Highlights
- Brain-Computer Interface (BCI) Based Robotic Rehabilitation for Stroke Patients - I2R
- Dr Guan CunTai, Zhang Hai Hong, Ang Kai Keng, Wang Chuan Chu, Phua Kok Soon, Chin Zheng Yang, Li Yuan Qing
Stroke is the fourth leading cause of death in Singapore since 1998.[1] While mortality due to stroke has steadily declined over the years with better care, stroke remains the leading cause of long-term disability in adults and the most common reason patients are referred for rehabilitation. Over the last few years, there has been considerable research looking at the role of interactive robotic devices in rehabilitation, especially in the area of upper limb recovery. Conventional robotic systems still require the use of a therapist to guide the repeated movements or monitor the exercises.
- ZnO MOCVD Growth: From doping engineering towards the application in LEDs and laser diodes - DSI
- Teo Kie Leong (DSI/NUS), Zhao Rong (DSI), Zhao Rong (DSI), Lee Hock-Koon (DSI), Lo Guo-Qiang Patrick (IME), Sun Xiao-Wei (IME), Yu Zhigen (IHPC), Wu Ping (IHPC)
- This project is a joint collaboration between DSI, IHPC and IME. Dedicated to grow ZnO material using Metal-organic chemical-vapor deposition (MOCVD) process as well as demonstration of ZnO homojunction LEDs with high quantum efficiency in the ultra-violet (UV) and blue wavelength region at room temperature. The project will combine the computation expertise in IHPC for predicting the specific ZnO characteristics, and the expertise of IME and DSI for experimentation, design, and process integration.
- Grid-based PSE for Engineering of Materials (GPEM) - IHPC
- Mohd Salahuddin Bin M.M. HABIBULLAH (IC), Terence Hung, Wu Ping, Hung Kin Chew
- A*STAR initiated a number of Technology Scans to explore the major research drivers to be supported in the next few years. One of those is Advancing Science through Grid, which alludes to the establishment of a Virtual Lab, capable of providing the computing resources and expertise needs, in computational science and engineering R&D activities and applications. The project aims to address the crucial aspect of the Lab: “The development of a standardized, pervasive, and reusable Grid-based Problem Solving Environment (PSE) for complex design in science and engineering”.
- Heat Transfer Enhancement Structure - IME
- Khan O K Navas
- Advances in microelectronics design and manufacturing have made possibe higher transistor density in a single device. Multiple IC chips are now being integrated in a package for better electrical performance and compact system design, which leads to high heat flux. Air cooling has poor cooling efficiency for high power application. Liquid cooling/boiling heat transfer is hence preferred due to its high heat removal capabilities. Pool boiling heat transfer is investigated in this research with the target to achieve a cooling rate of 50 W/cm 2.
- Advanced Audio Zip: The future of Audio Technology - I2R
- Yu Rongshan, Susanto Rahardja, Lin Xiao
- Ever been caught in the dilemma of the trade-off between file size and quality? If you are an avid music fan who downloads audio files and streams audio from the internet regularly, then you will definitely welcome the development of the Advanced Audio Zip (AAZ) technology.
- Advanced spin-valve sensors for 100Gb/in2 recording applications - DSI
- Wu Yihong, Li Kebin, Zheng Yuankai, Han Gu Chang, Guo Zaibing, Qiu Jinjun, Luo Ping, Zong Baoyu, Liu Zhiyong, An Lihua
- The hard disk drive at system level is the integration of many key technologies and components which include the storage medium, read / write transducer, channel coding / decoding, servo control, head / disk interface, tribology, and electromechanical and electromagnetic systems. Among them, the read sensor is the most important component which has experienced the most drastic changes in terms of both the underlying physics and technology in the last 15 years.
- Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) in Liquids - IMRE
- Dr Sean O'Shea and Mr Roderick Lim
- Nanotechnology is a relatively new scientific area and concerns the characterisation, manipulation and construction of materials at the nanometre length scale. A nanometre is 1 billionth of a metre and corresponds to just a few atoms in length scale. It is recognised that Nanotechnology will play an increasingly significant role in the 21st century.
- Blu-Ray - DSI
- Dr Hu Xiang, Dr Li Jianming, Mr Lim Kian Guan, Dr Miao Xiangsui, Dr Shi Luping, Mr Tan Pik Kee and Mr Wong Kai Ping
- Since DVD discs are rapidly gaining acceptance for use in video, audio and personal and professional storage, the phase change optical recording has become a promising and critical means in the area of data storage. In order to support the demand of high density, high data-transfer rate and excellent recording performance, the optical material and system division in DSI has dedicated much effort on new cutting-edge phase change optical media, Blu-Ray.
- Boosting Speed in Nanoscale Transistors - IME
- Anyan Du, N. Balasubramanian, Ganesh Samudra, Kah Wee Ang, King Jien Chui, Ming Fu Li, Vladimir Bliznetsov, Yee-Chia Yeo
- The Silicon Nano Device Laboratory (SNDL) of the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, NUS, has developed a highly scalable transistor structure with significant increase in speed. This work was done in collaboration with the Institute of Microelectronics (IME). Transistors are used in almost all of today’s electronic products such as computers, mobiles phones, and digital cameras. By boosting the speed of transistors, the performance of electronic products can be improved. This enables new functionalities, and paves the way for products which are computationally more powerful.
- Changi Extension Line Project - IHPC
- Dr. Alex Lee, Dr. Hua Jinsong, Dr. Kurichi Kumar and Mr. William Lim
- In an attempt to design a world-class transportation system, LTA commissioned IHPC to conduct airflow analyses to assess the indoor thermal comfort condition inside the Changi MRT station and to help their engineers optimise the HVAC ventilation system. With CFD simulation, the flow field inside a building can be optimised and also energy consumption can be reduced by decreasing the volume of cold air supply and having a better layout of air diffusers. The re-arrangement of air supply diffusers enabled the engineers to achieve the required indoor thermal comfort conditions.
- Combined SPR & QCM for Bio-molecular Recognition - IMRE
- Dr. Su Xiaodi, Dr. Wang Gunagyu, Dr. Wu Ying-Ju, Dr. Sean O’Shea, Prof. Wolfgang Knoll, Dr. Yun Zong
- Combined SPR and QCM for Bio-Molecular Recognition is a collaboration project involving the Micro- and Nano-system clusters at IMRE and Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research (MPIP), Mainz.
- Complex Interfacial/Multiphase Flow Modelling - IHPC
- Dr. Hua Jinsong, Dr. Lou Jing, Dr. Murali Kantharaj, Dr. Sudharsan Natteri and Mr. Zhang Baili
- IHPC is working on developing advanced numerical multiphase flow models based on front tracking and immersed boundary methodologies. By integrating the robust and efficient adaptive mesh refinement scheme into the models and using parallel processing technique, the models' performance is greatly enhanced. The models can be applied to various complex fluid dynamics applications such as bubble rising and deformation, bubbly flow, droplet coalescence or breaking, free surface, cell fluid dynamics and jet flow.
- Crystal Engineering of Pharmaceutical Co-crystals and Nanocapsules: Novel approaches to improve the physical properties and bioavailability of active pharmaceutical ingredients - ICES
- Dr. Solhe Alshahateet, Emily H. E. Lau, Ong Tien Teng, Dr. Ann Chow Pui Shan, Prof. Reginald B. H. Tan
- Objectives • To design, synthesise, and investigate the feasibility of co-crystals and nanocapsules for pharmaceutical and other product delivery systems; • plore the feasibility of industrial applications in large scale
- Development of a Sol-gel Based Multi-Layer Coating - SIMTech
- Dr Sandor NemethLinda, Wu Yonglingm Dr Chang Soo Kong, Liu Feng Min, Leon Krings (Philips DAP), Sia Lee Heng (Philips DAP), Dr Gerard Cnossen(Philips DAP), Lee Poh Loo (Philips DAP)
- The joint team has leveraged on their respective expertise to develop an innovative process to create a sol-gel based multi-layer coating which has been commercialised in Philips high-end laundry iron products.
- Development of an Urban/Regional Air Pollutant Dispersion and Transport Model - IHPC
- Martin Skote, Lou Jing, Hua Jin Song, Zhang Bili
- There have been many mesoscale air dispersion models developed for air quality analysis. But each model has its own application area in terms of spatial scale and atmospheric physics involved, and none of them is universal. In particular, almost all these models are developed for high-altitude countries. Due to significant differences in atmospheric boundary layer dynamics and weather conditions, they cannot be applied to Singapore directly.
- Development of Low Temperature Poly-Si TFT Process for OLED Display Applications - SIMTech
- Qi Guojun, Huang Zhaohong, Zeng Xianting, Zheng Hongyu
- Thin film transistors (TFTs) are the key driving elements for high-density electronics displays and are indispensable for any high-end OLED-based display devices. There are a few types of TFTs, in terms of semiconductor materials used, that are in development for OLED display applications. Poly-Si based TFTs are, however, the most viable option at the moment for OLED displays because of their high charge carrier mobility.
- Distributed Hydrogen Production from Natural Gas - ICES
- Chen Luwei, Lin Jianyi
- This project is aimed at the development of effective technologies for the hydrogen production from natural gas via catalytic partial oxidation (CPO) at low cost. Hydrogen is potentially an ideal energy carrier for future. A transition from fossil fuels to hydrogen as a major fuel in the next 50 years could increase energy security and reduce environmental pollution. Many countries, including U.S.A., Europe, Canada and Japan, have moved hydrogen economy to the political and technical forefront of their country. For road-vehicle H2 applications, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) recommends small-scale direct hydrogen production using natural gas reforming. Small-footprint plants for H2 are expected to be demonstrated in 2011. The main challenge with distributing hydrogen to dispersed locations is the high cost. The fueling park-commercial production of H2 from natural gas is targeted to reduce the H2 cost by 25% by 2015.
- Effective Use of Data Mining Analysis Techniques Clinches Asian Innovation Gold Award - I2R
- Dr. Li Jinyan, Ms. Liu Hiuqing, Dr. Wong Lim Soon and Dr. Allen Yeoh
- A four-member research team, comprising of Dr. Li Jinyan, Ms. Liu Hiuqing and Dr. Wong Lim Soon of the Institute for Infocomm Research (I2R) and Dr. Allen Yeoh of the National University Hospital, have developed a simple method to diagnose acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) in children.
- Effects of Impurities on Crystallization - ICES
- Reginald Tan, Ann Chow, Shan Ning, Lu Jie, Li Ruijiang, Feng Shaohua
- Pharmaceutical active ingredients, drug excipients and fine chemical compounds are complex organic molecules which are frequently purified by crystallization from solution. Often in the industrial systems, the impurities present in the crystallization solution are found to have a serious and unpredictable impact on the morphology, structure, size and purity of the product crystals, thus leading to inconsistent batch-to-batch performance. Using “tailor-made” (structurally related) additives as a probe for investigating the impurity effects on nucleation and crystal growth of organic molecular crystals has provided for a methodological analysis of this subject.
- Enterprise Process-Centric IT (EPcit) - SIMTech
- Calvin Chee, Ivan Lee, He Wei, Mike Liow, Ma Bin, Ni Qianfu, Ren Junxin, Seow Yit Yuee, Wong Pei Lee, Xu Sheng, Zhang Chunning, Zhang Jing, Zhou Junhong
- EPcit has been developed as an innovative Web-based solution that enables collaboration and product lifecycle management across the entire organization in precision engineering companies.
- Enzyme-Mediated Enantioselective Crystallization in Organic Solvents - ICES
- Jinchuan Wu, Yvonne Chow, Ruijiang Li
- FaceStar - I2R
- Dr Tele Tan, co-project leader Dr Roberto Mariani, co-project leader Mr Luo Ruijiang, team member
- The aim of the project is to address robustness issues in face recognition systems and to propose theoretic and pragmatic solutions for a real-world uncontrolled environment. In particular, the effect of lighting and face pose variations are the two main causes of failures faced by existing face recognition systems.
- Fibre Technology for Terabit All Optical Network - I2R
- Lu Chao, Emily Hao Jianzhong (I2R) and Zhu Yinian, Shum Ping (NTU/NTRC)
- A group of researchers from the Institute for Infocomm Research are developing sensors based on long period grating (LPG) written on photonic crystal fibers (PCFs) using a CO2 laser. Mechanical stress relaxation and thermal induced techniques were used to measure various parameters in very high temperature environments. These measurements demonstrated that the sensors exhibited high stability in high temperature environments up to 1300°C.
- Functional Nanostructured Materials: Composition-tunable Luminescent Quantum Dots - IMRE
- Han Mingyong, Li Dongfei, Wang Fuke, Wang Yubo, Zhang Zhongping, Zhong Xinhua,
- Colloidal semiconductor nanocrystals (quantum dots) have attracted a great deal of attention for their roles in fundamental studies and technical applications such as biological nanoprobes and optoelectronic devices (light-emitting devices, quantum dot lasers, high-density optical recording devices, photovoltaic cells, and displays, white lightening, etc.). A major problem encountered over the years in fabricating high-quality quantum dots is associated with materials issues, primarily the tendency for formation of defects and surface-trap states under the employed growth conditions, resulting in low luminescence efficiency and stability deficits. Surface-passivation of the nanocrystals with suitable organic or inorganic materials can minimize this problem by removing the nonradiative recombination centers. Organic passivation is often incomplete or reversible. Effective inorganic-passivation can form core-shell structured quantum dots that are more robust than the organic-coated quantum dots against chemical degradation or photooxidation. However, for the largely mismatched core-shell structures, the interface strain accumulates dramatically with increasing shell thickness, and eventually can be released through the formation of misfit dislocations, degrading the optical properties of the quantum dots. Consequently, it remains a major goal to develop new synthetic strategies of producing highly luminescent and stable quantum dots.
- Initialization-free Technology for Phase-change Optical Disks - DSI
- Dr. Miao Xiangshui, Dr. Shi Luping, Mr. Tan Pik Kee, Dr. Chong Tow Chong
- Phase-change rewriteable optical recording is used in PD, CD-RW, DVD-RAM, DVD-RW, DVR, AOD, EVD and Blu-ray optical disks. The phase-change recording layer in these disks is fabricated by a sputtering method, and is in an amorphous state. To record any information, they need to be converted to a crystalline state, achieved by a process known as "initialization".
- Institute for Infocomm Research’s NeuroInformatics Lab delivers Real-time System - I2R
- Guan Cuntai, Manoj Thulasidas, Ranganatha Sitaram, Wang Chuanchu, Koh Quee Boon
- The NeuroInformatics Lab of the Institute for Infocomm Research (I2R) has developed a real-time system called `NeuroComm’ which supports data acquisition, -signal processing, classification, feedback and graphic display, and is targeted at both research and application development.
- Interplay of defects, microstructures and surface stoichiometry during plasma processing of GaN - IMRE
- Dr Akkipeddi Ramam
- Gallium nitride (GaN) based materials are ideal for optical and electronic applications because of its direct and wide band gap property. Despite recent technological advances, the appearance and electronic properties of defects in GaN layers and their effects on device properties are still unclear. Systematic characterisation of a material surface, subjected to various processing conditions, would lead to better fundamental understanding and improvement in optical efficiency as well as reliability of optical and electronic devices.
- Lab-on-a-chip - IME
- Microsystems, Modules & Components researchers
- BioMEMS (micro-electro-mechnical-systems) is one of the fastest growing areas in the MEMS industry. Instruments developed by BioMEMS technologies have numerous advantages over the conventional ones, including lower cost, requiring smaller sample and reagent sizes, faster response, and higher throughput.
- Metaheuristics-Based Dynamic Demand-Responsive Integrated Manufacturing And Transportation Execution System - SIMTech
- Dr Lin Weidong, Dr Lee Wee Leong, Mr Roland Lim Yan Guan
- Manufacturing and transportation are two tightly relevant activities in a value chain. Finished goods need to be delivered to customers as soon as possible. Otherwise, undeliverable finished goods incur inventory costs. In addition, perishable or time critical goods require just-in-time delivery.
- Multiscale modelling of Nanomaterials and Nanostructures - IHPC
- Dr. Lu Chun, Dr. Liu Ping and Dr. Bud Fox
- Despite the importance of nanomaterials and nanostructures, research on their mechanical properties is still in its infancy stage. The development of robust and cogent nanomechanics theory and modelling platforms remains a daunting task for researchers. In IHPC, a multidisciplinary team is striving to develop a generalised nanomechanics theory and a multiscale-modelling platform by combining continuum, atomistic and quantum mechanics. The team has been successful in bridging the gaps between continuum and atomistic mechanics, and between atomistic and quantum mechanics. The former development is used to investigate the stress distribution and defects introduction in a quantum dot, while the latter one is used to investigate the structural evolution of nanotubes.
- Nanofabrication - IMRE
- Dr Melissa Sander, Mr Kong Yen Peng and Dr Low Hong Yee
- Taking a cue from common, everyday tools, IMRE researchers have developed novel techniques to pattern nanoscale features using simple and inexpensive processes. These methods allow for the patterning of dense nanoscale features over large areas on surfaces, which leads to the high feature density and/or high signal that is necessary for many practical applications in the microelectronic industries. With potential for commercialisation, IMRE has already filed three patents on these techniques.
- Nanoflowers - IMRE
- Han Mingyong, Zhang Zhongping, Shao Xiaoqiong, Yu Haidong
- Inspired by nature, scientists at IMRE have created new nanostructures that not only have potentially useful properties and features but are also works of art in themselves. The structures, termed “nanoflowers”, are an important step in advancing research in nanostructured materials. Not only do these “three-dimensional (3-D) dendritic” structures resemble real flowers/scaffolds, they also represent a new level in nanostructure fabrication. This demonstrates that with the use of simple and inexpensive chemical processes, we are able to make complicated and intricate nanostructures. The intricate designs could give these new structures unique mechanical and chemical properties as compared to conventional flat and smooth nanostructures. “Nanoflowers” are one example of imitating Nature to open new avenues in nanostructure fabrication. Others include our novel and unique nanofabrication techniques and research into quantum dots.
- Nanoscale Interferometric Inspection - SIMTech
- Dr Ivan Reading (PL), Wang Shihua, Ms Yin Xiaoming, Ms Zhao Li
- There is a steady trend for manufactured items to be produced at ever-smaller scales. The critical dimensions of component parts for many products are now in the micrometer to nanometer domain with correspondingly tight error tolerances. Following the lead of the semiconductor industry, integrated devices are currently being developed for photonics (arrayed wave guides, electro-optic components, optical switches), electro-mechanical systems (MEMS sensors, micro-actuators) and biotechnology (micro-fluidics, lab-on-a-chip). For volume production to be economic in these areas, it is essential that fabrication progress be matched by the development of corresponding capabilities in test and measurement for quality control and process feedback.
- Oxidative Desulphurization - ICES
- Jeyagowry Thirugnanasampanthar, Huang Xiao
- Desulfurisation of oil refinery is an important step in the production of fuels, and has received increasing attention over the last 30 years since fuels high in sulfur produce exhaust gases containing SOx, a major contributor to air pollution and acid rain.
- Process Development for Integrated Optical Devices - IME
- Semiconductor Process Technologies researchers
- The new integrated photonic IC shrank the current photonic devices by more than 100 times and demonstrated the possibility of integrating various devices into one small chip of dimension of 24mm x 32mm. Comparing to current commercially optical device which only has one function, the new integrated photonic ICs will have thousands of photonic functions per square centimeter.
- Singular ID - IMRE
- Dr Peter Moran and Dr Adrian Burden
- Magnetic Tagging involves the development and commercialisation of the technology for tagging an item with a unique irreproducible magnetic signal through a spin-off company to create short-term high impact outcome. The technology spin-off is currently being developed under the name "Singular ID".
- Slider Engineering for Extremely High Density Data Storage - DSI
- Dr. Liu Bo, Dr. Zhang Mingsheng, Mr. Leonard Gonzaga, Ms Hor Yuet Sim, Mr. Xu Jianfeng
- Higher magnetic recording density requires great innovations in the key components namely; high performance read/write head, high-density media and low fly-height slider. This research is focused on developing new slider design and form-factor to support recording density up to 1000Gb/in2 (1Tb/in2). The current recording density in production is around 60Gb/in2.
- Template-based assembly of nanoparticle arrays on surfaces - IMRE
- Dr Melissa Sander, Ms Le-Shon Tan
- Arrays of nanoscale particles on surfaces have potential applications in a variety of areas, including optoelectronics, data storage, and sensing. Nanoparticles with diameters of a few nanometers to a few tens of nanometers exhibit unique properties relative to bulk structures due to their small size, which leads to large surface-to-volume ratios and size-dependent quantum confinement effects. In close-packed arrays of uniform-diameter particles, these properties can be employed in applications that require high signal or density. By assembling nanoparticle arrays on surfaces, it is possible carefully control the nanoparticle structure during growth. In addition, nanoparticles arrayed on surfaces can be directly incorporated into devices.
- Top-emitting Organic Light-Emitting Device (TOLED) - with video - IMRE
- Hao Xiaotao, Li Yanqing, Ong Kian Soo, Tan Li Wei, Zhu Furong
- Organic light-emitting devices (OLEDs) have recently attracted attention as display devices that can replace liquid crystal displays (LCDs) because OLEDs can produce high visibility by self-luminescence. They do not require back lighting, which is necessary for LCDs, and they can be fabricated into lightweight, thin and flexible displays. A typical OLED is constructed by placing a stack of organic electroluminescent and/or phosphorescent materials between a cathode layer that can inject electrons and an anode layer that can inject holes. When a voltage of proper polarity is applied between the cathode and anode, holes injected from the anode and electrons injected from the cathode combine to release energy as light, thereby producing electroluminescence. Polymeric electroluminescent materials have been used for OLEDs, and such devices are referred to as PLEDs.
- Ultra thin package for RF transistors - IME
- Microsystems, Modules and Components researchers
- Developed a proprietary super-thin package for communication and handheld applications through concerted efforts in RF modeling and design as well as materials and process developments.
- Ultra-Precision Cutting of Steel Optical Mould Inserts Assisted by Ultrasonic Vibration - SIMTech
- Liu Xiang Dong, Ding Xin
- Producing plastic optics for consumer products such as the camera modules in mobile phones and PDA, pick-up lenses in VCD and DVD players, require ultra-precision fabrication of the mould inserts that are used for the injection moulding of the optics. The lens surfaces are usually aspheric and to meet the profile form accuracy and optical quality finish, an extremely sharp single point diamond tool is used to cut them.
- White Light Emitting Diode (LED) - IMRE
- Chua Soo Jin, Chen Zhen, Chen Peng
- IMRE and NUS researchers have developed the technology to fabricate the white LEDs for use in optical displays, instrument panels and LCD backlighting. The LEDs may even replace the traditional incandescent bulb and fluorescent tubes for illumination. This kind of white LED was fabricated from Gallium Nitride (GaN)-based materials, the same lasers which are used to make the blue lasers in new, bigger storage DVD recorders.