Techology bulletin

Gigahertz speed at room temperature

At PC Expo in New York, Alpha Processor, Inc. (API, Concord, MA) debuted what the company says is "the world's first room temperature 1 GHz microprocessor." This full-function Alpha processor required no special cooling enhancements. It was incorporated into API's new Alpha Slot B packaging technology running on the company's dual-processor platform, UP2000. "This is truly an exciting demonstration for API, Samsung, and quite frankly, the industry as a whole," says KP Suh, the Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., general manager for CPU business, API's manufacturing partner. API also announced the Alpha 750 MHz 21264, a 64-bit processor. FAX: (978) 371-3177 or e-mail: [email protected].

Alliance accelerates light-emitting polymer technology transfer

UK-based Cambridge Display Technology (CDT) and Covion Organic Semiconductors GmbH, developers of light emitting polymer (LEP) devices, recently formed the Polymer Display Alliance (PODIA), aimed at accelerating the technology transfer of companies looking to develop products in this area. PODIA intends to make available all the necessary technology such as polymer materials, device architecture, process know-how, and device prototyping to companies wishing to evaluate LEP display technology. PODIA will use its Web site, www.podia.net, as the primary channel for communication with target companies. Initially, members of the alliance intend to publish the availability and sale of LEP evaluation kits online. Once purchased, companies can get technical support, access frequently answered questions, and enter dialogue with support engineers through a common point of entry. "Not only are LEPs set to displace traditional display technologies such as LCD and CRT, but they will also enable a whole series of as yet unknown applications. We have formed this alliance to provide support to developers at every stage of the supply chain, from display designers, product developers and manufacturers," says Mark Gostick, marketing director, CDT. E-mail: [email protected].

Technology 'beams home' noise-free voice recognition

One of my favorite scenes in the movie, Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home, was when Scottie tried unsuccessfully to talk to the computer and finally had to resort to the "old-fashioned" keyboard. If Scottie returns to this century any time soon, he would be pleasantly surprised. Speech recognition is arguably one of the fastest growing segments of the technology industry, making inroads into everything from consumer electronics to computer applications. But the technology is far from perfect, especially in noisy environments. In an attempt to solve this, Sensory Inc. (Sunnyvale, CA) will embed a noise reduction technology from Sarnoff Corp. (Princeton, NJ) into its interactive speech ICs and software products. Voice control of cell phones, home appliances, automobiles, and other consumer products may soon find their way into the mainstream with VoiceThru^TM. VoiceThru lessens or eliminates noise through a family of speech-enhancement algorithms. "Solutions span low-complexity, spectral-based methods to multiple microphone/statistical beamforming techniques," says Bill Porter, VoiceThru general manager for Sarnoff. The first speech recognition ICs, the RSC-364 and RSC-264T, to utilize VoiceThru, will be available sometime this fall. E-mail: [email protected].

Toothless but tough

Tungsten grit bandsaw blades new from C4 Carbides cut hard and abrasive materials that cannot be cut efficiently, if at all, by traditional toothed blades. Tungsten grit, metallurgically bonded to an alloy steel blade, cuts metals as hard as 65 RC. The blade also slices through new composite materials developed for the construction and aerospace industries, as well as steel-reinforced tires, special alloys, carbon and graphite, and foamed glass. C4's bandsaw blades are available in seven widths, two edge styles, and coarseness grades to suit all applications. Call +44 223 240135, fax +44 223 410703.

Giants target faster memory

Working together to speed introduction of next-generation memory technology, Fujitsu Ltd. and Toshiba Corp. announced a joint effort to introduce a high-speed memory device called Fast Cycle RAM. FCRAM technology will adopt a new memory architecture to achieve operating cycle times 2 to 3 times faster than conventional DRAMs. The agreement calls for joint development of 64, 128, and 256 MBit devices. Potential applications: computer graphics, buffer memory for printers, telecommunications products, and other areas where the high-speed advantage of FCRAM technology can be fully utilized. For further information visit www.fujitsu.co.jp/index-e.html.

Software builds virtual machines

Providing detailed mechanical stress analysis of parts as well as entire systems is the focus of a new simulation program from Silux AG. Based on a finite difference algorithm allowing for the exact simulation of nonstationary mechanics, the software lets users 1) build virtual machines and watch how they operate on screen, 2) carry out measurements on the virtual machines while they are running, and 3) see how the machines respond to given controls to optimize operation. "We want to be able to simulate on the computer any machine that anyone can dream up," says Chief Technology Officer Fritz Leibundgut. The package runs on Windows NT and Power Macs; Silux interfaces with DXF and IGES for data exchange. Call +41 52 366 0330, visit www.silux.com, or Circle 704.

NO_x killer

Fuel-efficient engines can reduce carbon dioxide and hydrocarbon emissions, but produce more nitrogen oxide (NO_x when drivers accelerate or travel at high speeds. A ceramics-based catalyst system, from Best Envirotech Co. Ltd., is said to capture and dissolve these pollutants. Called "Electric Stone," the catalyst's ionizing effect promotes the oxidation-reduction reaction in the fuel to reduce nitrogen oxides by nearly 70%. The company also takes credit for a 30% drop in fuel consumption. Placed in the fuel tank of a gas or diesel motor vehicle, the product is said to be effective for three years. Fax +81 45 4021161, or E-mail [email protected].

Seeking Y2K help?

The millennium problem is presenting industry and government agencies with the largest software-maintenance problem in digital history. SYSTEMS 99 supports those who are interested in or directly affected by this problem with online help. Anyone who visits the www.systems.de/jahr2000 web site can participate in the Millennium Special, which includes a variety of articles and useful links that can help optimize a company's approach to Y2K. An online discussion forum, furthermore, lets visitors converse about this subject interactively.

Build ICs on balls, not wafers

Instead of manufacturing ICs on flat chips, why not use silicon spheres as a substrate? "As chips increase in complexity, the processes used to create them undergo a corresponding complexity increase," says Alex Freeman, R&D manager of BALL Semiconductor (Allen, TX). "Moving to larger wafer sizes helps from a productivity standpoint, but will antiquate existing manufacturing technologies." Rather than placing more and more functions on one chip, the BALL approach would produce spheres with different functions in a uniform process, and then cluster the spheres needed to build a system. "Because this technology will enable production in a single, enclosed process," adds Freeman, "manufacturing fabs can shrink accordingly." E-mail [email protected].

Sound surpasses light

An ultrasonic barrier device offers a maintenance-free alternative to light-barrier technology that can be sensitive to dirt, dust, humidity, and even extraneous light. Such contamination does not affect the Siemens Sonar Ber proximity switch. Good for detecting objects with widely differing properties, even under difficult ambient conditions, the device offers a switch frequency fast enough for counting closely placed products moving on high-speed conveyor belts.

Norwegians Think electric

Ford Motor Co. is hoping to bring its Think electric car to the U.S. market in 2000, with sales scheduled to begin in Norway at the end of 1999. Developed by the Norwegian company Pivco Industries, Think has a one-piece, pre-painted plastic body mounted on a steel and aluminum frame. The Norwegians claim that the car is as safe as a metal-bodied vehicle, while significantly less expensive to produce, because it eliminates the need for a paint shop in the factory and for tooling of sheet-metal parts. Think uses Ni-Cd batteries and can go 100 Km before needing to be recharged. Its top speed is 90 Kmph, although it is intended to be used in city traffic at lower speeds. Ford became majority owner in Pivco last year, with the aim of putting Think into mass production. The plan is to produce 1,500 cars in 1999, eventually working up to 5,000. The price has not yet been set, but, in Norway, Ford believes the car will be competitive because electric cars don't pay. Call +47 815 44 415 or e-mail [email protected].

Push-together cold welding

A metal joining method that uses anti-lubricant materials causes rapid seizure between interfering metal parts when a wheel is forced onto a shaft, for instance. Trib-joints (from tribology) fill the gap in the mechanical joining spectrum between adhesives and fusion welds. As the high points of the microscopic surfaces plastically deform, the anti-lubricant scavenges oxygen, causing parts to seize up with predictable force. Trib- joints can be made from a line of chemical products: Trib-Gel is a consumable in a syringe; Trib-Paste is a blend for joining wire cables; and Trib-Tools are impregnated abrasive tools for surface preparation. Find out more from [email protected].