This book comprises a selection of the most representative contributions to the 1st IEEE Workshop on Signal Propagation on Interconnects that was held at Travemunde, Germany, in May 1997. It represents, therefore, a survey of the actual problems currently concerning researchers and professionals in the field of signal propagation on interconnects. Signal Propagation on Interconnects contains chapters which cover a wide area of important research results dealing with simulation and measurement of noise and radiated emissions on boards, describing ground bounce effects as well as inductance calculations in multilayer packages. There is also reference and coverage of timing simulation techniques on chip as well as on board level. Signal Propagation on Interconnects is intended to give developers and researchers in the field of chip and package design a review of the state of the art regarding the influence of interconnect effects on the electrical performance of electronic circuits. In addition, the book illustrates ways to overcome performance problems related to the parasitic influences of interconnects. It is an invaluable text for circuit design engineers, developers and researchers in the field of signal integrity.

Multichip Module (MCM) technology has been used in high-end systems, such as mainframe and supercomputers as well as military and space applications for some time. Rapid advances in VLSI technology and novel system architecture concepts have presented both challenges and opportunities for MCM technologists. Recent developments in MCM technology indicate that it will eventually take over much of the electronic packaging currently using printed circuit boards. This collection of articles gives an in-depth study of the state-of-the-art of MCM technology from systems, CAD and technology viewpoints. Written by outstanding experts in their fields, this volume should be considered essential reading.

The intense drive for signal integrity has been at the forefront ofrapid and new developments in CAD algorithms. Thousands ofengineers, intent on achieving the best design possible, use SPICE on a daily basis for analog simulation and general circuit analysis. But the strained demand for high data speeds, coupled with miniaturizationon an unprecedented scale, has highlighted the previously negligible effects of interconnects; effects which are not always handled appro priately by the present levels of SPICE. Signals at these higher speeds may be degraded by long interconnect lengths compared to the increasingly shorter sig nal rise times. Interconnect structures can be diverse (pins, connectors, leads, microstrips, striplines, etc. ) and present at any of the hierarchical packaging levels: integrated circuits, printed circuit boards, multi-chip modules or sys tem backplanes. Analysis of these effects in any CAD package has become a necessity. Asymptotic waveform evaluation (AWE) and other moment matching tech niques have recently proven useful in the analysis of interconnect structures and various networks containing large linear structures with nonlinear termi nations. Previously, all that was available to the designer was a full SPICE simulation or a quick but uncertain timing estimation. Moment matching, used in linear systems analysis as a method of model reduction, describes a method to extract a small set of dominant poles from a large network. The information is obtained from the Taylor series coefficients (moments) of that system.

Operations Research emerged as a quantitative approach to problem-solving in World War II. Its founders, who were physicists, mathematicians, and engineers, quickly found peace-time uses for this new field. Moreover, we can say that Operations Research (OR) was born in the same incubator as computer science, and through the years, it has spawned many new disciplines, including systems engineering, health care management, and transportation science. Fundamentally, Operations Research crosses discipline domains to seek solutions on a range of problems and benefits diverse disciplines from finance to bioengineering. Many disciplines routinely use OR methods. Many scientific researchers, engineers, and others will find the methodological presentations in this book useful and helpful in their problem-solving efforts. OR’s strengths are modeling, analysis, and algorithm design. It provides a quantitative foundation for a broad spectrum of problems, from economics to medicine, from environmental control to sports, from e-commerce to computational geometry. The primary purpose of TUTORIALS ON EMERGING METHODOLOGIES AND APPLICATIONS IN OPERATIONS RESEARCH is to provide a reference for practitioners and academics who seek a clear, concise presentation of developing methodologies, hence providing themselves with the capability to apply these methods to new problems. The field of Operations Research is always changing. Its changes are driven by the technology it uses and that it extends, and the applications that it affects. Relevant changes in the field have a permanent effect on the conduct of OR and are vital to anyone who wants to be current in the field. Each chapter presents a new developing methodology in Operations Research. Each chapter examines each topic with clarity and depth, and organizes the examination around the following questions: (1) What the developing methodology basically is about? (2) Why is it important? and (3) Where can I learn more?