<p>Packaging of high density integrated circuits offers many challenges in the electronics industry today. Advanced requirements for high performance computing are starting to take advantage of multichip modules that are smaller in size and weight, use less energy, and cost less than prior technologies. This project and report provides a summary of the processes of multichip module packaging and describes some of the companies and their technologies currently involved in the industry today. An advanced computer system is proposed that would require a high density multichlp module. Functional requirements and performance specifications are identified for the system.</p> <p> Many design decisions are required to determine the best integrated circuit package for the system, with trade-off analysis being key in the selection process. One comparative analysis worthy of study is the evaluation of high density interconnection alternatives. Two technologies of multichip module designs are compared using the Analytic Hierarchy Process. Main attributes of the alternatives are chosen that are key to thp design and have significant differences. The attributes are defined in detail and weighted based on their importance to the model. Performance data is also used in the comparisons of alternatives.</p> <p> A spreadsheet program was developed to quickly enter the weighted values and performance data, perform the matrix calculations, and determine the final rankings of the alternatives. Sensitivity analysis was then applied to determine what effect a change in the value of a particular attribute had on the outcome of the rankings. Results of the sensitivity analysis for key attributes are graphically plotted.</p> / Master of Science

Master of Science

<p>Documentation is essential to the success of any project or system and has three major functions. Those functions are: to help the user become familiar with the system, to help the user increase the system's productivity, effectiveness and efficiency, and to guide the user in an unexpected or emergency condition.</p> <p> The flexible manufacturing and assembly system (FMAS) in 161 Whittemore Hall was an example of an undocumented system. Manufacturer documentation about the system's components was available, but little formal documentation on the system as a whole existed. Additionally, the documents that were available for the system did not follow any common format. That is, each document had its own style.</p> <p> There were two primary objectives of this research. The first was to develop a standard format and style guide for use when creating documentation for laboratory development projects within the Manufacturing Automation Laboratories (MAL). The second objective was to apply the developed format and style guide to the writing of a user's manual for the FMAS in 161 Whittemore Hall. A secondary goal was to establish a document numbering system. This numbering system is to be used to identify, by type and chronology, all documents submitted to the MAL library.</p> <p> This project report is very short, simply because the products of the research are separate, stand-alone documents. The first of the two, the <u>Manufacturing Automation Laboratories Documentation Style Guide</u>, satisfies the first primary objective, and the document numbering system format is included as an appendix. The style guide presents general information about MAL document preparation, establishes guidelines for documentation of computer code, and addresses the required content of MAL drawings and graphics. Also presented in this guide is an introduction to the PAPYRUS reference database system, which is to be used when creating any documentation for the MAL library.</p> <p> The Flexible Manufacturing and Assembly System User's Manual satisfies the second objective, introducing the reader to the components of the FMAS and providing descriptions of the components' tasks in the system. Two chapters of the manual are devoted to safety and maintenance with respect to the FMAS, and another details the procedures for activating and shutting down the system.<p> / Master of Science

Master of Engineering

see document / Master of Science

<p>The design of the superstructure of a multi-span plate girder bridge was performed using the new AASHTOILRFD bridge specifications. The bridge was composed of three continuous spans of 100'-120'-100' designed to carry interstate traffic over a relatively wide river. The roadway width was 44'-0" and the girder spacing was 8'- 0". The design was composite in both the positive and negative moment regions. The report includes a review of the loading criteria for the new specifications which are relevant to the project. Comparisons are made between the current 1992 AASHTO requirements and the new AASHTOILRFD requirements. The project includes a detailed analysis of the loads and the moment and shear envelopes. Finally, the design, in accordance with the new specifications, is presented along with drawings and conclusions.</p> / Master of Engineering

The ability to extract higher level information from a circuit netlist is useful for VLSI layout verification. An extracted gate level description may be used as input to a gate level simulator for analysis or alternatively may be used as input to a rule-based expert system that performs verification checking at a higher level of abstraction. As a VLSI design evolves it is continually checked for correctness. This implies that the extraction of higher level information is a recurring activity and should be performed as efficiently as possible. This paper describes an alternative method that uses intelligence to quicken the extraction process and compares this method's performance to a more common method. / Master of Science

Master of Science

see document / Master of Science

<p>The T-AGOS 13 Class is a suitable platform to meet all mission requirements for both NOAA Conversion designs. The T-AGOS 13 class vessels cannot, however, match the existing NOAA medium endurance charting ship (Fairweather class) in both speed and number of accommodations. / Master of Science