Adaptive Resonance Theory Microchips describes circuit strategies resulting in efficient and functional adaptive resonance theory (ART) hardware systems. While ART algorithms have been developed in software by their creators, this is the first book that addresses efficient VLSI design of ART systems. All systems described in the book have been designed and fabricated (or are nearing completion) as VLSI microchips in anticipation of the impending proliferation of ART applications to autonomous intelligent systems. To accommodate these systems, the book not only provides circuit design techniques, but also validates them through experimental measurements. The book also includes a chapter tutorially describing four ART architectures (ART1, ARTMAP, Fuzzy-ART and Fuzzy-ARTMAP) while providing easily understandable MATLAB code examples to implement these four algorithms in software. In addition, an entire chapter is devoted to other potential applications for real-time data clustering and category learning.

CMOS Circuit Design for RF Sensors is about CMOS circuit design for sensor and actuators to be used in wireless RF systems. The main application is implantable transducers for biomedical purposes such as sensing of nerve signals and electrical stimulation of nerves. Special focus is put on the power and data link in a wireless system with transducers which are powered via the RF link. Novel principles and methods are presented for the regulation of power to the sensors and for the distribution of data and power in an implanted transducer system. One of the main problems in such systems is the transmission of power via an RF link. This problem is analyzed in detail and solutions incorporating an RF magnetic link to the transducers are identified. The theoretical results are supported by experiments from CMOS chips including a system chip for functional electrical stimulation (FES).

This book focuses on the growth of nanomaterials as thin films. It covers the recent development of thin films using different techniques, such as electrodeposition.

During the first decade following the invention of the transistor, progress in semiconductor device technology advanced rapidly due to an effective synergy of technological discoveries and physical understanding. Through physical reasoning, a feeling for the right assumption and the correct interpretation of experimental findings, a small group of pioneers conceived the major analytic design equations, which are currently to be found in numerous textbooks. Naturally with the growth of specific applications, the description of some characteristic properties became more complicated. For instance, in inte­ grated circuits this was due in part to the use of a wider bias range, the addition of inherent parasitic elements and the occurrence of multi­ dimensional effects in smaller devices. Since powerful computing aids became available at the same time, complicated situations in complex configurations could be analyzed by useful numerical techniques. Despite the resulting progress in device optimization, the above approach fails to provide a required compact set of device design and process control rules and a compact circuit model for the analysis of large-scale electronic designs. This book therefore takes up the original thread to some extent. Taking into account new physical effects and introducing useful but correct simplifying assumptions, the previous concepts of analytic device models have been extended to describe the characteristics of modern integrated circuit devices. This has been made possible by making extensive use of exact numerical results to gain insight into complicated situations of transistor operation.

Of all the components that go into electronic equipment, the printed circuit probably requires more manufacturing operations-each of which must be per­ formed by a skilled person-than any other. As a shift supervisor early in my printed circuit career, I had to hire and train personnel for all job functions. The amount of responsibility delegated to my subordinates depended strictly on how well I had been able to train them. Training people can be a trying experience and is always a time-consuming one. It behooved me to help my workers obtain the highest degree of job under­ standing and skill that they and I were capable of. One hindrance to effective teaching is poor continuity of thought, for example, having to say to a trainee, "Wait a minute; forget what I just told you. We have to go back and do some­ thing else first. " It was in trying to avoid pitfalls such as this that I undertook a detailed examination of the processes involved, what I thought each trainee had to know, and what questions they would most frequently ask. From this analysis I developed the various process procedures. Only after I had done so was I able to train effectively and with the confidence that I was doing the best possible job. Answers had to be at hand for all of their questions and in what­ ever detail they needed to know.

Written by hundreds experts who have made contributions to both enterprise and academics research, these excellent reference books provide all necessary knowledge of the whole industrial chain of integrated circuits, and cover topics related to the technology evolution trends, fabrication, applications, new materials, equipment, economy, investment, and industrial developments of integrated circuits. Especially, the coverage is broad in scope and deep enough for all kind of readers being interested in integrated circuit industry. Remarkable data collection, update marketing evaluation, enough working knowledge of integrated circuit fabrication, clear and accessible category of integrated circuit products, and good equipment insight explanation, etc. can make general readers build up a clear overview about the whole integrated circuit industry.

This book presents an enticing introduction to tropical circuits and their use as a rigorous mathematical model for dynamic programming (DP), which is one of the most fundamental algorithmic paradigms for solving combinatorial, discrete optimization problems.

Vacuum circuit breakers are widely used in distribution power systems for their advantages such as maintenance free and eco-friendly. Nowadays, most circuit breakers used at transmission voltage level are SF6 circuit breakers, but the SF6 they emit is one of the six greenhouse gases defined in Kyoto Protocol. Therefore, the development of transmission voltage level vacuum circuit breaker can help the environment. The switching arc phenomena in transmission voltage level vacuum circuit breakers are key issues to explore.

This book contains the revised contributions of the 18 tutorial speakers at the tenth AACD 2001 in Noordwijk, the Netherlands, April 24-26. The conference was organized by Marcel Pelgrom, Philips Research Eindhoven, and Ed van Tuijl, Philips Research Eindhoven and Twente University, Enschede, the Netherlands. The program committee consisted of: Johan Huijsing, Delft University of Technology Arthur van Roermund, Eindhoven University of Technology Michiel Steyaert, Catholic University of Leuven The program was concentrated around three main topics in analog circuit design. Each of these topics has been covered by six papers.