Research News

CRDC has developed highly reliable silicon oxynitride (SiON) film, which is adaptable to high-performance logic LSIs from 2010 onward.
In the film formation process, defect formation at the atomic level is predicted and ontrolled. Then, following
formation of the high-quality nitride film on Si substrate, the Si interface is oxidized without damaging the nitride film structure. This newly developed SiON film achieves the world’s thinnest equivalent oxide thickness of 0.71 nm and the leak current is only 134 A/cm2, which is less than 1/10 of that of conventional SiON film, resulting in superior insulation property. In addition, the driving force is more than 20% higher than that of the conventional SiON film and the reliability, which has been the biggest issue concerning conventional SiON film, is at least 10,000 times greater than that of the conventional SiON film.
Development of this SiON film formation technology is a key process for realizing 45-nm-generation transistors.

In the development of next-generation LSIs, realization of MOSFET structure with thin gate insulation film and high-mobility channel is a prerequisite for low power consumption and higher speed.
Using amorphous Zr silicate high dielectric constant (high-k) gate insulation film on Ge substrate for high mobility, CRDC has achieved MOSFET properties superior to those attainable with a Si device.

CRDC has developed a gate insulation film directly bonded with a silicon substrate with the aim of realizing ultra-miniature LSIs. Application of lanthanum aluminate (LaAlO₃) for a high dielectric constant gate insulation film has resulted in ultra-thin film with equivalent oxide thickness of 0.31 nm and the leak current is reduced to 1 millionth of that of SiO₂ film.

In a world’s first, Toshiba has analyzed the chemical bonding of interface impurities on a fully silicided electrode by using SPring-8, the world’s largest synchrotron radiation facility, and clarified the mechanism of gate electrode work function modulation by interface impurities.
Although LSI gate electrodes consisting of fully silicided metal materials offer advantages over conventional polysilicon electrodes in terms of depletion layer and electrical resistance, they pose a problem in that the threshold voltage determining LSI performance must be controlled.
Since work function of a gate electrode is one of the factors determining threshold voltage, clarification of the mechanism is expected to facilitate practical application of the metal gate electrodes essential for enhancing LSI performance. Specifically, it will provide guidelines for the development of materials and processes for achieving appropriate threshold voltage.

Utilizing high-quality piezoelectric thin film fabrication technology and device process technology, CRDC has developed a MEMS (micro electro mechanical system) tunable capacitor whose capacity is tunable in the range up to 3 times at operation voltage of 3 V. Operation voltage of 3V is the lowest voltage for a MEMS tunable capacitor at present, enabling battery-powered operation.
Application of this newly developed tunable capacitor to RF front-end modules of wireless equipment, such as mobile phones, will enable integration of circuits previously provided separately for different frequencies and optimization of circuits in accordance with the ambient environment. As a result, it will be possible to shrink the volume of RF front-end modules and reduce their power consumption.

Toshiba Corporation has developed manipulation technology for injecting nanoparticles in cells by using subtle vibration generated by a micro electro mechanical system (MEMS).
The new technology has advantage of simultaneous manipulation of numerous cells. Applications in the field of biotechnology including medical tool for investigating the reaction of cells to physical action and clarifying their properties in detail, and technology for affecting specific cell is expected in the future.

To ensure security, CRDC has developed a method of completely erasing e-blue images. This method takes advantage of the fact that the human eye cannot distinguish fine patterns of uniform brightness. Mechanical polishing is used to subdivide images and thermal decoloring reaction, which is a property of e-blue, makes the brightness uniform.
This technology is applicable to pre-processing equipment for reducing the workload of the thermal decoloring equipment, equipment for converting confidential documents that are no longer required into blank paper, and equipment for only erasing portions that are printed in e-blue toner.

Toshiba Corporation announced further advances in robotics that take the company closer to its concept of a "life support partner"a sophisticated robot able to deliver human-centric technologies that provide assistance and support the elderly and young children in the home and in such public places as shopping complexes. One advance enables a robot to distinguish particular voices from among many from multiple directions, and recognize the direction of origin, and interact with the speakers by responding to a repertoire of commands. The other allows a robot to recognize a registered individual and to follow that individual from place to place, even among groups of people.

Toshiba Corporation announced a new display technology that allows 3-D images to be viewed on a flatbed display without any need for special glasses. Viewing the display from an angle allows the viewer to experience 3-D images that stand out several centimeters from the surface of the display. The new technology opens up new areas of application for 3-D displays, including arcade games, e-learning, simulations of buildings and landscapes, and even 3-D menus in restaurants.

The CRDC has developed a technology for automatically creating a digest with unique narration from a sports program according to the audience preference.
Comparing the user's preference and the metadata on the video content, time shift of the degree of importance of the video is obtained, and scenes relevant to the team and players preferred by the user are selected automatically so that the entire duration of the digest is within the specified time. At the same time, in order to explain the scoring etc., the status transition model is used to create narration according to the progress of a match.
This technology will allow users to view only the portions they are interested in from a program recorded on a hard disk etc., and the collected scenes of their favorite sports stars. Also, the content will be light enough to play on a mobile terminal for carefree enjoyment. Moreover, it will be possible to provide Internet-based content-distribution services focusing on teams and players specified by the user.

The CRDC has developed a new search technology for searching related documents just by selecting the desired portion of a document displayed on a computer by using a mouse or a pen and for narrowing the search results according to the purpose.
By assuming the search purpose of a user based on the selected phrase and its context, this technology enables appropriate search in accordance with the user's purpose. As a result, users can access the desired information without being interrupted-even in a mobile environment where use of a keyboard is impracticable or while in communication with someone. Also, beginners lacking search skills can execute the same sophisticated level of search as those with experience.
At Interaction 2005, a symposium organized by the Information Processing Society of Japan from February 28 to March 1, this technology was awarded a Program Committee Member Special Mention.

By applying a newly developed nanoparticle electrode, the Corporate Research & Development Center has developed a new long-life battery capable of ultra-high-speed charging—in about a minute, which is a performance comparable to that of a capacitor.
As well as providing high power, the newly developed battery is lightweight and safe. Moreover, it maintains stable performance even in a tough temperature environment of the order of -40°C. It is not only suitable for mobile terminals but also for home robots requiring high power output. Recognizing the relevance of this energy source to the emerging ubiquitous networking society, Toshiba intends to champion its widespread application.

Using a new manufacturing method, the CRDC has developed a phosphor capable of producing blue green, yellow green or orange (maximum color intensity is 1.7 times that possible with Toshiba’s conventional phosphor).
The newly developed phosphor is brighter than the current mainstream YAG. Using its chromaticity region, the color rendering property, which is an indicator of color reproduction, can be greatly enhanced in the case of lighting applications.
By combining the newly developed phosphor with a red phosphor, white LED with very high color rendering property (Ra ≥ 90) in the color temperature region necessary for general lighting (2,700 K to 10,000 K) is realized while maintaining the brightness.

Features:

• A technology for synthesizing a bright phosphor providing a wide wavelength range has been established and optimized.
• A new manufacturing method has been established.
• Multi-wavelength white LED has been realized using blue LED and blue green, yellow green, yellow and red phosphors.
• Chromaticity region, color temperature, and color rendering (Ra ≥ 90) applicable to general lighting sources have been realized.

High-sensitivity rectifier for wireless sensor networks Capable of battery charging in the case of 10-meter communication distance- The Corporate Research & Development Center has developed a high-sensitivity rectifier capable of generating DC power supply from weak radio wave. The rectifier, which is suitable for RF ID tag and sensornetwork wireless equipment, is integrated with transmission circuitry using a CMOS process.
Between a gate terminal and a drain terminal, the CMOS rectifier proposed by the Corporate Research & Development Center applies bias voltage (Vbth) equivalent to threshold voltage. This approach minimizes deterioration of rectification due to threshold voltage, which has been a problem, and realizes a high-sensitivity rectifier. Also, because rectifier voltage generated by weak external radio wave is low, rectifiers have to be stacked. The proposed rectifier adopts a method such that Vbth is distributed from a single voltage source in order to supply equal Vbth to each rectifier CMOS transistor.
As a result, rectification of weak radio wave is possible. The new rectifier can convert weak radio signal equivalent to a 10-meter communication distance to electric current, whereas the conventional method is only suitable for a 3-meter communication distance. It has been confirmed that charging of a secondary battery is possible.
As well as enabling long-distance RFID communication, this technology is expected to be a building block of the ubiquitous networking society in which sensor-network radio devices requiring no external power supply will be essential. From now on, the Corporate Research & Development Center will capitalize on this technology in promoting development of wireless communication devices for sensor networks.

The Corporate Research & Development Center has developed an algebraic surface cryptosystem, a new type of public key cryptosystem based on the problem of obtaining factors on an algebraic surface.
Cryptography plays an essential role for the Internet and other networks, ensuring network security and preventing unauthorized access to data. Public key cryptography is widely used for transmitting personal information to e-commerce sites. Thanks to its characteristic, i.e. the key for encryption is public, public key cryptography enables secure communication with a party accessing the site for the first time. However, because the current public key cryptography is time consuming and the processing consumes significant amounts of electricity, it is unsuitable for cellular phones and other mobile applications. Also, it will be decryptable once quantum computers become available. So, there is a need for a new type of public key cryptography. To address these issues, working in collaboration with Assistant Professor Yasuhiro Goto of Hokkaido University of Education, the Corporate Research & Development Center has developed an algebraic surface cryptosystem, a new type of public key cryptosystem based on the mathematical problem of obtaining factors on an algebraic surface.

Reflecting the penetration of IT systems throughout society and the progress of data acquisition technology, data mining technology is increasingly used for analyzing human behavior. One research theme is human modeling, that is, the representation of people’s intrinsic functions on a computer as a part of a system for analyzing human behavior. A crucial issue is how to include people’s states of mind, which cannot be observed and are uncertain, in the model.
The Corporate Research & Development Center has developed a consumer behavior analysis technology based on a Bayesian network, a technique for handling conditional probabilities. The newly developed consumer behavior analysis technology enables deep analysis of consumers’ psychological states and the factors influencing purchasing decisions.

In the context of its work to expand the application of the Universal Plug and Play standard for Audio Video streaming devices (Universal Plug and Play AV), the Corporate Research & Development Center has developed a method that enhances the practicality of integrated content management and publishing at home using a media server.
In the case of integrated management of content at home, this method dramatically reduces the communication burden of the large-scale updating required in connection with changes to the communication addresses of devices.
The Corporate Research & Development Center will continue to be actively involved in standardization of UPnP AV and aims to develop ultra-practical IPnP-related technologies.

To promote standardization of the 802.11n standard, the next-generation 802.11 tandard, which targets over 100 Mbps effective throughput, the Corporate Research & Development Center has tied up with a European research institute in Bristol, the U.K., and an American research institute in New Jersey. Reflecting its enthusiastic involvement in 802.11n standardization ctivities, the Corporate Research & Development Center has made several proposals.
Introduced here is a selective retransmission system combined with aggregation, hich is a highly efficient technology that is attracting keen interest. The Corporate Research & Development Center has made any other proposals with the aim of realizing a stress-free, wireless home network.

The Corporate Research & Development Center has developed a compact fuel cell for notebook PCs that enables long-time operation of a PC even if there is no access to an electric outlet. The newly developed fuel cell generates electric power by reaction between methanol solution and oxygen in the air. Previously, a fuel cartridge was bulky because methanol in the cartridge had to be diluted to 3 to 6%, the optimum concentration of the fuel.
Thanks to the development of a diluting circulation system to adjust the fuel concentration by recycling water produced as a result of power generation,100% methanol can be used and the volume of the fuel cartridge has been reduced to less than one tenth that of the previous cartridge. Other technologies contributing to reduction in the unit size include the application of nanocatalysis to the electrodes for high power output and operation control technology to switch the fuel cell power generation mode according to the usage situation of a PC.
Shipment of samples is scheduled for spring 2005 and Toshiba is developing key technologies for further miniaturization.

The Corporate Research & Development Center has developed Ubiquitous Personal Agent, an agent framework for realizing context-aware services in a ubiquitous computing environment.
In the emerging ubiquitous computing environment users will be able to access information via various types of information equipment in various situations.In such an environment, not only will users access information on their own initiative, but it is also expected that context-aware information services will autonomously provide users with useful information based on their preferences and behavior. The newly developed framework will facilitate efficient development of effective information services by allowing timely provision of information according to the time, place and situation to users in a ubiquitous computing environment.

The Corporate Research & Development Center has developed ApriAlpha™ , a concept model of a robotic information home appliance, which was initially shown at ROBODEX 2003 held in April 2003. Linked with other network equipment in the home, this robot provides support to users in terms of information, household chores and home security.ApriAlpha™ employs face recognition, voice recognition and voice synthesis technologies that allow it to recognize users and converse with them. Its two built-in cameras enable the robot to know its position. Thanks to automatic recharging and obstacle avoidance functions, ApriAlpha™ acts autonomously.As ApriAlpha™ can communicate with other equipment via wireless LAN, a user can control the robot remotely using a cellular phone or a personal digital assistant, or monitor a room viewed via the robot's cameras. Also, a user can give a verbal instruction to the robot to control an air conditioner, a television or other home appliances or can have the robot read the latest news to him/her.The Corporate Research & Development Center is working to apply intelligent technology so that anyone can handle robots easily.

The Corporate Research & Development Center has achieved solid-state electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT) enabling quantum-state control. This is an important step toward the realization of practical quantum computing, a revolutionary technology destined to transform computing in the 21st century. Not only can the solid-state material exhibiting EIT maintain quantum superposition for a long time, but its quantum state can be optically operated and observed. Capitalizing on these excellent properties, the Corporate Research & Development Center has proposed a frequency-domain quantum computer using a solid-state EIT medium, which is a crystal in which rare-earth ions are distributed, and is engaged in R&D to realize it.

The Corporate Research & Development Center has developed a technology for real-time, high-accuracy and stable detection and tracking of a pupil from a face image. With the newly developed technology, the shape of the pupil is accurately estimated by edge detection based on the statistical difference between two elliptic regions, and in combination with image pattern matching, stable detection with minimal susceptibility to brightness changes and changes in lighting conditions is achieved. Moreover, a unique search method using matching with pupil-adjacent patterns reduces the calculation burden so that real-time processing is realized. The improved accuracy of pupil detection reduces the error rate of face-based personal identity authentication. The pupil detection technology can also be applied to simulation of wearing make-up, color contact lenses, etc. and to line-of-sight detection to clarify where a driver or a display user is looking.

The Corporate Research & Development Center has developed a new traitor tracing technology that both reduces the size of enabling blocks and improves tracing performance to identify the source of a decryption key of a pirate decoder in content distribution. Subscribers to digital content distribution services are entitled to purchase and use digital content, such as music and movies, distributed by content providers. However, because content distribution is often beset by illegal acts, such as creation of a pirate decoder, copyright protection technology is a must. The method developed by the Corporate Research & Development Center is a black-box traitor tracing scheme that identifies a traitor involved in creation of a pirate decoder by examining input and output behaviors and does not require disassembly of the pirate decoder. While maintaining an efficient size of enabling blocks, this public key based traitor tracing technology can identify at least one traitor and enables efficient tracing even in the case of ingenious pirate decoders. Details of this technology were presented at Asiacrypt 2004 held in December 2004.