Scaling issues in chemical and biological sensors

When a system is reduced isomorphically in size (i.e., scaled down with all dimensions of the system decreased uniformly, or isomorphic scale reduction), the changes in length, area, and volume ratios alter the relative influence of various physical effects that determine the overall operation - often in unexpected ways. As objects shrink, the ratio of surface area to volume increases, rendering surface forces more important. More generally, as the size of an object decreases, forces scaling with a lower power of the linear dimension dominate over the ones scaling with a higher power (e.g., surface tension gains over gravity, electrostatics over magnetics, etc.) [see M. J. Madou, Fundamentals of Microfabrication, 2nd ed. (Boca Raton, FL: CRC, 2002)]. In this paper, we are investigating the influence of miniaturization on various aspects of chemical and biological sensors; we review scaling issues faced in sensor construction, the importance of sample size and the effect of sensor size on detection sensitivity in some of the most popular sensing approaches.     

Creating advanced functions on network processors: experience and perspectives

In this article we present five case studies of advanced networking functions that detail how a network processor (NP) can provide high performance and also the necessary flexibility compared with ASIC. We first review the basic NP system architectures, and describe the IBM PowerNP architecture from the data plane as well as the control plane point of view. We introduce models for the programmer's views of NP that facilitate a global understanding of NP software programming. Then, for each case study, we present results from prototypes as well as general considerations that apply to a wider range of system architectures. Specifically, we investigate the suitability of NP for QoS (active queue management and traffic engineering), header processing (GPRS tunneling protocol), intelligent forwarding (load balancing without flow disruption), payload processing (code interpretation and just-in-time compilation in active networks), and protocol stack termination (SCTP). Finally, we summarize the key features as revealed by each case study, and conclude with remarks on the future of NP.     

Coded differential space-time modulation for flat fading channels

In this paper, powerful coding techniques for differential space-time modulation (DSTM) over Rayleigh flat fading channels and noncoherent detection without channel state information at the receiver are investigated. In particular, multilevel coding, bit-interleaved coded modulation, and so-called hybrid coded modulation (HCM) are devised and compared. For improved noncoherent reception multiple-symbol differential detection (MSDD) is adapted to DSTM. In order to reduce the computational effort required for MSDD, a low-complexity version of MSDD is applied. Evaluating the ergodic channel capacity for the different schemes as appropriate performance measure, HCM with simplified MSDD is shown to offer a favorable tradeoff between complexity and achievable power efficiency. Simulation results employing turbo codes in properly designed HCM schemes confirm the predictions from information theory.     

Photo-bleaching induced electro-optic polymer modulators with dual driving electrodes operating at 1.55 /spl mu/m wavelength

Electro-optic (EO) polymeric Mach-Zehnder (MZ) modulators with photo-bleaching (PB) induced waveguides and dual driving electrodes operating at 1.55 /spl mu/m wavelength have been demonstrated. The half-wave voltage of the integrated polymeric modulator was 4.5 V in a push-pull configuration with a 1.5 cm interaction length. The extinction ratio was greater than 20 dB, and the fibre-to-fibre insertion loss was 8 dB for the TM polarisation. The achieved fibre-to-fibre insertion loss and driving voltage are the best, to the authors knowledge, in the reported PB induced MZ EO polymeric modulators.     

Reliability of nonhermetic bias-free LiNbO/sub 3/ modulators

Reliability for nonhermetic bias-free LiNbO/sub 3/ optical modulators is estimated from aging data in both dry and damp heat conditions. The two dominant failure modes for these devices are: 1) device performance degradation due to temperature-activated drift of the annealed proton-exchange waveguide; and 2) optical insertion loss increase due to humidity-induced deterioration of glued fiber joints. A total failure rate of 30 failures in time (FITs) is predicted for 20 years operation at 45/spl deg/C and moderate humidity conditions (40% RH). This estimate based on laboratory-test data is consistent with a field failure rate <5 FITs observed in fielded devices.     

QoS enhancement for adaptive streaming services over WCDMA

This paper presents a new method to adapt the quality-of-service (QoS) in a wideband code-division multiple-access (WCDMA) system, called radio network feedback (RNF). The concept of RNF is in general applicable to all the services requiring a minimum quality (i.e., non best effort) and in this paper, the focus is on streaming. In this context, RNF makes it possible for a streaming server to adapt its source bit rate to a WCDMA radio link, whose bandwidth may vary in time due, for example, to decongestion/congestion situations over the air interface or to handover. This is very beneficial for the end user as it allows to increase the bandwidth (i.e., the quality) when possible and to decrease it (instead of just dropping the service) when needed. RNF was compared with Client-based adaptation solutions. Simulation results show that RNF is fast and accurate and performs better than Client-based adaptation. For example, rebuffering occurs only with Client-based method. Moreover, with RNF the up-switch is performed only when needed, whereas the up-switch performed by means of the Client-based method is often erroneous and may annoy the end user.     

Photoswitching of Ferroelectric Liquid Crystals Using Unsymmetrical Chiral Thioindigo Dopants: Photoinduced Inversion of the Sign of Spontaneous Polarization

A new unsymmetrical chiral thioindigo dopant 6‐[(R,R)‐2,3‐difluorooct‐1‐yloxy]‐5′‐nitro‐6′‐[(R)‐2‐octyloxy]thioindigo ( 4 ) designed to photoinvert the sign of spontaneous polarization (P_S) in a ferroelectric chiral smectic C (SmC*) liquid crystal was prepared using a synthetic approach previously developed in our laboratory. In this new “ambidextrous” design, the (R)‐2‐octyloxy side‐chain is sterically coupled to the thioindigo core and induces a positive P_S, whereas the (R,R)‐2,3‐difluorooctyloxy side‐chain is decoupled from the core and induces a larger negative P_S. In the trans form, this dopant induces a negative polarization in the SmC host (+)‐4‐(4‐methylhexyloxy)phenyl 4‐decyloxybenzoate ( PhB ). Irradiation of a 1 mol‐% mixture of 4 in PhB at λ = 510 nm caused a sign inversion of P_S, from –0.88 to +0.42 nC cm^–2 at T – T_C = –5 °C, which is consistent with an increase in the polarization power of the coupled 2‐octyloxy/thioindigo unit over that of the 2,3‐difluorooctyloxy unit, due to the increase in transverse dipole moment of the thioindigo core upon trans–cis photoisomerization. The P_S sign inversion was confirmed by a surface‐stabilized ferroelectric liquid crystal photoswitching experiment. Spectroscopic measurements on films of the doped liquid crystal mixtures showed that trans–cis photoisomerization is gradually suppressed with increasing dopant mole fraction, possibly as a result of increased dopant aggregation.     

Field dependence of impact ionization coefficients in In/sub 0.53/Ga/sub 0.47/As

Electron and hole ionization coefficients in In/sub 0.53/Ga/sub 0.47/As are deduced from mixed carrier avalanche photomultiplication measurements on a series of p-i-n diode layers, eliminating other effects that can lead to an increase in photocurrent with reverse bias. Low field ionization is observed for electrons but not for holes, resulting in a larger ratio of ionization coefficients, even at moderately high electric fields than previously reported. The measured ionization coefficients are marginally lower than those of GaAs for fields above 250 kVcm/sup -1/, supporting reports of slightly higher avalanche breakdown voltages in In/sub 0.53/Ga/sub 0.47/As than in GaAs p-i-n diodes.     

Optimal virtual topologies for one-to-many communication in WDM paths and rings

In this paper we examine the problem of constructing optimal virtual topologies for one-to-many communication in optical networks employing wavelength-division multiplexing. A virtual topology is a collection of optical lightpaths embedded in a physical topology. A packet sent from the source node travels over one or more lightpaths en route to its destination. Within a lightpath, transmission is entirely optical. At the terminus of a lightpath the data is converted into the electronic domain where it may be retransmitted on another lightpath toward its destination. Since the conversion of the packet from the optical to the electronic domain introduces delays and uses limited physical resources, one important objective is to find virtual topologies which minimize either the maximum or average number of lightpaths used from the source to all destination nodes. Although this problem is NP-complete in general, we show that minimizing the maximum or average number of lightpaths in path and ring topologies can be solved optimally by efficient algorithms.