To develop ultra high density magnetic recording systems, a quasi-static system with a reciprocating medium motion against a stand still head was developed for a read/write tester. Double-layered perpendicular recording media and merged GMR heads assembled on a conventional head-gimbal assembly (HGA) were applied to evaluate the read/write performances. A smooth sliding contact motion was achieved, however, the head-to-medium spacing was varied depending on the head motion direction. The spacing in the reverse running direction of the conventional head slider seems to be smaller than that of the flying height in a high-speed spin stand. A merged ring head was suitable for perpendicular magnetic recording in the case of the reverse direction sliding.

We propose a scheme for the design of irregular low-density parity-check (LDPC) codes based on Euclidian Geometry using Latin square matrices of random sequence. Our scheme is a deterministic method that allows the easy design of good irregular LDPC codes for any code rate and degree distribution. We optimize the LDPC codes using the Gaussian approximation method. A Euclidean Geometry LDPC code (EG-LDPC) is used as the basis for the construction of an irregular LDPC code. The base EG-LDPC code is extended by splitting rows and columns using a table of Latin square matrices of random sequence to determine the edges along which to split. We provide simulation results for codes constructed in this manner evaluated in terms of bit error rate (BER) performance in AWGN channels. We believe that our scheme is superior in terms of computational requirements and resulting BER performance in comparison to creation of irregular LDPC codes by means of random construction using a search algorithm to exclude cycles of length four.

A new technique for optical generation of high-purity millimeter-wave (mm-wave) signals--namely, by synthesizing the outputs from cascadingly phase-locked multiple semiconductor lasers--was developed. Firstly, a high-spectral-purity mm-wave signal was optically generated by heterodyning the outputs from two phase-locked external-cavity semiconductor lasers. The beat signal was detected by a p-i-n photodiode whose output was directly coupled to a coax-waveguide converter followed by a W-band harmonic mixer. By constructing an optical phase-locked loop (OPLL), a high-spectral-purity mm-wave signal with an electrical power of 2.3 µW was successfully generated at 110 GHz with an rms phase fluctuation of 57 mrad. Secondly, the frequency of the mm-wave signal was extended by use of three cascadingly phase-locked semiconductor lasers. This technique uses a semiconductor optical amplifier (SOA) to generate four-wave-mixing (FWM) signals as well as to amplify the input signals. When the three lasers were appropriately tuned, two pairs of FWM signals were nearly degenerated. By phase-locking the offset frequency in one of the nearly degenerated pairs, the frequency separations among the three lasers were kept at a ratio of 1:2. Thus, we successfully generated high-purity millimeter-wave optical-beat signals at frequencies at 330.566 GHz with an rms phase fluctuation of 0.38 rad. A detailed analysis of the phase fluctuations was carried out on the basis of measured power spectral densities. The possibility of extending the mm-wave frequency up to 1 THz by using four cascadingly phase-locked lasers was also discussed.

A mobile station (MS) positioning method using signal strength is an algorithm to estimate the geographical position of a target MS based on measured strength of signals transmitted to/from the MS from/to multiple base stations (BSs) at known geographical positions. This paper proposes a novel MS positioning method using signal strength in cellular systems. The primary sources of position location error for positioning methods using signal strength are multipath fading and shadowing. Although signal strength averaging can help to reduce the effect of multipath fading, the effect of shadowing still remains. In order to eliminate the error caused by shadowing, the proposed method applies a statistical approach and a minimum mean squared error (MMSE) criterion to determine a position estimate. The performance of the proposed method is compared to that of a maximum likelihood (ML) positioning method and a cell-site positioning method. The performance is obtained by computer simulations and field experiments. A computer simulation result shows that the proposed method can determine position estimates in higher probability than the ML method. Also, it is shown that the proposed method provides higher accuracy than the ML method and the cell-site method.

Intelligent paging uses the sequential paging technique with additional user information in order to reduce the paging delay cost and the paging load cost. Our proposed paging scheme uses distribution density information of users as required additional user information. This letter addresses an optimal paging sequence and introduces formulas to calculate the paging costs. These formulas are necessary to evaluate the performance of location management. The paging delay cost and the paging load cost for the proposed paging scheme and two other paging schemes are calculated and numerical analyses for these paging schemes are performed. Results show how the paging delay cost and the paging load cost vary as either the paging request arrival rates or the number of cells in an LA increases. The proposed paging scheme is more efficient in view of both the paging delay cost and the paging load cost.

The density gradient (DG) model is tested for its ability to describe tunneling currents through thin insulating barriers. Simulations of single barriers (MOS diodes, MOSFETs) and double barriers (RTDs) show the limitations of the DG model. For comparison, direct tunneling currents are calculated with the Schrodinger-Bardeen method and used as benchmark. The negative differential resistance (NDR) observed in simulating tunneling currents with the DG model turns out to be an artifact related to large density differences in the semiconductor regions. Such spurious NDR occurs both for single and double barriers and vanishes, if all semiconductor regions are equally doped.

A soft-decision decoding scheme of low-density parity-check codes (LDPC) is proposed for hard-detected signals of optical fiber communication (OFC) systems. Based on the error detection, the proposed scheme converts the received hard-decision into soft reliability for the input of the LDPC decoder, and soft-decision decoding is performed. Simulation results under OFC channels are shown and superior performance is obtained by using the proposed decoding scheme of the LDPC codes.

In this paper, we consider two types of promises for (k-)CNF formulas which can help to find a satisfying assignment of a given formula. The first promise is the Hamming distance between truth assignments. Namely, we know in advance that a k-CNF formula with n variables, if satisfiable, has a satisfying assignment with at most pn variables set to 1. Then we ask whether or not the formula is satisfiable. It is shown that for k 3 and (i) when p=nc (-1 < c 0), the problem is NP-hard; and (ii) when p=log n/n, there exists a polynomial-time deterministic algorithm. The algorithm is based on the exponential-time algorithm recently presented by Schoning. It is also applied for coloring k-uniform hypergraphs. The other promise is the number of satisfying assignments. For a CNF formula having 2n/2nε (0 ε < 1) satisfying assignments, we present a subexponential-time deterministic algorithm based on the inclusion-exclusion formula.

Array antennas are employed at the receiver for a variety of purposes such as to combat fading or to reduce co-channel interference. To evaluate the performance of a wireless communications system using antenna arrays it becomes necessary to have spatial channel models that describe the Angle of Arrival (AOA), Time of Arrival (TOA) and the Angle Spread (AS) of the multipath components. Among the most widely used radio propagation models is the single bounce scattering geometric model, where propagation between the transmitting and receiving antennas is assumed to take place via single scattering from an intervening obstacle. Currently, several geometric models are available such as circular and elliptical scattering models, with each model being applicable to a specific environment type. This paper addresses the modeling, simulation and evaluation of the angle spread in smart antenna systems taking into account the Gaussian density model, and proves that the model finds use both in a micro cell as well as in a macro cell environment. Moreover, we show statistics for the angle and time of arrival.

A number of results on the estimation of direction of arrival have been obtained based on the assumption that the signal sources are point sources. Recently, it has been shown that signal source localization can be accomplished more adequately with distributed source models in some real surroundings. In this paper, we consider modeling of three-dimensional distributed signal sources, in which a source location is represented by the center angles and degrees of dispersion. We address estimation of the elevation and azimuth angles of distributed sources based on the proposed distributed source modeling in the three-dimensional space using two linear arrays. Some examples are included to more explicitly show the estimation procedures under the model: numerical results obtained by a MUSIC-based method with two uniform linear arrays are discussed.

This paper describes the behavior of voids that were formed due to electromigration and diffusion in the interconnections of gold during a DC bias tests of GaAs ICs to current densities in the interconnections of 0.67 106 A/cm2 to 1.27 106 A/cm2 in the high temperature range of 230 to 260. We have found that the voids were formed at the centers in the cross sections of the interconnections and that gold is left around the voids, which means current still flows after the void formation. We have carefully observed the movement of the anode and cathode side edge of the voids during the tests and found that edges moved toward the cathode, in the direction opposite to the electron flow. This direction is constant. Also, the voids are extended, which means that the velocity of the cathode side edge is greater than that of the anode side edge. The velocity of the edges almost proportionally increased with the current density. The constant edge movement direction and the velocity of the edge dependence on the current density suggest that one of the causes of the edge movement is electromigration. The velocity of the edge depends on the distance between the anode side edge of the void and the through hole. The velocity increases in accordance with a decrease in the distance. This means that one of the causes of the edge movement is the diffusion of gold atoms by a concentration and pressure gradient. The GaAs IC failed at almost the same time as the voids appeared. It is important for reliability to prevent the formation of voids caused by electromigration and diffusion.

We present the effects of N2O plasma treatment for hot carrier reliability and gate oxide stability in excimer-laser annealed poly-Si TFTs. N2O plasma treatment between SiO2 and poly-Si suppresses both the reduction in mobility caused by hot carrier stress and the Vth shift caused by gate bias stress. The results of XPS spectra and the energy distribution of the trap state density of stressed TFTs show that the introduction of Si-N bonds plays an important role in poly-Si TFT reliability.

Write linear density limit is defined to analyze the magnetic recording process in computer hard disk drives at extremely high recording densities. The digital data with pseudo random sequences are recorded numerically in longitudinal media at different densities by a micromagnetic simulation model. A thin film write head and an ideal GMR read head are utilized in the record and read-back process, respectively. A novel method has been utilized to study the write linear density limit: the simulated read back voltage and the respected linear superposed pulses are compared to find the distortion in the record process. When a severe distortion shows up, the corresponding linear density is considered as the write linear density limit. By the novel method, the write linear density limit is analyzed with different parameters of the recording media.

As technology moves to 600-1000 Gb/sq-in areal densities and deep sub-10 nm head-disk spacing, it is of crucial importance to prevent both the conventionally defined thermal decay and the tribologically induced decay of recorded magnetic signal. This paper reports a novel method for recording and visualizing the signature of the potential tribological decay. The details of the methodology, its working principles, and typical results obtained are presented in this work. The method is based on the introduction of a type of visualizing disks which use a layer of magneto-optical material with low Curie temperature to replace the magnetic layer used in the conventional magnetic media. The method and corresponding setup were used successfully in the visualization of potential decay caused by slider-particle-disk contact, slider-disk contact during track seeking operations, and slider-disk impact during loading and unloading operations.

This paper describes an innovative, high-speed optical backboard bus composed of an optical star coupler, optical-transmitter modules, optical-receiver modules, and optical multi-mode glass fibers. A highly efficient optical coupling structure with an aspherical lens and a laser diode was designed to achieve a coupling efficiency of 90%, enabling distribution of optical signals at up to 1 Gb/s to 50 function boards. Embedded optical fibers in a printed circuit board were used to achieve precise control of the optical propagation delay times and permit a high packaging density. We developed small laser-diode and photo-diode modules suitable for optical coupling with the embedded fibers. A fabricated prototype optical backboard bus controlled by a controller IC mounted on a function board was able to successfully distribute high-speed optical signals to function boards with a high packaging density.

Recently, Kasahara and Murakami proposed new product-sum type public-key cryptosystems with the Chinese remainder theorem, Methods B-II and B-IV. They also proposed a new technique of selectable encryption key, which is referred to as 'Home Page Method (HP Method).' In this paper, first, we describe Methods B-II and B-IV. Second, we propose an effective attack for Method B-II and discuss the security of Methods B-II and B-IV. Third, applying the HP Method to Methods B-II and B-IV, we propose new product-sum type PKC with selectable encryption key. Moreover, we discuss the security of the proposed cryptosystems.

The thermal response of a tunable laser is analyzed by using a mode density method based on a Fourier-Laplace analysis. This method introduces a mode density function for mode distribution of the Fourier-Laplace transform and gives temperature time-dependency in an integral form instead of an infinite weighted summation. When symmetric structures are assumed, the mode density method gives the transient thermal response in a simple form: error functions (spherical-symmetry case) and exponential integral functions (cylindrical-symmetry case). The cylindrical-symmetry analysis was extended to the noncylindrical-symmetry model and the thermal response of the tunable laser was calculated by the mode density method. The result shows good agreement with a Fourier-Laplace analysis (deviation 2%) and experimental results. As a rough estimation, the thermal response of the laser is in proportion to the logarithm of time in some range that depends on the chip and tuning-section size of the laser.

An optimal allocation model for the sub-processing-element (sub-PE) level redundancy is developed, which is solved by the genetic algorithms. In the allocation model, the average defect density D and the parameter δ are also considered in order to accurately analyze the element yield, where δ is defined as the ratio of the support circuit area to the total area of a PE. When the PE's area is imposed on the constraint, the optimal solutions of the model with different D and δ are calculated. The simulation results indicate that, for any fixed average defect density D, both the number of the optimal redundant sub-circuit added into a PE and the PE's yield decrease as δ increases. Moreover, for any fixed parameter δ, the number of the optimal redundant sub-circuit increases, while the optimal yield of the PE decreases, as D increases.

This paper introduces a new digital ATC (Automatic Train Control device) system. In the current ATC, the central ATC logic device calculates permissive speed of each blocking section and controls speed of all trains. On the other hand, in the new digital ATC, the central logic controller calculates each position to which a train can move safely, and sends the information on positions to all trains. On each train, the on-board equipment calculates an appropriate braking pattern with the information, and controls velocity of the train. That is, in the new system, the device on each train autonomously calculates permissive speed of that train. These special features realize ideal speed control of each train making full use of its performance for acceleration and deceleration, which in turns allows high-density train operations.

Recently, Kasahara and Murakami proposed new product-sum public-key cryptosystems using the Chinese remainder theorem as the trapdoor. We proposed 'Yaezakura' as the high-density product-sum PKC applying the method using the reduced bases. In this paper, we propose another high-density scheme with the Chinese remainder theorem trapdoor using the message extension. We also show that the proposed scheme is invulnerable to the low-density attack. In the proposed scheme, the sender can freely select the positions of the dummy messages.