Collective electrodynamics I

Standard results of electromagnetic theory are derived from the direct interaction of macroscopic quantum systems; the only assumptions used are the Einstein-deBroglie relations, the discrete nature of charge, the Green's function for the vector potential, and the continuity of the wave function. No reference is needed to Maxwell's equations or to traditional quantum formalism. Correspondence limits based on classical mechanics are shown to be inappropriate

A silicon model of auditory localization

The barn owl accurately localizes sounds in the azimuthal plane, using interaural time difference as a cue. The time-coding pathway in the owl's brainstem encodes a neural map of azimuth, by processing interaural timing information. We have built a silicon model of the time-coding pathway of the owl. The integrated circuit models the structure as well as the function of the pathway; most subcircuits in the chip have an anatomical correlate. The chip computes all outputs in real time, using analog, continuous-time processing

The Impact of VLSI on Computer Science Education

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Neural Hardware for Vision

A "retina" on a semiconductor chip simulates neurobiological processes

ESP, A Distributed Architecture LSI Machine

The Externally Sequenced Processor (ESP) is a system which embodies a complete separation of the control and data processing functions of the machine. The ESP is organized so that additional functional capabilities as well as peripherals can be added. The interfacing requirements are particularly straightforward

A critical look at microprocessor architecture

LSI has provided machine designers a medium of unprecedented power and versatility. The potential of this technology has been doubling every year and promises to continue for another factor of 1000. It is inevitable that such potential will be used to achieve ever more powerful machine organizations and will, in the long run, totally change our basic concepts of machine structure and function. To date, however, the microprocessors which have been implemented are of a very conventional type. This trend poses several fundamental questions

Current Flow through Thin Insulating Films: Basic Principles and Device Applications

The fundamental physics underlying current flow through thin insulating films is reviewed, with emphasis placed on those experiments central to the identification of the dominant current flow mechanism in a given structure. Recent data obtained on metal-insulator-metal structures incorporating single crystal thin films represents unambiguous observation of both thermionic emission and tunneling. Device applications of thin films are also summarized

Collective Electrodynamics I

Standard results of electromagnetic theory are derived from the direct interaction of macroscopic quantum systems; the only assumptions used are the Einstein-deBroglie relations, the discrete nature of charge, the Green's function for the vector potential, and the continuity of the wave function. No reference is needed to Maxwell's equations or to traditional quantum formalism. Correspondence limits based on classical mechanics are shown to be inappropriate

Scaling of MOS Technology to Submicrometer Feature Sizes

Industries based on MOS technology now play a prominent role in the developed and the developing world. More importantly, MOS technology drives a large proportion of innovation in many technologies. It is likely that the course of technological development depends more on the capability of MOS technology than on any other technical factor. Therefore, it is worthwhile investigating the nature and limits of future improvements to MOS fabrication. The key to improved MOS technology is reduction in feature size. Reduction in feature size, and the attendant changes in device behaviour, will shape the nature of effective uses of the technology at the system level. This paper reviews recent, and historical, data on feature scaling and device behavior, and attempts to predict the limits to this scaling. We conclude with some remarks on the system-level implications of feature size as the minimum size approaches physical limits

Analog VLSI for auditory and vision signal processing

Various issues connected with the use of analog VLSI for auditory and vision signal processing are discussed. Particular attention is given to the impact of CMOS integrated-circuit technology and precision, reliability and noise considerations