Fluorobenzotriazole (FTAZ)‐Based Polymer Donor Enables Organic Solar Cells Exceeding 12% Efficiency

The fluorobenzotriazole (FTAZ)‐based copolymer donors are promising candidates for nonfullerene polymer solar cells (PSCs), but suffer from relatively low photovoltaic performance due to their unsuitable energy levels and unfavorable morphology. Herein, three polymer donors, L24 , L68 , and L810 , based on a chlorinated‐thienyl benzodithiophene (BDT‐2Cl) unit and FTAZ with different branched alkyl side chain, are synthesized. Incorporation of a chlorine (Cl) atom into the BDT unit is found to distinctly optimize the molecular planarity, energy levels, and improve the polymerization activity. Impressively, subtle side chain length of FTAZ realizes a dramatic improvement in all the device parameters, as revealed by the short‐current density (J_sc) improved from 7.41 to 20.76 mA cm^?2, fill‐factor from 36.3 to 73.5%, and even the open‐circuit voltage (V_oc) from 0.495 to 0.790 V. The best power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 12.1% is obtained from the L810‐based device, which is one of the highest values reported for FTAZ‐based PSCs so far. Notably, the corresponding external quantum efficiency curve keeps a very prominent value up to 80% from 500 to 800 nm. The notable performance is discovered from the reduced energy loss, improved molecular face‐on orientation, the down‐shifted energy levels, and optimized absorption coefficient regulated by side‐chain engineering.     

Analysis of adjacent channel interference using distribution function for V2X communication systems in the 5.9‐GHz band for ITS

Many use cases have been presented on providing convenience and safety for vehicles employing wireless access in vehicular environments and long‐term evolution communication technologies. As the 70‐MHz bandwidth in the 5.9‐GHz band is allocated as an intelligent transportation system (ITS) service, there exists the issue that vehicular communication systems should not interfere with each other during their usage. Numerous studies have been conducted on adjacent interfering channels, but there is insufficient research on vehicular communication systems in the ITS band. In this paper, we analyze the interference channel performance between communication systems using distribution functions. Two types of scenarios comprising adjacent channel interference are defined. In each scenario, a combination of an aggressor and victim network is categorized into four test cases. The minimum requirements and conditions to meet a 10% packet error rate are analyzed in terms of outage probability, packet error rate, and throughput for different transmission rates. This paper presents an adjacent channel interference ratio and communication coverage to obtain a satisfactory performance.     

Signal Synchronization Using a Flicker Reduction and Denoising Algorithm for Video‐Signal Optical Interconnect

A video signal through a high‐density optical link has been demonstrated to show the reliability of optical link for high‐data‐rate transmission. To reduce optical point‐to‐point links, an electrical link has been utilized for control and clock signaling. The latency and flicker with background noise occurred during the transferring of data across the optical link due to electrical‐to‐optical with optical‐to‐electrical conversions. The proposed synchronization technology combined with a flicker and denoising algorithm has given good results and can be applied in high‐definition serial data interface (HD‐SDI), ultra‐HD‐SDI, and HD multimedia interface transmission system applications.     

Instruction‐Level Power Estimator for Sensor Networks

In sensor networks, analyzing power consumption before actual deployment is crucial for maximizing service lifetime. This paper proposes an instruction‐level power estimator (IPEN) for sensor networks. IPEN is an accurate and fine grain power estimation tool, using an instruction‐level simulator. It is independent of the operating system, so many different kinds of sensor node software can be simulated for estimation. We have developed the power model of a Micaz‐compatible mote. The power consumption of the ATmega128L microcontroller is modeled with the base energy cost and the instruction overheads. The CC2420 communication component and other peripherals are modeled according to their operation states. The energy consumption estimation module profiles peripheral accesses and function calls while an application is running. IPEN has shown excellent power estimation accuracy, with less than 5% estimation error compared to real sensor network implementation. With IPEN's high precision instruction‐level energy prediction, users can accurately estimate a sensor network's energy consumption and achieve fine‐grained optimization of their software.     

Call admission control strategy for system throughput maximization considering both call- and packet-level QoSs

This letter presents a call admission control (CAC) strategy for system throughput maximization in wireless uplink systems. This strategy considers not only the call-level quality of service (QoS) (i.e., blocking probability) but also the packet-level QoS (i.e., outage probability). Using the statistical co-channel interference (CCI) model and state diagram, the outage probability and the blocking probability are investigated as a function of the relative traffic load. We formulate the CAC strategy problem based on relative traffic load, and suggest a solution. The numerical results show that maximum system throughput can be achieved by controlling the relative traffic load. In addition, we illustrate the region where system throughput is constrained by call- and packet-level QoSs. This examination shows that the call and packet-level QoSs must be considered together to achieve maximum system throughput.     

Miniaturised dual-band s-shaped RFID tag antenna mountable on metallic surface

The RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) tag, as a substitute for the existing bar cords, recognises, modifies and tracks information through microchips mountable on an antenna. Among them, the UHF (860?960 MHz) RFID band tag has commonly been used in circulation and logistics fields throughout the world because of its low production cost and its read long range. This RFID tag must be miniaturised in order to be mountable on any product, and to minimise the antenna?s performance degradation. If it is used worldwide as a common product, broadband or multiband is required. Specifically, when the antenna is mounted on conductive materials, its impedance characteristics change and bandwidth decreases. Therefore, a tag antenna is required with impedance characteristics which do not change even when it is attached to metallic materials.     

Designing Thin,Ultrastretchable Electronics with Stacked Circuits and Elastomeric Encapsulation Materials

Many recently developed soft, skin‐like electronics with high performance circuits and low modulus encapsulation materials can accommodate large bending, stretching, and twisting deformations. Their compliant mechanics also allows for intimate, nonintrusive integration to the curvilinear surfaces of soft biological tissues. By introducing a stacked circuit construct, the functional density of these systems can be greatly improved, yet their desirable mechanics may be compromised due to the increased overall thickness. To address this issue, the results presented here establish design guidelines for optimizing the deformable properties of stretchable electronics with stacked circuit layers. The effects of three contributing factors (i.e., the silicone interlayer, the composite encapsulation, and the deformable interconnects) on the stretchability of a multilayer system are explored in detail via combined experimental observation, finite element modeling, and theoretical analysis. Finally, an electronic module with optimized design is demonstrated. This highly deformable system can be repetitively folded, twisted, or stretched without observable influences to its electrical functionality. The ultrasoft, thin nature of the module makes it suitable for conformal biointegration.     

Charge‐Generating Mode Control in High‐Performance Transparent Flexible Piezoelectric Nanogenerators

In this work, we demonstrate the mode transition of charge generation between direct‐current (DC) and alternating‐current (AC) from transparent flexible (TF) piezoelectric nanogenerators (NGs), which is dependent solely on the morphology of zinc oxide (ZnO) nanorods without any use of an AC/DC converter. Tilted ZnO nanorods grown on a relatively low‐density seed layer generate DC‐type piezoelectric charges under a pushing load, whereas vertically aligned ZnO nanorods on a relatively high‐density seed layer create AC‐type charge generation. The mechanism for the geometry‐induced mode transition is proposed and characterized. We also examine the output performance of TF‐NGs which employ an indium zinc tin oxide (IZTO) film as a TF electrode. It is demonstrated that an IZTO film has improved electrical, optical, and mechanical properties, in comparison with an indium tin oxide (ITO) film. Enhanced output charge generation is observed from IZTO‐based TF‐NGs when TF‐NGs composed of only ITO electrodes are compared. This is attributed to the higher Schottky barrier and the lower series resistance of the IZTO‐based TF‐NGs. Thus, by using IZTO, we can expect TF‐NGs with superior mechanical durability and power generating performance.