Partial scan flip-flop selection by use of empirical testability

Partial serial scan as a design for testability technique permits automatic generation of high fault coverage tests for sequential circuits with less hardware overhead and less performance degradation than full serial scan. The objective of the partial scan flip-flop selection method proposed here is to obtain maximum fault coverage for the number of scan flip-flops selected. Empirical Testability Difference (ETD), a measure of potential improvement in the testability of the circuit, is used to successively select one or more flip-flops for addition or deletion of scan logic. ETD is calculated by using testability measures based on empirical evaluation of the circuit with the acutal automatic test pattern generation (ATPG) system. In addition, once such faults are known, ETD focuses on the hard-to-detect faults rather than all faults and uses heuristics to permit effective selection of multiple flip-flops without global optimization. Two ETD algorithms have been extensively tested by using FASTEST ATPG [1, 2] on fourteen of the ISCAS89 [3] sequential circuits. The results of these tests indicate that ETD yields, on average, 35% fewer uncovered detectable faults for the same number of scanned flip-flops or 27% fewer scanned flip-flops for comparable fault coverage relative to cycle-breaking methods.This work was performed while the author was with the University of Wisconsin-Madison.     

Performance of common bank rate control throttle in ATM networks

A common token bank rate control throttle suitable for use in an ATM network architecture based on virtual paths is proposed and analysed. Compared to a throttle with separate token banks (suitable for use on virtual circuits), it is shown that the proposed throttle performs better in terms of both token and cell loss probabilities.<>     

Integrated direct-coupled gyrator

An integrated gyrator is described. The device uses 1 diode, 12 resistors and 9 transistors, two of which are lateral p-n-p. Experimental results on gyration resistance, input impedance and resonant-circuit Q factor show excellent agreement with theory.     

Rhenium carbonyl complexes with monodentate-coordinated diphosphines: activation of terminal phosphino groups towards amine-oxide oxidation

Terminal phosphino groups of [Re₂(CO)₉(η¹-P-P)] (P-P = diphosphines) are activated towards oxidation by Me₃NO. The respective reactions of Me₃NO with [Re₂(CO)₉{η¹-P(o-anisyl)₂(CH₂)₃PPh₂}], [Re₂(CO)₉{η¹-PPh₂(CH₂)₃P(o-anisyl)₂}] and [Re₂(CO)₉(η¹-trans-PPh₂CHCHPPh₂)] were studied to investigate the mechanism of this oxidation. The results are consistent with an intramolecular pathway involving a cyclic intermediate, without exchange of the coordinated and terminal phosphino groups. A mechanism which involves an interaction of the terminal phosphino group with a carbonyl ligand is proposed. In sharp contrast to eq-[Re₂(CO)₉(η¹-P-P)] (P-P = Ph₂P(CH₂)_nPPh₂, n = 1-6), eq-[Re₂(CO)₉(η¹-trans-PPh₂CHCHPPh₂)] appears to be indefinitely stable towards equatorial → axial isomerization at room temperature, thus, allowing its crystal structure to be determined.     

Novel route to a finite center-of-mass momentum pairing state for superconductors: A current-driven Fulde-Ferrell-Larkin-Ovchinnikov state

The previously studied Fulde-Ferrell-Larkin-Ovchinnikov (FFLO) state is stabilized by a magnetic field via the Zeeman coupling in spin-singlet superconductors. Here we suggest a novel route to achieve nonzero center-of-mass momentum pairing states in superconductors with Fermi surface nesting. We investigate two-dimensional superconductors under a uniform external current, proportional to a finite pair momentum of q(e). We find that an FFLO state with a spontaneous pair momentum of q(s) is stabilized above a certain critical current that depends on the direction of the external current. A finite q(s) arises in order to make the total pair-momentum of q(t)(=q(s) + q(e)) perpendicular to the nesting vector, which is independent of spin states of Cooper pairs. We also discuss experimental signatures of the FFLO state.     

Active control of the depletion boundary layers in microfluidic electrochemical reactors

In this paper, we describe three methods to improve the performance of pressure-driven laminar flow-based microreactors by manipulating reaction-depletion boundary layers to overcome mass transfer limitations at reactive surfaces on the walls, such as electrodes. The transport rate of the reactants to the reactive surfaces is enhanced by (i) removing the depleted zone through multiple periodically-placed outlets; (ii) adding fresh reactants through multiple periodically-placed inlets along the reactive surface; or (iii) producing a spiraling, transverse flow through the integration of herringbone ridges along the channel walls. For approaches (i) and (ii), the network of microfluidic channels needs to be designed such that under the operating conditions used the right amount of boundary layer at each outlet or inlet is removed or replenished, respectively. Here, we report a set of design rules, derived with the help of a fluidic resistance circuit model, to aid in the design of appropriate microfluidic networks. Also, the actual enhancement of the performance of the electrochemical microreactor, i.e. chemical conversion efficiency, using multiple inlets, multiple outlets, or herringbone ridges is reported.