0±0.0%) and bioactive anthocyanin [Cy-3-G: 75.15±4.18 (brown rice), 82.97±0.81 (rice bran) and Pn-3-G: 1.52±0.50 (brown rice), 4.33±0.20 (rice bran); mg/100 g] contents. These results suggest that BGE rice bran can be used as an excellent raw material to efficiently produce high quality essential amino acids, cyanidin-3 glycoside-enriched anthocyanins, and GABA.