An Experimental Evaluation of Resistive Defects and Different Testing Solutions in Low-Power Back-Biased SRAM Cells

This paper compares different types of resistive defects that may occur inside low-power SRAM cells, focusing on their impact on device operation. Notwithstanding the continuous evolution of SRAM device integration, manufacturing processes continue to be very sensitive to production faults, giving rise to defects that can be modeled as resistances, especially for devices designed to work in low-power modes. This work analyzes this type of resistive defect that may impair the device functionalities in subtle ways, depending on the defect characteristics and values that may not be directly or easily detectable by traditional test methods. We analyze each defect in terms of the possible effects inside the SRAM cell, its impact on power consumption, and provide guidelines for selecting the best test methods.

An Ultra-Low Power Implantable Medical Devices: An Engineering Perspective

Implantable Medical Devices (IMDs) reside within human bodies either temporarily or permanently, for diagnostic, monitoring, or therapeutic purposes. IMDs have a history of outstanding success in the treatment of many diseases, including heart diseases, neurological disorders, and deafness etc.,With the ever-increasing clinical need for implantable devices comes along with the continuous flow of technical challenges. Comparing with the commercial portable products, implantable devices share the same need to reduce size, weight and power. Thus, the need for device integration becomes very much imperative. There are many challenges faced when creating an implantable medical device. While this paper focuses on various techniques adapted to design a reliable device and also focus on the key electronic features of designing an ultra-low power implantable medical circuits for devices and systems.

Special Issue “Advanced Materials for Gas Sensors”

Today’s view on gas sensors end-users is more directed toward miniaturization, low power consumption, and intelligent device integration aiming to reply to several hot issues such as high sensitivity, optimum selectivity, fast response/recovery transients, and good long time stability [...]

Study of an Integration Platform Based on an Adiabatic Active-Layer Waveguide Connection for InP Photonic Device Integration Mirroring That of Heterogeneous Integration on Silicon

In this work, a photonic device integration platform capable of integration of active-passive InP-based photonic devices without the use of material regrowth is introduced. The platform makes use of an adiabatic active-layer waveguide connection (ALWC) to move an optical beam between active and passive devices. The performance of this platform is analyzed using an example made up of four main sections: (1) a fiber coupling section for enabling vertical beam coupling from optical fiber into the photonic chip using a mode-matched surface grating with apodized duty cycles; (2) a transparent waveguide section for realizing passive photonic devices; (3) an adiabatic mode connection structure for moving the optical beam between passive and active device sections; and (4) an active device section for realizing active photonic devices. It is shown that the coupled surface grating, when added with a bottom gold reflector, can achieve a high chip-to-fiber coupling efficiency (CE) of 88.3% at 1550 nm. The adiabatic active-layer mode connection structure has an optical loss of lower than 1% (CE > 99%). The active device section can achieve an optical gain of 20 dB/mm with the use of only 3 quantum wells. The optimized structural parameters of the entire waveguide module are analyzed and discussed.

Workflow Automation for a Virtual Hypertension Management Program

Objectives Hypertension is a modifiable risk factor for numerous comorbidities and treating hypertension can greatly improve health outcomes. We sought to increase the efficiency of a virtual hypertension management program through workflow automation processes. Methods We developed a customer relationship management (CRM) solution at our institution for the purpose of improving processes and workflow for a virtual hypertension management program and describe here the development, implementation, and initial experience of this CRM system. Results Notable system features include task automation, patient data capture, multi-channel communication, integration with our electronic health record (EHR), and device integration (for blood pressure cuffs). In the five stages of our program (intake and eligibility screening, enrollment, device configuration/setup, medication titration, and maintenance), we describe some of the key process improvements and workflow automations that are enabled using our CRM platform, like automatic reminders to capture blood pressure data and present these data to our clinical team when ready for clinical decision making. We also describe key limitations of CRM, like balancing out-of-the-box functionality with development flexibility. Among our first group of referred patients, 76% (39/51) preferred email as their communication method, 26/51 (51%) were able to enroll electronically, and 63% of those enrolled (32/51) were able to transmit blood pressure data without phone support. Conclusion A CRM platform could improve clinical processes through multiple pathways, including workflow automation, multi-channel communication, and device integration. Future work will examine the operational improvements of this health information technology solution as well as assess clinical outcomes.

The Rise of the Xenes: From the Synthesis to the Integration Processes for Electronics and Photonics

The recent outcomes related to the Xenes, the two-dimensional (2D) monoelemental graphene-like materials, in three interdisciplinary fields such as electronics, photonics and processing are here reviewed by focusing on peculiar growth and device integration aspects. In contrast with forerunner 2D materials such as graphene and transition metal dichalcogenides, the Xenes pose new and intriguing challenges for their synthesis and exploitation because of their artificial nature and stabilization issues. This effort is however rewarded by a fascinating and versatile scenario where the manipulation of the matter properties at the atomic scale paves the way to potential applications never reported to date. The current state-of-the-art about electronic integration of the Xenes, their optical and photonics properties, and the developed processing methodologies are summarized, whereas future challenges and critical aspects are tentatively outlined.