Mixed Mode VLSI Implementation of a Neural Associative Memory

A mixed mode digital/analog special purpose VLSI hardware implementation of an associative memory with neural architecture is presented. The memory concept is based on a matrix architecture with binary storage elements holding the connection weights. To enhance the processing speed analog circuit techniques are applied to implement the algorithm for the association. To keep the memory density as high as possible two design strategies are considered. First, the number of transistors per storage element is kept to a minimum. In this paper a circuit technique that uses a single 6-transistor cell for weight storage and analog signal processing is proposed. Second, the device precision has been chosen to a moderate level to save area as much as possible. Since device mismatch limits the performance of analog circuits, the impact of device precision on the circuit performance is explicitly discussed. It is shown that the device precision limits the number of rows activated in parallel. Since the input vector as well as the output vector are considered to be sparsely coded it is concluded, that even for large matrices the proposed circuit technique is appropriate and ultra large scale integration with a large number of connection weights is feasible.     

Characterization method of thermomechanical parameters for microelectronic materials

Reliability of thermomechanical simulations is critically linked to the accuracy of the mechanical properties that govern the behaviour of structure, like Young's modulus (E) and coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE). For many cases, the values found in literatures are dealing with bulk properties without detailed information on temperature effects. To address such issues, it is necessary to measure the materials parameters as a function of temperature. The measurement of CTE is usually accomplished by evaluating the thermal deflections of a subjected material layer deposited on a substrate, providing that E is known at a specific temperature of experiment. A bilayer method, based on theory of elasticity, is proposed to determine both E and CTE for a given temperature with a good resolution. This paper presents the theoretical analysis, the design and process of the microsystem test structures, and the main calculation results.     

New phenothiazine dyes and pigments

The synthesis of three new azaphenothiazine ring systems and an evaluation of their use as intermediates for new dyes and pigments is described. 2-Amino-5-bromopyrazine-3[4H]-thione (11) was prepared and converted to the novel 1,4,6,9-tetraazaphenothiazine ring system. The reaction of 4,5-diaminopyrimidine-6[1H]-thione (15) with 2,3-dichloropyrazines gave the isomeric 1,4,6,8-tetraazaphenothiazine ring system, another new heterocycle in this series. With 2,3-dichloroquinoxaline a previously unknown tetracyclic tetraazaphenothiazine ring system was isolated in satisfactory yields. The properties and reactions of these new heterocyclic systems are presented. Mixed nitric and sulphuric acids convert them to their 5-sulphoxides. Structural assignments were based on chemical evidence and their UV, IR, NMR and mass spectra. Mechanistic pathways to these compounds are also proposed.     

Fast algorithms for estimating the correlation functions of large signals

A fast algorithm is proposed for estimating the auto- and cross-correlation functions of a large signal. The algorithm is based on the sectioning method by the fast Fourier transform. We determine the optimal length of the portion of data read from external memory into RAM which achieves T_min—a minimum processing time. An estimate of T_min is obtained.Translated from Kibernetika, No. 3, pp. 78–81, May–June, 1991.     

The microstructure of Cu films deposited by the self-ion assisted technique

The microstructures of Cu films deposited by the self-ion assisted, partially ionized beam (PIB) deposition technique under two different accelerating potentials, 0 KeV and 6 KeV, are compared. The 6 KeV film shows a bimodal (111) fiber and (100) fiber texture with an abundance of twin boundaries and a relatively large average grain size with a typical lognormal distribution. The 0 KeV film consists of small, mostly (111) oriented grains with islands of abnormally large (100) grains. The controlling factors for the abnormal growth of the (100) grains are discussed in relation to the observed microstructures, showing that all factors necessary for abnormal (100) growth are present in the films.     

Simulation of the submerged energy nozzle-mold water model system using laser-optical and computational fluid dynamics methods

The present work describes quantitative digital particle image velocimetry measurements of a full-scale water model of a thin slab mold. Different casting speeds and two submerged entry nozzles with one and two outlet ports have been investigated. The flow pattern of the single-port nozzle shows a counterclockwise-rotating double vortex that is nearly steady-state but leads to high stationary surface waves. The flow jets out of the two-port nozzle oscillate and produce a transient flow pattern with low wave amplitudes. The amplitudes for the one-port nozzle show a linear variation with the volumetric flow rate. The experimental results lead to a good interpretation of the flow phenomena and are used to validate steady-state numerical simulations with the commercial program, CFX, on the basis of the Reynolds equations. To describe anisotropic turbulence effects, the Reynolds stress model (RSM) is used for the flat single-port nozzle and the standard k-ɛ model for the mold flow. The calculated mean velocities and wave amplitudes, predicted from pressure distribution at the water surface, are generally in the consensus of the experimental data. An erratum to this article is available at .     

Announcement

Samples of nine different fruits grown in Oyo State of Nigeria were obtained from different market locations within Ibadan Municipality and analysed for their vitamin C content. Sweet orange was found to contain the highest amount of vitamin C ($\text{56·0}\text{mg}\text{100}\text{g}$ edible portion) whilst sweet banana variety II contained the lowest amount ($\text{9·4}\text{mg}\text{100}\text{g}$ edible portion). Lime, grapefruit, pawpaw and ‘agbalumo’ were found to contain considerable amounts of vitamin C, having 46·5, 47·0, 43·2 and $\text{48·0}\text{mg}\text{100}\text{g}$ respectively. Consumption of these fruits would thus meet the nutritional requirement for vitamin C in this part of Nigeria. It is also recommended that sweet orange, agbalumo, grapefruit, lime and pawpaw, found to contain considerable amounts of vitamin C, should be processed either at home or factory level to make them available to the people all year round.