bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Infrared transmission loss increase of Germania—doped silica fiber caused by hydrogen and its mechanism
Authors: Ogai Mikio , Iino Akira , Matsubara Kunihiro
Published: July 2007

The increase in infrared transmission loss due to hydrogen has to be removed completely with good understanding of its mechanism before practical utilization of a 1.55‐μm window in germania‐doped silica fibers for a long‐haul optical transmission system. Many kinds of fibers with various compositions from different processes have been manufactured and subjected to hydrogen acceleration tests to solve this problem. From these studies, such alkali impurities as sodium and potassium have been found to have a negative effect on germania‐doped silica causing an increase of infrared transmission loss as well as phosphorus. Such alkalis exist in some of the natural silica tubes used widely as a supporting tube in the MCVD process or as a jacketing tube in the VAD and MCVD processes. Most of them have been found to be removed during the MCVD process, while residual alkali impurities in the jacketed tube have been found to migrate into the central part of the fiber during the fiber drawing process and form germania‐associated defects. These experiments show that removal of alkali impurities and phosphorus is essential in protecting germania‐doped silica fibers from the adverse effect of hydrogen and maintain a minimized transmission loss in the 1.55‐μm window with smaller excess loss than in the 1.3‐μm window. Electron spin resonance analysis has helped in understanding the behavior of phosphorus and alkali impurities and establishing a reaction model with hydrogen.
Analysis of the light—beam scattering and the sum and differential signal output by arbitrarily shaped pits and bosses
Authors: Funabiki Yuji , Kojima Toshitaka
Published: July 2007

When the boundary element method is applied to an electromagnetic scattering problem in an open region, an infinite integral must be carried out if the scatterer has an infinite extent. If the incident wave is a beam wave, it exists in a narrow region centered around the illuminated region. However, although the surface current excited by this incident field decays quickly in the case of E‐wave incidence since the position is separated from the illuminated region, it is distributed in a broad range in the H‐wave incidence. In this paper, a method for evaluating such an integral over a broad region is applied to the problem of scattering by arbitrarily shaped pits and bosses. It is demonstrated that an analysis for the H‐wave incidence can be done with the same accuracy for the E‐wave. In conventional analysis methods, substantial numerical errors are unavoidable for the H‐wave case. In addition, an analysis is carried out for the output signal characteristics for the hypothetical signal detection system of an optical disk. A detailed study is carried out as to how the sum and difference signal output by rectangular trapezoidal and V‐shaped pits and bosses depend on the shape and dimensions of the pit and boss or the off‐axis shift (tracking misalignment) of the incident beam and the shift of the focus.
Microstrip—line split—ring resonators and their application to bandpass filters
Authors: Makimoto Mitsuo
Published: July 2007

The author has already reported a much more miniaturized split‐ring resonator compared with the existing one‐wavelength ring resonators by using microstrip lines and a prototype two‐stage tunable bandpass filter. In the present paper, basic characteristics and salient features of split‐ring resonators are summarized. Using a general‐purpose simulation program for analysis of microwave circuits, calculating methods of filter coupling parameters, derived by using generalized expression of inverters, were described. The design chart was constructed indicating the concrete steps for designing. Finally, a three‐stage filter for a 600‐MHz band based on the forementioned results was designed and fabricated, and its operational characteristics were presented. The experimental results agreed quite well with the results of a computer simulation. The validity of the present design method has been confirmed.

The bandpass filters using split‐ring resonators have a suitable structure for a high‐frequency hybrid IC. They are considered to be applicable over a wide frequency band in UHF to SHF bands.
An optimized design for high‐performance megabit DRAMs
Authors: Kumanoya Masaki , Dosaka Katsumi , Konishi Yashuhiro , Yoshihara Tsutomu , Miyatake Hideshi , Ikeda Yuto , Furuta Isao
Published: July 2007

Actual guidelines for the techniques to be employed for high‐performance megabit DRAMs have been studied based on the performance analysis of conventional NMOS 1MDRAMs. It was found that for reduction of access time, use of word line Al shunt method + polycide bit line system based of three‐layered poly‐silicon process, reduction of I/O line capacitance and use of CMOS current mirror‐type preamplifier are effective. For reduction of current consumption, 1/2Vccprecharge of bit lines, 1/2 division operation of memory arrays, and use of CMOS process are confirmed to be effective. For battery backup, reduction of standby current was considered. It was found that intermittent operation of substrate bias generator is effective. For further improvement, use of LDD transistors is needed in which twin wells with divided wells are presumed.

Based on the forementioned studies, CMOS 1MDRAMs were fabricated. The RAS access time at 5 V and 25°C was 50 ns with the current consumption of 28 mA (tc= 260 ns). Since the average standby current at refresh interval of 64 ms was 80 μA, battery backup is sufficiently possible in this high‐performance 1MDRAM.
Current‐voltage characteristics of all‐NbN nanobridges
Authors: Wang Zhen , Hamasaki Katsuyoshi , Yamashita Tsutomu , Matsui Toshiaki
Published: July 2007

All‐NbN nanobridges were developed for the thin‐film Josephson mixer in an integrated receiver for the detection of electromagnetic radiation. The transport mechanism of dc current and the product of the critical current‐normal state resistance were evaluated. As a result, it was found that when the thickness of an NbN film at the bridge section was (5 ∼ 7) ζ, bulk‐like non‐Josephson currents, which make the mixer design and operation analysis difficult, were superimposed on the critical current. The value of the non‐Josephson current was evaluted quantitatively by measuring the magnetic field dependence of the critical current. The non‐Josephson current due to the three‐dimensional effect of the current flowing through the bridge section was removed by Ar‐ion thinning of the NbN film at the bridge section. TheIJRNproduct was evaluated by using the true Josephson currentIJ.
Ultrabroadband amplifiers using hybrid circuits
Authors: Ito Yasushi
Published: July 2007

This paper describes the design, fabrication, and performance of hybrid distributed and lossy‐match amplifiers having a wide bandwidth. Two types of novelm‐derived low‐pass networks with a cutoff frequency of 22or greater than that of a conventionalm‐derived low‐pass network is proposed in order to achieve a wide bandwidth of the hybrid distributed and lossy‐match amplifiers. The distributed amplifier exhibits a gain of 6.0 ± 0.6 dB and a return loss of better than 10 dB over the 2 to 26.5 GHz band by using a novelm‐derived low‐pass network with a cutoff frequency 22times as high as that of a conventional network. On the other hand, the three‐stage lossy‐match amplifier shows a gain of 8.0 ± 0.6 dB and a return loss of better than 9 dB across the 2 to 32 GHz band by using a novalm‐derived low‐pass network with a cutoff frequency greater than 2 times as high as that of a conventional network.
Utilization of piezoelectric stiffened effects on impact printer heads
Authors: Yano Takeshi , Takahashi Sadayuki
Published: July 2007

The electromagnetic printer head has traditionally been used in the impact dot‐matrix printer based on the electromagnetic attractions. The traditional technique, however, is approaching its limit. To find a break‐through for this limit, efforts have been made to develop a printer head based on the piezoelectric effect. So far, however, there has not been realized a piezoelectric printer head with a better performance than that of the electromagnetic printer head. This paper discusses the direction to be aimed at by the high‐performance printer head based on the piezoelectric effect. The reported direction can be summarized as the use of the longitudinal stiffened piezoelectric effect, instead of the transversal piezoelectric effect considered in the past, as well as the use of the lever mechanism which is isolated structurally from the piezoelectric element, instead of the traditional bimorph structure. The first piezoelectric printer head for some commercial printer products has already been successfully fabricated based on the essential idea in this paper, indicating its practical usefulness.
Parallel‐running of two cylindrical cavity multiple‐device oscillators
Authors: Fukui Kiyoshi , Nogi Shigeji , Tanaka Satoshi , Ohishi Seiji
Published: July 2007

As a method to increase the number of devices while maintaining a high combining efficiency of the device output in a multiple‐device oscillator made of several devices in a cylindrical cavity, a parallel running of the multiple‐device cavities is studied. First, a differential equation is derived which describes the operation of a multiple‐device oscillator coupled with a transmission line. By means of this equation, a theoretical analysis is carried out for the mutual locking operation of a coupled system of two multiple‐device oscillators in which the unwanted modes are suppressed. Next, an experiment is carried out with two 8‐device TM020‐mode cylindrical cavity oscillators. As predicted from the theory, a parallel running characteristic is confirmed which is essentially identical to the one for two single‐device oscillators. The output combining efficiency exceeding 98 percent is obtained at the degree of coupling less than 0.3.

Further, the cases of nonoscillation by short or open accident of one or two devices and power supply failure are studied in a multiple‐device oscillator and its parallel operation. The basic data related to output power reduction and frequency variation due to each of the three types of failure are provided.
The optimization of a DRAM CMOS row decoder circuit
Authors: Ozaki Hideyuki , Miyamot Hiroshi , Yamagata Tadato , Hidaka Hideto
Published: July 2007

This paper discusses a CMOS row decoder, which is indispensable to a VLSI DRAM. The factors involved in operational delay are analyzed and an investigation is done in order to be able to realize high‐speed operation, while maintaining the feature of low power consumption. The following structure was decided upon in order to achieve highspeed operation: the NAND gate of the CMOS row decoder is shared by more than one of the subdecoders. The size of the MOS transistors (MOST) which make up the gate is increased. In the size‐ratio of the p‐ and n‐channel MOSTs in the CMOS inverter of the next stage, the p‐channel MOST is made larger than in the usual design. A problem which arises from the unbalanced CMOS inverter is pointed out, and the optimization of the pre‐charge signal of the decoder is discussed in order to deal with this problem.

For comparison, the optimized decoder circuit and an NMOS decoder are built into a IM DRAM test device, and their performances are compared. As a result of this test, it was verified that the operating current of the proposed CMOS row decoder is roughly 8 mA smaller than that of the NMOS circuit. The operational delay is negligible. By adopting the optimal precharge signal, a decoder circuit with a wide operational margin is realized.
Present status and future of silicon crystal technology for high‐performance silicon VLSI
Authors: Tsuya Hideki
Published: July 2007

This paper describes the present and future status of silicon crystal technology for high‐performance silicon VLSI. For 4 M to 16 M memory IC's, conventional technology must be developed further and the crystalline quality by gettering and wafer shape must be improved. The development of BiCMOS technology depends strongly on the improvement of epitaxial growth technology. A reduction in the device size causes problems in reliability and in the physical limit of the device performance.

To overcome these problems, research and development of new crystal growth technologies are in demand. Among these technologies, the SOI (silicon on insulator) technology, selective epitaxial growth and molecular beam epitaxy will be the key technologies for high‐performance VLSI with ultrahigh speed, very large‐scale and ultramultifunctions.
SATURN: Device technology for high‐speed bipolar LSIs
Authors: Okita Yoshihisa , Shinozawa Masahiko , Umemura Yoshio , Yamaguchi Kazuo , Akahane Koji
Published: July 2007

A new self‐alignment process technology SATURN (self alignment technology utilizing reserved nitride) has been developed in which the selective oxidation of polysilicon and the nitride films in this oxidation process are used for a number of objectives with a view to improve the operating speed of the bipolar devices. This method is characterized by the control of the emitter stripe width by the side wall spacer film thickness and the control of the distance between the emitter and the external base by the selective oxide film thickness are carried out independently. A process of optimization based on the forementioned control was carried out so that the small transistor with an emitter stripe width of 0.5 μm and a distance of 0.35 μm between the emitter contact and the base contact was realized. This resulted in a current gain of 66 and a cutoff frequency of 12 GHz. Further, this transistor was applied in the ECL circuit which resulted in the performance with the minimum propagation delay time of 88 ps in an inverter gate and the maximum dividing frequency of 3.5 GHz in a 1/8 divider.
Present status and future prospect of VLSI multilevel interconnection
Authors: Hazuki Yoshikazu , Ushiku Yukihiro , Matsuda Tetsuo , Kashiwagi Masahiro
Published: July 2007

As the degree of integration and speed of VLSI are advanced, the multilayered interconnection techniques become increasingly important. At the moment when the VLSI technology is advanced to 0.5 μm technology represented by 16 MDRAMs, electromigration by the high‐current density of Al interconnections and the stress migration by the stress from the interlayer insulating films are important in reliability of Al‐interconnections. Although the latter can be rectified by low‐temperature formation of the insulating films, the prevention of the former is still in a development stage. Since the spacing between the interconnections and the aspect ratio of the connecting hole increase, good planarization of the interlayer insulating films and buried planarization of the connecting holes are required.

These problems can be resolved by directive deposition of the insulation films and selective CVD of W. Further, as the miniaturization and the number of interconnection layers are increased, the crosstalk noise of the device due to the interconnection capacitances becomes significant. It is necessary to reduce the film thickness of the insulating layer and the interconnection so that the interconnection capacitance is reduced. In this paper, first the present status of the fine multilevel interconnections, the problems and solutions are presented. Next, the necessity of reduction of the interconnection capacitance and the prospect of the multilevel interconnection in the future after the 0.5 μm generation are described.
Hot carrier effects in 0.5–μm–wide trench–isolated MOSFET's
Authors: Akamatsu Susumu , Hori Takashi , Fuse Genshu , Tsuji Kazuhiko
Published: July 2007

With the progress in the higher integration of devices, the trench‐isolation method to isolate devices has been developed, replacing the conventional LOCOS method. However, the degradation of MOSFET's formed by the trench‐isolation method due to the hot carrier effect has not been reported.

In this study, to suppress the inverse narrow channel effect, narrow‐channel n‐channel MOSFET's with boron‐doped trench walls and a gate as narrow as 0.45 μm were fabricated, and the hot carrier effect in this device was then evaluated. In the evaluation, the dose and gate width were used as the parameters. It was found that although boron implantation to the trench walls is effective in suppressing the inverse narrow channel effect, the dose should be as low as possible to minimize the device characteristic degradation due to hot carriers. In the device with a submicron gate, the boron diffused from both trench walls and overlapped at the center of the gate, resulting in device degradation.
Structural dependence on device characteristics for sidewall base contact structure transistor
Authors: Washio Katsuyoshi , Nakazato Kazuo , Nakamura Tohru
Published: July 2007

Although silicon bipolar transistors have realized high‐speed characteristics by the development of self‐aligned techniques, the miniaturization of each part of the device structure is important to realize further improvement in operation speed. This paper considers the width of the sidewall contact between a base polysilicon and single crystal silicon, which is a characteristic structural parameter for sidewall base contact structure (SICOS). Also, its effect on the transistor characteristics and ECL circuit characteristics is examined.

As a result, it has been shown that the sidewall contact width determines the lateral diffusion length of the external base and affects the transistor characteristics concerning emitter‐base junction and external base‐intrinsic base link‐up. The transistor characteristics dependent on the separation between the external base and n+ buried layer is also clarified. As for the ECL circuit performance, the effect of structural parameters has been examined from the relation between its delay components and transistor characteristics, and the method for design optimization is shown.
Changes of characteristics in ain ceramics surface by laser irradiation
Authors: Takahashi Masaaki , Kurihara Yasutoshi , Yamada Kazuji , Kanai Kiyoshi , Kurihara Koichiro
Published: July 2007

When a highly thermally conductive A1N ceramic is used as an electronic substrate, the fabrication processes, such as dicing, resistor trimming, etc., are essential. However, when an A1N ceramic is irradiated by a laser beam during the scribing and resistor‐trimming processes, the resistivity of the ceramic decreases or its values become nonuniform.

After analyzing the laser‐irradiated area of the ceramic by X‐ray photospectroscopy and thin‐film X‐ray diffraction, a very small amount of metallic aluminum was detected in the irradiated area.

To avoid this problem: (1) laser irradiation should be carried out under 02 atmosphere so that the precipitated aluminum becomes α‐Al2O3; or (2) the ceramic should be treated thermally after irradiation so that the precipitated aluminum becomes α‐Al2O3. Therefore, when thermal treatment cannot be carried out after irradiation in cases such as resistor functional trimming and dicing thin‐film metallized substrates, method (1) should be used. When post heat‐treatment can be adopted (for example, thick‐film metallization process after dicing), method (2) should be used.
Holographic reconstruction of NMR images in Fresnel transform technique
Authors: Yamada Yoshifumi , Ito Satoshi , Tanaka Kunio
Published: July 2007

Since the signal obtained in the NMR Fresnel transform technique is given by an equation similar to that of the Fresnel diffraction equation in light, a technique in which the NMR signal in the Fresnel transform technique is recorded on a transparent film as a hologram and an image is reconstructed from such a hologram by using coherent laser light. Theoretical and experimental studies on such a technique are made in conjunction with the comparison between this technique and another technique in which the hologram is made from the NMR signal in the conventional Fourier imaging technique.

The experiments show that considerably good quality images are reconstructed from the holograms in 16 shades of gray made from the signals in the NMR Fresnel transform technique since the dynamic range of the signal in this technique is small. This results in a quantization of the signal with little loss of the information, and the fringe pattern of the hologram is distributed widely over the hologram plane.

The experiments show also that it is difficult to reconstruct good quality images from the holograms in 16 shades of gray made from the signals in the NMR Fourier transform technique. This is because most of the information of the image is lost by a quantization of the signal in such a small number of shades of gray since the dynamic range of the signal in the NMR Fourier transform technique is extremely large.

It is shown also that the dynamic range of the signal can be decreased using a quadratic nonlinear field gradient in the pulse sequence in the NMR Fourier transform technique, and great improvement in the quality of the optically reconstructed image is obtained.
A study on sweeping and radiation hardness for high‐purity synthetic quartz
Authors: Shimoda Yoshio , Uno Takehiko
Published: July 2007

To increase the radiation hardness of a quartz resonator, the sweeping process of a quartz is essential. This paper describes the influence of sweeping on defects and impurity density, and radiation hardness of a high‐purity synthetic quartz. Sweeping converts an Al‐M+type defect to Al‐OH−defect, where M+is an alkaline ion. The change in the defect type progresses from the positive electrode side to the negative electrode side.

After sufficient sweeping, Al‐OH−defects are located uniformly over the entire quartz. The density of the impurity M+, which is removed by sweeping, is almost the same as that of the newly formed Al‐OH−‐type defects. It was confirmed experimentally that M+was replaced with OH−.The frequency change of a swept quartz resonator due to radiation is 100 times smaller than that of an unswept quartz resonator. It is on the order of 10−8when irradiation was 106rad.
Analysis and application of switched‐capacitor transformers by formulation
Authors: Ueno Fumio , Inoue Takahiro , Umeno Tohru , Oota Ichirou
Published: July 2007

The operating characteristics of the switched capacitor transformer are formulated and analyzed by means of the state‐space averaging method for the three types: 1/2‐step‐down type, 2‐step‐up type, and polarity inverting type. The following conclusions are obtained:

(1) The static characteristic is equivalent to that of a battery with the induced voltage of the input times the transformer ratio and the output resistance represented by the duty ratio and the on‐resistances of the switches.

(2) Using switches having small on‐resistances and selecting a high duty ratio and the frequency five to ten times the natural frequency of the circuit, the output resistance can be made small and a high transforming efficiency of 80 to 90 percent can be realized.

(3) The dynamic characteristic is a first order for the step‐down type and a second order for the step‐up and polarization inverting type in which no oscillation results with a feedback. In comparison with a switching converter using a reactor, the present structure is superior in stability. These conclusions were confirmed experimentally.

Next, as an application of the switched‐capacitor transformer, a dc‐dc converter with a 12‐V input and a 5‐V output was constructed. As a method for regulating the output, an on‐resistance control was used instead of a conventional PWM control and a frequency control. The test results are excellent as: (1) the ripple of the output voltage is reduced to one‐tenth that for the PWM control, (2) the maximum output power is 50 W (10 A) and the efficiency is 80 percent for the specified input and output, and (3) the load response is excellent.
Response characteristics of an antiphase coupled oscillator system to an injection signal
Authors: Fukumoto Katsumi , Nakajima Masamitsu
Published: July 2007

Previously, a model for a microwave oscillator has been proposed which provides the oscillation load characteristics, unilateral injection locking characteristics and mutual locking characteristics that agree better with the experimental results than the van der Pol model often used in analysis.

In this paper, the model is simplified and used to study an antiphase coupled system made of two oscillators with identical characteristics coupled by a magic T in terms of its zero input signal characteristics and the response with an external input signal. The results show good agreement with experimental data.

It is found that a linear amplification is possible if the frequency of the external signal is equal to the antiphase locking frequency. Moreover, the antiphase locking is shifted to the quasi‐in‐phase or in‐phase locking if the frequency is near the antiphase locking frequency. It is proposed that an application to digitally modulated signal amplification is possible.
4‐GHz band bandpass filter using orthogonal array coupling TM110dual mode dielectric resonator
Authors: Nishikawa Toshio , Ishikawa Youhei , Hattori Jun , Kobayashi Yoshio
Published: July 2007

Using monoblock ceramics, we developed a TM110dual mode resonator with a fixed coupling coefficient. In this structure, a wide range of coupling coefficients was obtained, and the unloadedQwas not decreased due to the coupling coefficient. The coupling of the resonator was explained in terms of the principle of even and odd modes and the design procedure was presented. Using this resonator, a 4‐GHz band bandpass filter with a bandwidth of 500 MHz was fabricated. The insertion loss was found to be 0.2 dB and the temperature stability of the frequency was 0.35 MHz. This filter is useful as the input filter for satellite communication relay equipment.
High‐frequency simulation of the 600‐MHz wideband‐amplifier IC
Authors: Inohira Susumu , Shinmi Toshio , Nagata Minoru , Nakazawa Fumio , Iida Kyouichi
Published: July 2007

As analog ICs are finding use in a higher frequency band, a circuit simulator which is accurate in a high‐frequency region beyond 100 MHz becomes necessary. In this paper, a 600‐MHz wideband amplifier IC and its bipolar transistors and resistors are fabricated on an identical chip. By evaluating theirSparameters, the accuracy of the device model was verified for simulation of analog IC at frequencies above 100 MHz.

First, the parasitics of packages were modeled to verify the accuracy of the device model. It is shown that consideration of the resistance of pads is necessary. Next, the accuracy of the hybrid π model used widely as a high‐frequency model of the bipolar transistor was verified with theSparameters. It is found that the present form has poor accuracy at frequencies above 100 MHz. It is shown also that the IC structure of the transistor must be considered to improve the accuracy.

Significant improvement of accuracy can be obtained if an extended model is introduced in which the separations of the base‐collector capacitance and the base‐emitter capacitance and the introduction of substrate resistance are included. Finally, by means of this extended model, a good high‐frequency simulation of a 600‐MHz wideband amplifier IC is realized.
An efficient screening method for DRAM memory cell capacitor dielectric
Authors: Furutani Kiyohiro , Suwa Makoto , Arimoto Kazutami , Mashiko Koichiro , Yamada Michihiro , Matsumoto Masatoshi
Published: July 2007

High‐density DRAMs have become susceptible to small defects as their fabrication process becomes more complicated, i.e. smaller transistors, thinner dielectric films of memory cell capacitors and three‐dimensional memory cells. Therefore, it is necessary to establish a test method that strictly screens latent defective devices derived from the fabrication process in a short time.

Discussions about the defect modes during burn‐in tests indicate that recent high‐density DRAMs employing a 1/2‐VCCcell plate scheme exhibit slower convergence of initial defects in memory cell dielectric capacitor films than in metal wiring layers during burn‐in tests. To overcome this problem, a new operation mode (aging mode) that switches the cell plate voltage toVCCorVSSduring burn‐in tests is proposed.

In this aging mode, we can accelerate the aging process by putting sufficient electric field to capacitor dielectric films without applying excessive stress to normal devices. Good convergence of defective devices in a short time due to this aging mode by experimenting with burn‐in tests for the test devices havingVSScell plate capacitor dielectric films of 100 Å has been confirmed, and this aging mode on 4MDRAM devices has been implemented.
Binary logic operations using a beam scanning laser diode
Authors: Itoh Hideo , Mukai Seiji , Watanabe Masanobu , Mori Masahiko , Yajima Hiroyoshi
Published: July 2007

New optoelectronic logic operation systems are proposed by controlling the deflection angle of the beam from semiconductor lasers and basic experimental results are presented. The input signal of these systems is spatially coded optical patterns. All symmetrical operations for the two input signals (eight types including AND, OR, XOR, etc.) are realized by using two photodetectors, two amplifiers, and one beam‐scanning laser diode. These systems are advantageous because various logic gates can be realized by using only a small number of elements. Further, they are suitable for integration because the configuration, the delay time, and the size of the unit gates are almost the same.
Single‐phase unidirectional magnetostatic forward volume wave transducer using internal metal reflective arrays
Authors: Takeuchi Masao , Yamanouchi Kazuhiko , Nakamura Yoichi
Published: July 2007

This paper describes the experimental results of a single‐phase unidirectional magnetostatic forward volume wave transducer (MSFVW); this transducer effectively utilizes the reflections of metal strips placed asymmetrically in it. To design a single‐phase unidirectional transducer having internal reflectors, it is necessary to know the reflection characteristics of the metal strips but no study has been performed as yet to find the magnitude and phase of the reflection coefficient. Here, the reflection characteristics of a metal strip array for MSFVW are studied experimentally. For the single strip electrode, the reflection coefficient is in the range of 0.3 – 0.4, which is about one order higher than the value for surface acoustic wave (SAW) devices. Then it is shown for the first time that by properly utilizing the metal strip reflections, a unidirectional transducer can be realized without attaching an external phase shifter. The directivity of 13 dB was obtained for a transducer using four reflecting strips (which is a large value of directivity by a comparatively small number of elements). The phase of strip electrodes as determined from the direction was −90 deg, which is 180 deg different from the SAW devices.
Structure of polycrystalline silicon films by ultraviolet pulse laser annealing
Authors: Koike Yoshihiko , Aoyama Takashi , Okajima Yoshiaki
Published: July 2007

Silicon films deposited by low‐pressure chemical vapor deposition (CVD) technique was crystallized by ultraviolet (UV) pulse laser annealing and its crystallinity was evaluated by X‐ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy.

Although the average grain size of laser‐annealed Si films was smaller than that of Si films annealed at 600°C for 24 hr, in the former film, the density of defects was lower and the grain size was more uniform. In both laser annealed and thermally annealed films, most of the defects in the grains were twin defects whose twin faces were oriented in < 111 > direction and went across the entire grain. In the depth direction, two layers were observed: one had large grains and the other had small grains below. For Si films 330 nm in thickness and for laser intensity of 200 mJ/cm2, crystallization seemed to be initialized not only from the surface but also from the Si‐SiO2interface.

The texture of the films was either random (111) or textured (110), depending on the film deposition temperature and laser intensity. The laser absorption coefficient depended on the crystallinity of the film prior to laser illumination and the threshold energy for laser crystallization was larger for polysilicon films than for originally amorphous films.
Human resource development as an interdisciplinary body of knowledge
Authors: Jacobs Ronald L.
Published: July 2007

Human resource development (HRD) is a profession and an area of academic study in search of its own distinctiveness. Why does HRD lack distinctiveness? According to Jacobs, there are three explanations: it is still a relatively new area of professional practice and academic study; others may be uncertain about the tangible benefits of HRD; and, most important, it is interdisciplinary in nature; that is, it has been influenced by at least five major bodies of knowledge (education, systems theory, economics, psychology, and organizational behavior). Even though the interdisciplinary nature of HRD makes it difficult to find its distinctiveness, Jacobs offers suggestions to that end. First, he suggests that HRD research efforts be guided by an underlying theory that has as its focus the social and financial benefits of HRD. Second, he believes that the contributing areas should be reviewed and analyzed to reveal gaps in knowledge and to direct HRD research efforts in a more systematic manner. Finally, he encourages graduate students to conduct research that relates to the current knowledge in HRD in order to generate new, related propositions and to define existing ones. Distinctiveness for HRD may be difficult, but with the dedication and perseverance of the professionals involved, it is possible.
Toward a holistic model of organizational effectiveness and organizational development at different stages of growth
Authors: Flamholtz Eric G.
Published: July 2007

This article, which is based on Eric Flamholtz's more than seventeen years of observations of organizations (from small entrepreneur‐ships to Fortune 500 firms), molds a holistic framework from a synthesis of the organizational effectiveness model and the organizational life‐cycle model. Of special interest to HRD professionals are the recommendations regarding the role of human resources in four of the six tasks of organizational development: in the acquisition of resources, in the development of operational systems, in the refining of management systems, and in the shaping of the corporation's culture.
Matching instruction with employee perceptual preference significantly increases training effectiveness
Authors: Ingham Joanne M.
Published: July 2007

The results of this experimental study verify that truck drivers, truck mechanics, and their managers learn significantly more when their individual learning style perceptual preferences are matched with the appropriate instructional method. Furthermore, the results verify that these employees express significantly more positive attitudes toward company‐sponsored training programs when instruction complements their individual learning style preferences.
Workplace literacy: A descriptive investigation
Authors: Green Gary
Published: July 2007

This study sought to determine the literacy level of the manufacturing and retail personnel in firms that employ 150 or more people in the Oklahoma City metroplex. The number of employees tested was 116. Using the Adult Basic Learning Examination, Level Three, for analysis, the examinees scored an 11.4 grade level in vocabulary, a 10.9 grade level in reading, a 10.3 grade level in spelling, an 8.4 grade level in language, a 9.4 grade level in number operations, and an 11.3 grade level in problem solving. Although examinees reported having an average of 12.6 years of education, they scored a mean of 10.3. Analysis of individual test scores revealed four examinees in the illiterate range and forty in the functionally illiterate range, a 38 percent rate of illiteracy.
Designing team‐based employee involvement programs in a continuous improvement environment: An empirical investigation
Authors: Magjuka Richard J. , Baldwin Timothy T.
Published: July 2007

In response to competitive pressures, increased attention has been directed toward identifying design and administrative practices to improve the effectiveness of employee improvement programs (EIPs) and increase their contribution to continuous improvement in organizations. This study reports results from an empirical examination of the contribution of seven design variables to EIP effectiveness in ten field locations for seventy‐four teams containing approximately 1,400 employees. Variables examined included team size, team type, team rewards, team prestige, problem content, technological complexity, and benchmarking. The results suggest that two variables, team type and degree of benchmarking, significantly influence the effectiveness of EIPs. Implications for administrative practice and future research are discussed.
A review of the participatory management literature: Implications for HRD research and practice
Authors: Kahnweiler William M.
Published: July 2007

This review of 294 articles addresses participatory management from the perspective of several disciplines. Each article was classified across four dimensions: primary thrust, level of focus, audience, and HRD implications. Analyses revealed that the majority of writings have the following characteristics: (1) a conceptual or anecdotal account, (2) promotion of participative strategies, (3) focus geared to human resource professionals, and (4) lack of explicit direction for HRD research and practice. Results suggest the need to conduct empirically based outcome research that measures the effects of participatory practices on divisions or other units rather than on the total organization. Other suggestions for HRD research and practice are discussed.
Organizational learning: A review of the literature with implications for HRD professionals
Authors: Dixon Nancy M.
Published: July 2007

Organizational learning refers to learning at the system rather than individual level. The changing nature of work, global competitive challenges, and everpresent change require that human resource professionals focus on this higher level of learning. The literature on organizational learning can be classified into five areas: information acquisition, information distribution and interpretation, making meaning, organizational memory, and information retrieval. Each has special implications for the role of HRD professionals as learning facilitators.
A case study in forecasting the financial benefits of unstructured and structured on‐the‐job training
Authors: Jacobs Ronald L. , Jones Michael J. , Neil Sue
Published: July 2007

This case study sought to compare the forecasted financial benefits of unstructured and structured forms of on‐the‐job training (OJT). It contributes to the limited empirical literature on OJT and expands the reported use of the financial benefits forecasting model. The study was conducted in three task settings within a large truck‐assembly plant; each task setting differed in task difficulty and turnover rate. The results showed that structured OJT was forecasted to provide approximately twice the financial benefits and five times the efficiency compared to unstructured OJT across all three task settings. In general, turnover rate more than task difficulty affected the size of the benefits. It was concluded that structured OJT should be the preferred training option over unstructured OJT when considering financial benefits alone.
The relationship of on‐the‐job, off‐the‐job, and refresher training to human resource outcomes and variables
Authors: Kovach Kenneth A. , Cohen Debra J.
Published: July 2007

Only a few research studies have examined training methods and outcomes, and these have been limited in scope. This research examines three common training sources—on‐the‐job, off‐the‐job, and refresher—to determine their relationship to job satisfaction, pay, promotion, seniority, and projected organization tenure. Education is also examined to determine its relationship to the same five variables. Subjects were 628 nonmanagerial, semiskilled, and unskilled employees across 150 organizations.
The relationship between human resource development and corporate creativity in Japan
Authors: Stern Sam
Published: July 2007

This article reports the results of a two‐year study of the development and expression of creativity in Japanese companies and describes the relationship between human resource development (HRD) and corporate creativity. The distinction between individual and corporate creativity is discussed, and a definition of corporate creativity is proposed. The results of this study indicate that HRD policy, and in particular education and training, can influence corporate creativity through the promotion of information movement within the company and the selective acquisition of diverse stimuli. Implications for HRD policy and practice are described.
Invited reaction: Intellectualizing should not relieve the need to act
Authors: McLagan Patricia A.
Published: July 2007

It is easy to intellectualize about such issues as adopting knowledge creation as the key success factor, elevating the nonrational, and creating new leadership roles. Intellectualizing can often relieve just enough pressure to replace the need to act. Although Senge does not overtly encourage this co‐optation, the volume and conceptual nature of his points make it easy to be intellectually stimulated and then move on to the next article. But his assertions deserve deeper, more soulful reflection. They deserve a dialogue between Senge and the reader that makes the content come alive in real experiences. That is the reader's responsibility.
Relationships between current performance and likelihood of promotion for old versus young workers
Authors: Siegel Sidney R.
Published: July 2007

Relationships between current performance and likelihood of promotion were analyzed for more than seven hundred matched pairs of managers and their immediate supervisors. No significant differences were found in performance evaluations of younger and older managers. Supervisory perceptions of future promotions for the younger managers showed significant positive relationships with their performance. No such relationship was found for older managers.
Effects of self‐esteem and perceived goal difficulty on goal setting, certainty, task performance, and attributions
Authors: Tang Thomas Li‐Ping , Reynolds David B.
Published: July 2007

The research described in this article examined the interaction effects between self‐esteem and perceived goal difficulty on subjects' self‐set goals, certainty, performance, and attributions. Perceived goal difficulty was manipulated by asking subjects to compete on the same task against themselves, a difficult competitor, and an easy competitor. Subjects were divided into two groups characterized by high or low self‐esteem. Analysis showed that certainty, ability attribution, and task satisfaction for groups with low self‐esteem were affected by perceived goal difficulty especially in the difficult condition, whereas groups with high self‐esteem were not. Further, groups with low self‐esteem had lower goals, certainty, and task performance than groups with high self‐esteem. Subjects set higher goals and had higher performance in the difficult condition than in the easy one. Implications related to human resource development are discussed.
Training needs assessment at work: A dynamic process
Authors: Sleezer Catherine M.
Published: July 2007

In today's fast‐paced world of change, many of the performance bottlenecks found within organizations are caused by a lack of worker knowledge and skills. Because organizations lack the resources to address all their training needs, analyzing performance needs has become increasingly important. This article focuses on the dynamics of training needs analysis. Thefirst section of the article describes the role of training needs analysis within an organization. The second section describes three elements that interact to influence the needs analysis process and results. The three elements are organization characteristics, decision‐maker characteristics, and analyst characteristics. The interaction of these elements influences the process used to identify the needs, the solutions that are identified, and the final product.
Effects of culture and gender on principal‐teacher communication in schools
Authors: Gougeon Thomas D. , Hutton Susan I.
Published: July 2007

This is a report of a 1990‐91 study done in nineteen public schools in the state of Washington and twenty public schools in the province of Alberta. The authors examined teacher perceptions when principals communicate their organizational expectations. Communication that conveys messages of personal or organizational values, directly or indirectly and relying on intrinsic or extrinsic motivational mechanisms, is called social control communication. The authors found an interactive effect by culture, principal gender, and teacher gender. Three significant findings are outlined: Canadian teachers more than U.S. teachers perceive principals as using positive motivation in social control communication; male teachers more than female, teachers perceive principals as using negative motivational behaviors when communicating expectations; and teachers perceive male principals more than female principals as communicating expectations from a personalized ego state.
The expatriate family firm and cross‐cultural management training: A conceptual framework
Authors: Wright Phillip C. , Nasierowski Wojciech
Published: July 2007

While Canadian firms, in general, are reluctant to operate internationally, the small firm with family or origin ties (F/OT) to a foreign country appears to be much more active. Previous research has suggested that this exporting behavior has less to do with generally accepted business principles (exploring perceived opportunities) than with a desire to return to one's cultural roots. Based on this premise and on our present and previous research, a comparison is made between large companies and the family firm, culminating in the presentation of a framework for cross‐cultural management development, in which self‐examination, research, and study are the primary features.
Augmenting behavior‐modeling training: Testing the effects of pre‐ and post‐training interventions
Authors: Werner Jon M. , O'Leary‐Kelly Anne M. , Baldwin Timothy T. , Wexley Kenneth N.
Published: July 2007

A number of recent training authors have suggested that pre‐ and post‐training interventions may enhance training outcomes. In the present study, pre‐ and post‐training interventions were added to an established behavior‐modeling program on assertiveness, creating four conditions: (1) no intervention, (2) pretraining interventions, (3) post‐training interventions, and (4) both. One hundred fifty trainees completed the module, and measures of trainee reaction, learning retention, and behavioral change were obtained. Results indicated that the post‐training intervention strongly affected learning retention, as well as reactions immediately following training, with moderate effects on behavior. No significant effects were observed between the pretraining intervention and any of the trainee outcome measures. Implications of the findings for training research and practice are discussed.
Human resource development as an occupational culture through organizational stories
Authors: Hansen Carol D. , Kahnweiler William M. , Wilensky Ava S.
Published: July 2007

This study investigated HRD as an occupational culture. Cultural patterns were derived from the analysis of subject‐generated stories of workplace experiences. Data were collected from HRD professionals employed by Fortune 500 companies. Exploratory findings suggest that HRD is a cultural entity that is more concerned with employee development and work autonomy than with overall business agendas.