NEWS RELEASE
 
 Contact: Nettie C. Rowland
 (336) 256-0863
Mitch Arnold
(336)334-7049
 
August 12, 2002

     A&T RESEARCHERS IMPROVING SEMICONDUCTOR TECHNOLOGY

GREENSBORO, NC  - Researchers at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University have begun a new project to improve the performance and commercial viability of a revolutionary semiconductor.

Led by Dr. Shanthi Iyer of N.C. A&T's Department of Electrical Engineering, A&T researchers are developing a novel structure for giant magnetostrictive semiconductors. Applications for such devices include electronics, textile and medical instruments, high-precision machine tools, and automobile oil-injection pumps.

Iyer's project, "Packaging Technology for Giant Magnetostrictive Memory Devices," was funded $233,000 through a larger project led by the United States Air Force through the University of North Carolina-Charlotte.

Magnetostriction occurs when materials change shape in a magnetic field. Giant magnetostriction is an extreme but non-destructive strain, which increases the speed and capacity of semiconductors.

The new structure under development by researchers employs a unique connecting system between memory cells and drive circuitry, which allows the cells to be stacked, increasing their memory capacity and facilitating the manufacturing process.

"Giant magnetostrictive devices are highly reliable and fast," said Iyer. "These qualities make them leading devices in the materials engineering field. We hope to facilitate their acceptance by making them more affordable and practical for a greater number of applications."

For more information, contact Iyer at (336) 334-7761.


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