Task scheduling control of BGA solder joint process in flexible manufacturing system

This paper describes an open loop control method of the solder joint process in a rework station for faulty printed circuit board (PCBs) containing electronic components in packages ball grid arrays (BGAs). In particular, a mathematical model describing the solder joint process is, first of all, obtained. Then, the desired thermal profile of the junctions BGA-PCB is determined according to the physical constraints of the rework station framework. The control parameters corresponding to the above desired thermal profile are identified using the above mathematical model. Finally, the open loop control algorithm is implemented on the supervisor interface of the rework station in order to carri…

On the Relationship between Jetted Inks and Printed Biopatterns:Molecular-Thin Functional Microarrays of Glucose Oxidase

Arrays of circular spots of glucose oxidase have been obtained on functionalized silicon oxide by piezoelectric inkjet printing and the enzymatic activity toward glucose recognition has been monitored. The addition of glycerol to the molecular ink allows to obtain high spot definition and resolution (tens of micrometers wide; one molecule tall), but in spite of its well-known structural stabilizing properties, in dynamic conditions it may lead to increased protein stresses. The jetting voltage and pulse length have been found to be critical factors for both activity retention and pattern definition. High voltages and pulse lengths results in stress effects along with the loss of activity, w…

Electrical characterization of deoxyribonucleic acid hybridization in metal-oxide-semiconductor-like structures

In this work, metal-oxide-semiconductor (MOS)-like sensors in which deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) strands are covalently immobilized either on Si oxide or on a gold surface were electrically characterized. Si oxide fabrication process allowed us to have a surface insensitive to the solution pH. A significant shift in the flat band voltage was measured after single strand DNA immobilization (+0.47 +/- 0.04 V) and after the complementary strand binding (+0.07 +/- 0.02 V). The results show that DNA sensing can be performed using a MOS structure which can be easily integrated in a more complex design, thus avoiding the problems related to the integration of micro-electrochemical cells.

A System Dynamics approach to improve clinical risk management effectiveness in an italian hospital ward: a case study.