Aurora Optics (United States)

Abstract Fan out wafer level packages have emerged across the market in an effort to reduce size and weight of electronics used in portable and wearable applications in the commercial, industrial, and the hi-reliability products space. If it is not a stationary platform, weight and volume reduction are imperative. For the stationary platforms, size and power are most critical. Integration of multiple complex heterogeneous IC components can only be done if there are a sufficient number of interconnect layers. Additionally, multiple interconnects are needed for transmission line creation and shielding. This paper provides an introduction to Aurora Semiconductor's high density packaging technology i.e. iUHD (integrated Ultra High Density) and compares it with other alternative technologies. The Aurora iUHD technology is a 2.5D/3D FOWLCSP including embedded components, TSV, multi-layer top and bottom interconnects.

We report on the development of a precision-tunable, dual wavelength, optical light source suitable for high performance fiber optic Brillouin scattering distributed sensing. The design is based on an Optical Phase Locked Loop (OPLL) system using novel narrow linewidth, low frequency noise and high stability PLANEX external cavity semiconductor. The inherent wavelength stability of PLANEX lasers (typically an order of magnitude better that any DFB laser on the market) enable the OPLL to operate continuously over a wide ambient temperature range without degradation in wavelength locking performance. The OPLL architecture is implemented with polarization maintaining (PM) components and has a very low beat frequency jitter on the order of few kHz. The OPLL frequency tuning range is between 8 and 14 GHz, with fast tuning of sweep steps on the order of 100 μsec. Such a frequency tuning range covers practically all corresponding temperature and strain sensing applications based on the measurement of the frequency shift produced by spontaneous or stimulated Brillouin scattering, and thus is a versatile and enabling technology for both BOTDA/BOTDR distributed sensing systems.

At Brookhaven National Laboratory, we are developing a simultaneous PET-MRI breast imaging system. A prototype II version of the PET system has been constructed. This device consists of 24 detector blocks where each block consists of a 4 × 8 array of 2.2 × 2.2 × 15 mm3 LYSO crystal directly coupled to a 4 × 8 non-magnetic APD array. The scanner has an inner diameter of 100mm and an axial extent of 18mm. Resolution measurements were carried out for the prototype system to evaluate the depth of interaction effects. Average resolution less than 2mm FWHM was maintained throughout the field of view. The prototype PET system was operated unshielded inside the RF coil of the Aurora 1.5 T dedicated breast MRI machine. Artifact free MRI images with good SNR were obtained.

A 1550 nm DWDM planar external cavity laser (ECL) is demonstrated to provide low phase/frequency noise, narrow linewidth, and low RIN. The cavity includes a semiconductor gain chip and a planar lightwave circuit waveguide with Bragg grating, packaged in a 14-pin butterfly package. This planar ECL laser is designed to operate under vibration and in harsh environmental conditions. The laser shows linewidth ≤ 2.6 kHz, phase/frequency noise comparable with that of long cavity fiber lasers, RIN ≤ -147dB/Hz at 1kHz, and power ≥ 10mW. Performance is suitable for various high performance fiber optic sensing systems, including interferometric sensing in Oil and Gas, military/security and other applications, currently served mostly by costly and less reliable laser sources.

We propose to develop a high resolution scanner for simultaneous PET and MRI breast imaging that is capable of providing highly sensitive and specific breast cancer examinations. The addition of high resolution positron emission tomography capability to an existing dedicated MRI system will give a device in which each of the modalities contributes its strengths to compensate for the weaknesses of the other. In this combined modality scanner, we have the anatomical information from the MRI to compensate for the somewhat poorer resolution in PET, and we have the predictive power of PET in identifying the type of lesion to overcome the high false positive rate of MRI. This device is based on the technical approach used in the RatCAP scanner with the innovation of detecting coincident events in separate rings of the RatCAP scanner. We are presenting the design and GATE simulations of the full breast imaging system and preliminary PET and MRI results from the prototype system.

Abstract: Residential water demand is a function of several factors, some of which are within the control of water utilities (e.g., price, water restrictions, rebate programs) and some of which are not (e.g., climate and weather, demographic characteristics). In this study of Aurora, Colorado, factors influencing residential water demand are reviewed during a turbulent drought period (2000‐2005). Findings expand the understanding of residential demand in at least three salient ways: first, by documenting that pricing and outdoor water restriction policies interact with each other ensuring that total water savings are not additive of each program operating independently; second, by showing that the effectiveness of pricing and restrictions policies varies among different classes of customers (i.e., low, middle, and high volume water users) and between predrought and drought periods; and third, in demonstrating that real‐time information about consumptive use (via the Water Smart Reader) helps customers reach water‐use targets.

To evaluate once-daily 100-mg sildenafil for the treatment of erectile dysfunction (ED) in men with ED and lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) associated with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). This was a 12-week, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled (DBPC) trial, with an 8-week open-label (OL) extension, in men > or = 45 years of age who scored < or = 25 on the erectile function (EF) domain of the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF) and > or = 12 on the International Prostate Symptom Score. At DBPC end of treatment (EOT), the sildenafil group (n = 189, vs. placebo, n = 180) had improved EF (IIEF), improved emotional well-being [Self-Esteem And Relationship questionnaire (SEAR)], and greater treatment satisfaction (Erectile Dysfunction Inventory of Treatment Satisfaction) (p < 0.0001). At OL EOT, IIEF and SEAR scores improved slightly in the group previously randomised to sildenafil (n = 168), but much more in the group previously randomised to placebo (N = 155), such that total improvement over the 20-week trial was comparable between the groups. Erections at baseline were hard enough for penetration on approximately half of occasions and lasted long enough for successful intercourse on less than one quarter of occasions, increasing at sildenafil DBPC and OL EOT to approximately 90% (penetration) and 80% (intercourse success) vs. 61% (penetration) and 39% (intercourse success) for DBPC placebo. At sildenafil DBPC and OL EOT, > or = 90% of men were taking sildenafil 100 mg. Sildenafil was generally well tolerated. In this trial of men with ED and BPH-associated LUTS, sildenafil treatment for ED was efficacious, effective and generally well tolerated.

SummaryThe performance of interferometric instruments is strongly linked to the quality of piston stabilization. Next generation VLTI instruments plan to use 4to8 beams simultaneously. In the current VLTI implementation, the maximum number of beams that can be phased using FINITO and PRIMA/FSU simultaneously is5. Therefore, a new fringe sensor is required for the VLTI.When cophasing a large number of beams, other approachs than the classical complex pairwise combination should be considered. Focal-plane wavefront sensing allows the cophasing of a large number of beams with a very simple opto-mechanical device and can also measure high-order modes, such as tip/tilt/defocus/... This solution has been selected in other projects such as DARWIN or Earth observation.Experimental results, obtained with a laboratory breadboard tested on the BRISE bench at ONERA, confirm the validity of this approach for nanometric measurements and make such a simple fringe sensor an attractive component for the 2nd generation VLTI

An experimental laser ignition system has been developed for the M230 cannon used on the Apache helicopter. This high-rate of fire (625 rounds/minute) chain gun provided many design challenges including a complex optical path, limited available space, high levels of shock and vibration and a maximum allowable cartridge functioning time of 4 ms. In order to satisfy this time limit with laser ignition, a subprogram was developed to explore laser sensitive, fast-acting energetic materials with good ignition transfer properties. Annual consumption rates in excess of 500,000 rounds per year in training dictated that ultimate ammunition production costs be considered in all design alternatives. Environmentally benign (green) materials are being required by federal and state environmental regulations and standards and were factored into the new optical ignition system design. Both newly developed nano energetics and other pyrotechnic materials have been explored to fill this requirement. The development of the system and components is described in this paper from the firing of Mann barrel (single shot) fixtures to optimize cartridge performance, single-shot firing of the cannon using fiber-optic and optical-train light paths, culminating in a demonstration firing of the automatic cannon at its full rate of fire for a 10-round burst. The remaining technical challenges and future direction of the program are presented.