Innovative circuit board level routing designs for BGA packages

Advances in the performance of electronic devices have resulted in high input/output counts both at the chip and the package level, which has led to the development of new packaging technologies that can accommodate these high counts. This paper presents and analyzes a novel method for the placement of ball grid array (BGA) bonding pads and routing wires on printed circuit boards to maximize signal density, which ultimately reduces the number of circuit board layers needed for routing. This method has been termed as the "balls shifted as needed" method and all the ball placement/trace routing designs shown in this paper are based on this method. We also present a performance metric defined as the number of balls routed out divided by the area of package footprint on the circuit board, and we compare various placement/routing schemes using this method.     

Phlebotomus papatasi sand fly salivary gland lysate down-regulates a Th1, but up-regulates a Th2, response in mice infected with Leishmania major

A vertebrate host becomes infected with Leishmania major when the sand fly vector injects parasites into skin along with saliva. Previous studies showed that salivary gland lysate of the New World sand fly Lutzomyia longipalpis markedly enhanced L. major infection in CBA mice. However, L. major is an Old World parasite transmitted in nature by the Old World sand fly Phlebotomus papatasi. Here we examine the ability of P. papatasi salivary gland lysate to enhance infection (lesion size and parasite burden) by L. major. In addition, we examine the effects of salivary gland lysate on the immune response to L. major by monitoring the levels of cytokine mRNA from the lymph nodes draining cutaneous lesions. We found that P. papatasi salivary gland lysate dramatically exacerbated lesion development in disease-resistant CBA mice. This exacerbation of disease correlated with inhibition of the production of Thl cytokines and associated factors (IFN-gamma, IL-12, and inducible nitric oxide synthase), but with enhancement of the Th2 cytokine IL-4, whereas no changes in the levels of IL-10 and TGF-beta were noted. Importantly, salivary gland lysate directly up-regulated expression of IL-4 mRNA in mice in the absence of infection with L. major.     

Hydroisomerization of Renewable and Fossil n-Alkanes over Bifunctional Dealuminated ZSM-5 Catalysts

The hydroisomerization of two long-chain n-alkane mixtures was investigated over bifunctional Pt/H-ZSM-5 catalysts before and after dealumination of preshaped zeolite/binder pellets. The hydroisomerization over the dealuminated catalysts leads to more isomers and less cracking products. Consequently, higher ratios of multi- to mono-branched isomerization products are formed as expected for large- rather than medium-pore zeolites. This indicates a higher availability of space in the vicinity of the active sites and provides an attractive route to make medium-pore zeolites suitable for upgrading higher boiling hydrocarbon feeds.     

AlphaPilot: autonomous drone racing

Autonomous Robots - This paper presents a novel system for autonomous, vision-based drone racing combining learned data abstraction, nonlinear filtering, and time-optimal trajectory planning. The...     

Effect of friction stir processing and hybrid reinforcements on copper

In this research, a copper based surface composite was fabricated through dispersing hybrid composite particles onto its surface through friction stir processing (FSP) technique. Optical micrographs and scanning electron microscopy images indicates finer refinement of grains and particles dispersion into matrix along with its bonding and particle separation. As per the outcomes of microhardness analysis, hardness of the developed surface composite shows increment with increase in dispersion of volume fraction of hybrid particles. Strength of the developed copper surface composite exhibited a positive trend with introduction of hybrid reinforcement particle onto the surface of the composite but yet again ductility reduced. Wear resistance of the composite increased with reinforcement addition and the same was supported through worn out surface morphology. Fluctuations in friction coefficient value reduced with increase in particles, as for the presence in BN particles while the average frictional coefficient value was observed increasing. A reduction in corrosion rate was observed with increase in reinforcement particle dispersion onto copper matrix through FSP.     

Optical diagnostics of mercury jet for an intense proton target

An optical diagnostic system is designed and constructed for imaging a free mercury jet interacting with a high intensity proton beam in a pulsed high-field solenoid magnet. The optical imaging system employs a backilluminated, laser shadow photography technique. Object illumination and image capture are transmitted through radiation-hard multimode optical fibers and flexible coherent imaging fibers. A retroreflected illumination design allows the entire passive imaging system to fit inside the bore of the solenoid magnet. A sequence of synchronized short laser light pulses are used to freeze the transient events, and the images are recorded by several high speed charge coupled devices. Quantitative and qualitative data analysis using image processing based on probability approach is described. The characteristics of free mercury jet as a high power target for beam-jet interaction at various levels of the magnetic induction field is reported in this paper.     

Physicochemical Properties of Caribbean Sweet Potato (Ipomoea batatas (L) Lam) Starches

The proximate compositions and physicochemical properties of 21 Caribbean sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas (L) Lam) starches were investigated. Proximate composition, amylose, reducing and non-reducing sugars were determined using standard methods. Swelling power and solubility were evaluated and pasting properties of the starches were determined using Rapid Visco Analyzer. Moisture (8.0–12.4%), protein (0.0–0.2%), ash (0.1–0.5%), and reducing (0.3–2.3%) and non-reducing sugar (0.1–0.2%) contents of starches were significantly different (P < 0.05) among the cultivars. Amylose content varied significantly between 12.8–21.3%. Swelling power and solubility ranged between 7.8–31.1% and 1.5–9.6%, respectively. Pasting properties such as peak viscosity measured in Rapid Visco Units (143.2–288.8 RVU), breakdown viscosity (29.4–162.6 RVU), and setback viscosity (15.0–78.8 RVU), pasting temperature (73.5–87.7 °C) and time to pasting temperature (3.6–4.5 min) varied significantly among the cultivars. Breakdown viscosity was poorly correlated with final viscosity attained (r = − 0.0507, P < 0.05); however, pasting temperature was correlated (r = 0.479, P < 0.05) with setback viscosity. The variability observed in the physicochemical properties of the starches was related to specific requirements for use in the production of noodles, pasta, and inclusion in bread and weaning food formulations.     

Influence of a cyclic butylene terephthalate oligomer on the processability and thermoelectric properties of polycarbonate/MWCNT nanocomposites

The thermoelectric properties of melt-processed nanocomposites consisting of a polycarbonate (PC) thermoplastic matrix filled with commercially available carboxyl (–COOH) functionalized multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) were evaluated. MWCNTs carrying carboxylic acid moieties (MWCNT-COOH) were used due the p-doping that the carboxyl groups facilitate, via electron withdrawing from the electron-rich π-conjugated system. Preliminary thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) of MWCNT-COOH revealed that the melt-mixing was limited at low temperatures due to thermal decomposition of the MWCNT functional groups. Therefore, PC was mixed with 2.5 wt% MWCNT-COOH (PC/MWCNT-COOH) at 240 °C and 270 °C. In order to reduce the polymer melt viscosity, a cyclic butylene terephthalate (CBT) oligomer was utilized as an additive, improving additionally the electrical conductivity of the nanocomposites. The melt rheological characterization of neat PC and PC/CBT blends demonstrated a significant decrease of the complex viscosity by the addition of CBT (10 wt%). Optical and transmission electron microscopy (OM, TEM) depicted an improved MWCNT dispersion in the PC/CBT polymer blend. The electrical conductivity was remarkably higher for the PC/MWCNT-COOH/CBT composites compared to the PC/MWCNT-COOH ones. Namely, the PC/MWCNT-COOH/CBT processed at 270 °C exhibited the best values with electrical conductivity; σ = 0.05 S/m, Seebeck coefficient; S = 13.55 μV/K, power factor; PF = 7.60 × 10⁻⁶μW/m K⁻², and thermoelectric figure of merit; ZT = 7.94 × 10⁻⁹. The PC/MWCNT-COOH/CBT nanocomposites could be ideal candidates for large-scale thermal energy harvesting, even though the presently obtained ZT values are still too low for commercial applications.     

Characterization of ZrC reinforced AA6061 alloy composites produced using stir casting process

In the present study, effect of ZrC vol.% on mechanical properties of AA6061 metal matrix composites (MMCs) produced via stir casting technique was investigated. The vol.% of ZrC particles was varied as 5,10 and 15. The composites were characterized for its microstructure and mechanical properties and their relationships were obtained. The scanning electron microscope (SEM) images revealed uniform distribution and good bonding between the AA6061 alloy and the ZrC particles. The mechanical properties of the AA6061 alloy was found to significantly improve with the addition of ZrC particles from 5 to 15 vol.%, the hardness increased from 32 to 68 HV, yield strength increased from 50 to 86 MPa and the ultimate tensile strength increased from 118 to 165 MPa. However, the % of elongation of the composite samples decreased with 15 vol.% addition of ZrC particles. Sliding wear behaviour of the composites was investigated using a pin-on-disc wear tester at a load of 9.8 N and addition of ZrC particles was significantly found to reduce the wear rate of AA6061 alloy.

     

Broadband monolithic passive baluns and monolithic double-balancedmixer

The design and fabrication of four broadband monolithic passive baluns including CPW Marchand, multilayer MS Marchand, planar-transformer and broadside-coupled line baluns are presented. Operational frequencies range from 1.5 GHz to 24 GHz. Maximum relative bandwidths in excess of 3:1 are achieved. Simulated performances using full wave electromagnetic analysis are shown to agree with the measured results. Two accurate equivalent circuit models constructed from either electromagnetic simulated or measured S-parameters are developed for the MS Marchand and transformer baluns making the optimization of baluns and circuit design using the baluns much more efficient. The design of monolithic double-balanced diode mixer using two planar-transformer baluns is also presented. Without DC bias, the mixer shows a minimum conversion loss of 6 dB with the RF at 5 GHz and a LO drive of 15 dBm at 4 GHz. The measured input IP₃ of this mixer is better than 15 dBm over the 4 to 5.75 GHz frequency band