<p dir="ltr">Interconnects pose severe performance bottlenecks in advanced technology nodes due to multiple scaling challenges. To understand such problems and explore potential solutions, it is important to develop advanced models. This is particularly relevant for modern interconnects (especially vias) with complex structures with non- trivial current paths. In this dissertation, we develop a comprehensive physics-based interconnect models to capture surface and grain boundary scattering. We further analyze the circuit implications of 2D transition metal dichalcogenide (TMD)-augmented interconnects, which show potential in mitigating some of the scalability concerns of state-of-the-art interconnects. First, we propose a 2D spatially resolved model for surface scattering in rectangular interconnects based on the Fuchs-Sondheimer (FS) theory. The proposed spatially resolved FS (SRFS) model offers both spatial dependence and explicit relation of conductivity to physical parameters. We also couple the SRFS model with grain boundary scattering based on the Mayadas−Shatzkes (MS) theory. The SRFS-MS model is exact for diffusive surface scattering and offers a good approximation for elastic surface scattering. Furthermore, we develop a circuit-compatible version of the SRFS-MS model and show a close match with the physical SRFS-MS model (error < 0.7%). Moreover, we integrate temperature dependency, confirming that surface scattering has a negligible temperature-dependence. Second, we analyze the circuit implications of 2D TMD augmented interconnects and show the effective clock frequency of an AES circuit is boosted by 2%-32%. We also establish that the vertical resistivity of the TMD material must be below 22 kΩ-nm to obtain performance benefits over state-of-the-art interconnects in the worst-case process-temperature corner.</p>

Este trabalho trata do desenvolvimento de um material didático, sob a forma de cadernos (presentemente, em forma de capítulos), acompanhado de protótipo de circuito simples para testes experimentais, a ser utilizado no ensino de nível médio. O conteúdo reunido nos cadernos abrange o desenvolvimento analítico de tópicos pertinentes à física-matemática, esquema para a construção do protótipo e exemplos utilizando recursos computacionais. Mais especificamente, buscou-se enfatizar o ensino dos tópicos de equações e sistemas lineares, motivados por fenômenos físicos. Pretendeu-se explorar o aspecto experimental (com a construção e o uso de protótipo de circuitos simples), o analítico (com a resolução de equações e sistemas lineares, e com uma introdução à programação linear) e o computacional (com uso da planilha eletrônica). Em todos os conteúdos desenvolvidos, é dada especial ênfase à interpretação, à análise e à validação dos resultados. Com este material, procura-se oferecer ao professor um conjunto de atividades didático-pedagógicas, que possam estimular a sua atuação crítica e criativa. E que, também, propiciem a reflexão e a análise na identificação e resolução de problemas, a fim de desencadear processos cognitivos que levem o aluno a compreender as interrelações entre a física e a matemática. / This paper is about the development of a didatic material, under the way of notebooks (here, in chapters), accompained by the prototype of simple circuit for experimental tests, to be used in high school teaching. The issue brought in the notebooks comprehends the analytic development of the topics that belong to the physics- mathematics, scheme for the building of the prototype and examples with the use of computer resources. More specifically, applied to the teaching of the topics of equations and linear systems, motivated by physics phenomena. It was intended to explore the experimental aspect (with the building of simple circuit prototype), the analytic (with the resolution of equations and linear systems, with an introduction to the linear programming) and the computer (with the use of electronic chart). In all the topics developed, a special emphasis is given to the interpretation, analysis and validating of the results. With this material, it was intended to offer the teacher a set of didatic- pedagogical activities that can stimulate the critical and creative acting. And that can also provide the thinking and analysis in the identification and resolution of problems, with the aim of triggering cognitive processes that lead the student to understand the inter-relations between physics and mathematics.

Este trabalho trata do desenvolvimento de um material didático, sob a forma de cadernos (presentemente, em forma de capítulos), acompanhado de protótipo de circuito simples para testes experimentais, a ser utilizado no ensino de nível médio. O conteúdo reunido nos cadernos abrange o desenvolvimento analítico de tópicos pertinentes à física-matemática, esquema para a construção do protótipo e exemplos utilizando recursos computacionais. Mais especificamente, buscou-se enfatizar o ensino dos tópicos de equações e sistemas lineares, motivados por fenômenos físicos. Pretendeu-se explorar o aspecto experimental (com a construção e o uso de protótipo de circuitos simples), o analítico (com a resolução de equações e sistemas lineares, e com uma introdução à programação linear) e o computacional (com uso da planilha eletrônica). Em todos os conteúdos desenvolvidos, é dada especial ênfase à interpretação, à análise e à validação dos resultados. Com este material, procura-se oferecer ao professor um conjunto de atividades didático-pedagógicas, que possam estimular a sua atuação crítica e criativa. E que, também, propiciem a reflexão e a análise na identificação e resolução de problemas, a fim de desencadear processos cognitivos que levem o aluno a compreender as interrelações entre a física e a matemática. / This paper is about the development of a didatic material, under the way of notebooks (here, in chapters), accompained by the prototype of simple circuit for experimental tests, to be used in high school teaching. The issue brought in the notebooks comprehends the analytic development of the topics that belong to the physics- mathematics, scheme for the building of the prototype and examples with the use of computer resources. More specifically, applied to the teaching of the topics of equations and linear systems, motivated by physics phenomena. It was intended to explore the experimental aspect (with the building of simple circuit prototype), the analytic (with the resolution of equations and linear systems, with an introduction to the linear programming) and the computer (with the use of electronic chart). In all the topics developed, a special emphasis is given to the interpretation, analysis and validating of the results. With this material, it was intended to offer the teacher a set of didatic- pedagogical activities that can stimulate the critical and creative acting. And that can also provide the thinking and analysis in the identification and resolution of problems, with the aim of triggering cognitive processes that lead the student to understand the inter-relations between physics and mathematics.

Este trabalho trata do desenvolvimento de um material didático, sob a forma de cadernos (presentemente, em forma de capítulos), acompanhado de protótipo de circuito simples para testes experimentais, a ser utilizado no ensino de nível médio. O conteúdo reunido nos cadernos abrange o desenvolvimento analítico de tópicos pertinentes à física-matemática, esquema para a construção do protótipo e exemplos utilizando recursos computacionais. Mais especificamente, buscou-se enfatizar o ensino dos tópicos de equações e sistemas lineares, motivados por fenômenos físicos. Pretendeu-se explorar o aspecto experimental (com a construção e o uso de protótipo de circuitos simples), o analítico (com a resolução de equações e sistemas lineares, e com uma introdução à programação linear) e o computacional (com uso da planilha eletrônica). Em todos os conteúdos desenvolvidos, é dada especial ênfase à interpretação, à análise e à validação dos resultados. Com este material, procura-se oferecer ao professor um conjunto de atividades didático-pedagógicas, que possam estimular a sua atuação crítica e criativa. E que, também, propiciem a reflexão e a análise na identificação e resolução de problemas, a fim de desencadear processos cognitivos que levem o aluno a compreender as interrelações entre a física e a matemática. / This paper is about the development of a didatic material, under the way of notebooks (here, in chapters), accompained by the prototype of simple circuit for experimental tests, to be used in high school teaching. The issue brought in the notebooks comprehends the analytic development of the topics that belong to the physics- mathematics, scheme for the building of the prototype and examples with the use of computer resources. More specifically, applied to the teaching of the topics of equations and linear systems, motivated by physics phenomena. It was intended to explore the experimental aspect (with the building of simple circuit prototype), the analytic (with the resolution of equations and linear systems, with an introduction to the linear programming) and the computer (with the use of electronic chart). In all the topics developed, a special emphasis is given to the interpretation, analysis and validating of the results. With this material, it was intended to offer the teacher a set of didatic- pedagogical activities that can stimulate the critical and creative acting. And that can also provide the thinking and analysis in the identification and resolution of problems, with the aim of triggering cognitive processes that lead the student to understand the inter-relations between physics and mathematics.

This work deals with the possibilities of modeling electrical circuits and methods of solving these models. It focuses on the analysis of today's systems, so that their features can be used in our graphic editor design.

<p>Most work on amplifier linearity has focused on the transconductance (gm) linearity, but there is increasing evidence that the voltage-dependence of the gate-source capacitance (Cgs) plays an important role in the linearity of emerging devices. This work addresses the capacitance contribution by incorporating the nonlinearities attributed to the voltage dependency of Cgs of a general FET on a circuit-level Cg amplifier model.</p> <p>An amplifier model including a voltage-dependent Cgs, and a voltage-dependent gm is studied using harmonic analysis and Volterra series. A closed form expression for the  third-order intercept point (IP3) of the amplifier, which depends on the nonlinear coefficients of Cgs, is obtained. A simple design rule, and a formula for the reduction of the IP3 due to the voltage-dependent Cgs are also presented. </p> <p>As application examples, the linearity of an amplifier based on a specific device is analyzed for two cases by extracting the nonlinear circuit parameters of the device. First for an analytic model of a bulk mosfet. Second for a one-dimensional, ballistic, coaxially gated Si nanowire. For low frequencies of design, the distortion introduced by gm is predominant, but for high frequencies it is obscured by the distortion coming from Cgs.</p> <p>We conclude that taking into account the voltage-dependence of Cgs is crucial when predicting the linearity behavior of a Cg amplifier, either designed for high-frequency operation, or based on a device operating near the quantum capacitance limit. </p>

<p>Neuromorphic computing endeavors to develop computational systems capable of emulating the brain’s capacity to execute intricate tasks concurrently and with remarkable energy efficiency. By utilizing new bioinspired computing architectures, these systems have the potential to revolutionize high-performance computing and enable local, low-energy computing for sensors and robots. Organic and soft materials are particularly attractive for neuromorphic computing as they offer biocompatibility, low-energy switching, and excellent tunability at a relatively low cost. Additionally, organic materials provide physical flexibility, large-area fabrication, and printability.</p><p>This doctoral dissertation showcases the research conducted in fabricating a comprehensive spiking organic neuron, which serves as the fundamental constituent of a circuit system for neuromorphic computing. The major contribution of this dissertation is the development of the organic, flexible neuron composed of spiking synapses and somas utilizing ultra-low voltage organic field-effect transistors (OFETs) for information processing. The synaptic and somatic circuits are implemented using physically flexible and biocompatible organic electronics necessary to realize the Polymer Neuromorphic Circuitry. An Axon-Hillock (AH) somatic circuit was fabricated and analyzed, followed by the adaptation of a log-domain integrator (LDI) synaptic circuit and the fabrication and analysis of a differential-pair integrator (DPI). Finally, a spiking organic neuron was formed by combining two LDI synaptic circuits and one AH synaptic circuit, and its characteristics were thoroughly examined. This is the first demonstration of the fabrication of an entire neuron using solid-state organic materials over a flexible substrate with integrated complementary OFETs and capacitors.</p>

<p dir="ltr">Achieving higher throughput is one of the most important requirements of a modern microcontroller. It is therefore not affordable for it to waste a considerable number of clock cycles in branch mispredictions. This paper proposes a hardware mechanism that makes microcontrollers forgo branch predictors, thereby removing branch mispredictions. The scope of this work is limited to low cost microcontroller cores that are applied in embedded systems. The proposed technique is implemented as five different modules which work together to forward required operands, resolve branches without prediction, and calculate the next instruction's address in the first stage of an in-order five stage pipelined micro-architecture. Since the address of successive instruction to a control transfer instruction is calculated in the first stage of pipeline, branch prediction is no longer necessary, thereby eliminating the clock cycle penalties occurred when using a branch predictor. The designed architecture was able to successfully calculate the address of next correct instruction and fetch it without any wastage of clock cycles except in cases where control transfer instructions are in true dependence with their immediate previous instructions. Further, we synthesized the proposed design with 7nm FinFET process and compared its latency with other designs to make sure that the microcontroller's operating frequency is not degraded by using this design. The critical path latency of instruction fetch stage integrated with the proposed architecture is 307 ps excluding the instruction cache access time.</p>

<p dir="ltr">In the ever-advancing landscape of technology, emerging technologies have emerged as<br>powerful catalysts for innovation across various domains. These technologies, situated at<br>the nexus of the physical and digital realms, hold tremendous potential for revolutionizing<br>industries, improving our quality of life, and addressing global challenges. Central to har-<br>nessing this potential is the efficient exchange of data and the processing of information, a<br>pivotal linchpin that underpins the success of emerging technologies.</p><p dir="ltr"><br>The thesis titled ”Empowering Emerging Technologies through Energy-Efficient Commu-<br>nication and In-Sensor Computing” delves into a critical facet of this technological revolution.<br>It explores the central role of energy-efficient communication and in-sensor computing in un-<br>locking the full potential of emerging technologies. This comprehensive exploration unfolds<br>across three distinct chapters, each addressing an essential aspect of the research undertaken.<br>The first two chapters are dedicated to the realm of wearable technology, where we delve<br>into the intricacies of Human Body Communication (HBC). Chapter 2 meticulously models<br>the human body, focusing on Galvanic excitation and termination, which are fundamental<br>to understanding communication within this unique domain. In Chapter 3, we introduce<br>a novel method employing resonance through the human body to enhance wearable device<br>functionality and efficiency, shedding light on its innovative potential.</p><p dir="ltr"><br>The fourth chapter takes us into the world of machine vision and computer vision, where<br>we unveil an ingenious solution—an ADC-less in-sensor image edge detection scheme. This<br>pioneering approach not only advances the field but also enables enhanced image processing<br>and analysis within sensors, thereby fostering the growth of machine vision applications.<br>This thesis represents a substantial contribution to the fields of HBC and in-sensor com-<br>puting. It models the Galvanic body channel, explores resonance-based power delivery and<br>communication, and demonstrates the importance of in-sensor image edge detection. Fur-<br>thermore, it presents a hardware-based CMOS image sensor capable of real-time edge image<br>extraction, enhancing computational efficiency while reducing latency.<br>As we embark on this intellectual journey, we invite the reader to delve deeper into the<br>realms of emerging technologies, energy-efficient communication, and in-sensor computing.</p><p dir="ltr">By the culmination of this thesis, it is our hope that the insights garnered from this re-<br>search will empower emerging technologies, inspire further innovation, and usher in a more<br>sustainable and technologically empowered future.</p>

nÃo hà / A avaliaÃÃo educacional brasileira, segundo o PISA, se reflete no quadro de desigualdades econÃmicas e sociais vivenciadas entre os hemisfÃrios norte e sul planetÃrios. A presente pesquisa objetiva investigar, de que maneira, a concepÃÃo e realizaÃÃo de uma atividade pedagÃgica colaborativa de experimentaÃÃo de bancada, apoiada por atividades pedagÃgicas de simulaÃÃo e modelagem computacional, pÃde contribuir para favorecer o desenvolvimento do processo de aprendizagem significativa. As atividades foram efetivadas enfatizando-se a construÃÃo e (re) significaÃÃo de conceitos de fÃsica, especificamente no tema eletricidade e circuitos elÃtricos. Foram inicialmente verificados os conhecimentos prÃvios dos alunos, atravÃs da aplicaÃÃo de questionÃrios de sondagem de conhecimentos. Em seguida, se realizaram aulas teÃricas, com foco na formaÃÃo de organizadores prÃvios. Em seguida, promoveram-se atividades fazendo uso pedagÃgico de software educacionais de simulaÃÃo e modelagem de circuitos de resistores elÃtricos, PhET e Crocodile, quando os alunos inter-relacionaram e/ou (re) significaram conceitos. Para tanto, vivenciaram e realizaram as mediÃÃes de grandezas elÃtricas e demais atividades propostas, sob a mediaÃÃo do presente Professor-Pesquisador. Numa etapa consecutiva, os alunos realizaram a prÃtica de experimentaÃÃo de bancada, relacionada ao mesmo tema anterior de circuitos elÃtricos, para (re) significar os conhecimentos dos alunos, partindo do estudo do brilho de lÃmpadas. Em todas as atividades laboratoriais, foram utilizados instrumentos de coleta de dados do tipo: gravaÃÃes de Ãudio e vÃdeo; respostas e relatos escritos pelos alunos nos roteiros das atividades de simulaÃÃo e modelagem computacional, atividade experimental de bancada e questionÃrios de sondagem de conhecimentos prÃvios e avaliaÃÃo da prÃtica pedagÃgica. A pesquisa classifica-se como qualitativa, exploratÃria e pesquisa-aÃÃo. No referencial teÃrico-metodolÃgico, destacam-se, como principais contribuiÃÃes, os pressupostos de: Dorneles, AraÃjo, Veit, no uso de software de simulaÃÃo e dificuldades de aprendizagem; Ribeiro et al., nos aspectos da integraÃÃo de laboratÃrios de experimentaÃÃo e simulaÃÃo, para facilitar o desenvolvimento da aprendizagem colaborativa, na qual destacam-se Ausubel, Novak e Valente; Moraes, Galiazzi e Okada, quanto ao mapeamento cognitivo da anÃlise textual discursiva; e Almeida, Prado e GÃes, quanto à anÃlise qualitativa de dados multidimensionais, com o uso do software CHIC. Sem perda de generalidade, a anÃlise dos dados de campo evidencia preliminarmente que: as atividades de simulaÃÃo e modelagem computacional contribuÃram para a formaÃÃo de organizadores prÃvios relativos a conceitos de eletricidade, leitura e interpretaÃÃo de medidas elÃtricas. Posteriormente, a atividade de experimentaÃÃo auxiliou os alunos a (re) significarem os conhecimentos de eletricidade e circuitos elÃtricos, as atividades de leitura, mediÃÃo e interpretaÃÃo de grandezas elÃtricas, auxiliando o desenvolvimento da aprendizagem significativa. A anÃlise dos resultados tambÃm revela indÃcios que, com a integraÃÃo entre as atividades de experimentaÃÃo de bancada e softwares de simulaÃÃo e modelagem computacional, os alunos, de forma colaborativa e minoritariamente cooperativa, (re) significaram e reelaboraram conhecimentos relativos a circuitos elÃtricos de resistores, porÃm, em determinados momentos, caracterizavam dificuldades de aprendizagem, pois nÃo conseguiam expressar suas concepÃÃes e argumentaÃÃes, de maneira a se apropriar corretamente dos conceitos de eletricidade.