FALL 2018
"Bonding with your Semiconductor: Understanding Ultrasonic Welding"
Speaker: Lee Levine
Abstract: With more than 15 trillion wire bonds produced annually and volume still growing the reliability and productivity of wire bonding makes it the dominant chip interconnection method. Estimated wire bond interconnection volume exceeds 90% of market share. But that does not mean that rigorous attention to details can be ignored. New products must be fully qualified and periodic testing of the weld intermetallic is an important part of assuring high quality bonds. Process changes, materials changes and tool changes must all be tested and reliability confirmed. Long-term aging studies using accelerated high temperature storage, thermal cycling and temperature/humidity tests are not only initial qualification requirements but should be a part of any review when materials and encapsulation changes are required. Wire bonding is a welding process where an intermetallic weld nugget (an alloy of the wire and the bond pad or substrate surface) i formed by the deformation of the ball or wire (wedge bonding). Ultrasonic energy unlocks easy slip mechanisms within the crystal lattice of the deforming materials allowing deformation at lower force and temperature than the materials would otherwise require for deformation. Deformation mixes the wire and substrate to form the initial bond. Subsequently diffusion allows the mixture to resolve into the equilibrium compounds of the phase diagram. The intermetallic compounds each have different physical properties and behavior. During the life of a wire bond it is normal for transformations to occur, where one intermetallic transforms to another because diffusion has increased (or decreased) the concentration of one of the elements Transformations can generate large strains in the lattice structure, even resulting in bond failures at the interface between adjacent intermetallic compounds. This talk will discuss the ultrasonic welding mechanism and its effect on wire bond reliability.
“The Technology of the DriveStick®”
Speaker: Brian Clause, Owner, Clause Technology LLC, Allentown, PA
Abstract: Since 1954, numerous carmakers tried using simple tilt joysticks to replace the venerable steering wheel and pedals. They didn't succeed because the tilt joystick is not precise enough to steer a car. But a more sophisticated joystick technology is now available that's as precise as the steering wheel but much quicker: the wrist flex joystick. The DriveStick is a wrist flex joystick designed for drive-by-wire control of the modern electric vehicle (EV). Its quick, dexterous operation exploits the near instantaneous responsiveness of the EV's electric steering, propulsion, and braking motors. It creates a virtual link from the EV to the brain's pleasure center. The DriveStick's nimbleness and compact size enhance safety by enabling rapid accident avoidance and more room for the driver and the front airbag. It steers with the same precision as a conventional steering wheel, but more intuitively, with less effort, and more fun.
“How Three Tunable Nanostructures Can Hasten the Shift Away from Fossil Fuels”
Speaker: Sathya Edamadaka Student, High Technology High School, Lincroft, NJ
Abstract: Research and development of photovoltaic devices has grown exponentially over the past few decades, with global government investment recently crossing $1 trillion. However, efficiencies of almost all commoditized solar cells have remained low, and we still lack a high-efficiency, low-cost alternative. This talk will focus on research that took place over three years of high school, starting from harnessing infrared light and ending on developing tunable plasmonic nanostructures that can be applied to any photovoltaic device. It will delve into analyzing causes of low photovoltaic efficiency, ways to improve upon these issues with nanostructures, theoretical simulation methods, and physical synthesis techniques. This patent-pending research has led to improving efliciencies by 56% while maintaining facile production methods and low costs, evidence of a sunny future.
“The Electric Grid: A Review of Legal Issues”
Speaker: Linda R. Evers; STEVENS & LEE, A Stevens & Lee/Griffin Company
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“Pacific SW Blackout 2011- Challenges to Energy Systems Engineering”
Speaker: James K. Robinson Senior Director, Relion Associates, LLC
Abstract: On September 8, 2011, the Pacific Southwest experienced a 11 minute cascading event which blacked out 2.7 million homes and businesses in California south of Los Angeles, SW Arizona & northern Mexico. This presentation covers the "detective work" that enabled the exact location of the problem and how power was restored. The event was initiated after a single 500 kV line tripped. The power shift distribution led to overload protection tripping of transformers & lines, resulting in low voltage, generator trips and Path 44 intertie separation. Even though the restoration process was generally effective and complete within 12 hours, thè economic loss was severe; San Diego reported that the loss was upward of S100 M with severe distress to the populace. The talk focuses on the work performed by the special team assembled by NERC which has overall responsibility for such events.
“Energy and Technology Policy Issues in the New Congress”
Speaker: Russell Harrison IEEE-USA Senior Legislative Representative, Grassroots Activities
Abstract: Redistricting and shifting political winds virtually guarantee that the 2018 election will result in significant changes to Pennsylvania's representation in Washington. And the results on November 6 confirmed that with the legislative branch under the leadership of different parties, uncertainty may be a large factor on US Technology Policy, with both regulation and legislation, especially government funding. IEEE-USA is widely respected for Technology Policy that is objective and in the best interests of the country and our members. Based in Washington, IEEE-USA staff maintain close contact with legislators and relevant congressional committees. This talk will provide insights into who will be shaping policy and how a constituent can work with your representatives regarding these matters.
“Transportation Electrification”
Speaker: Thomas Bonner Manager, State Government Affairs, PECO
Abstract: For more than a century, the way Americans move ourselves, our goods, and our services has been powered by motor fuels and internal combustion engines. Which provided unprecedented mobility. At the same time, it has become clear that this mobility has come at a cost, particularly in terms of environmental impact. Today, rapid improvements in battery technologies are creating the opportunity to meet these mobility needs with purely domestic resources and with a substantially reduced environmental impact. The electrification of the transportation sector offers these potential benefits, as well as the ability to provide more reliable and lower operating cost vehicles and equipment to consumers. With its strategic geographic location and diverse energy resources, Pennsylvania is poised to play a leadership role in this technology transformation. The Lehigh University Institute for Cyber-Physical Infrastructure and Energy is well-positioned to conduct research and support collaborative solutions to support this leadership.
“US Power Markets & Solar Energy”
Speaker: Matthew Tripoli Director, Project Development, ET Capital, Inc.
Abstract: Sustained low natural gas prices, precipitously falling installation costs for solar and wind generation, evolving regulatory frameworks, and political uncertainty have dramatically changed power markets throughout the United States over the last decade. What developments in power markets state-by-state have been most surprising and what should observers of markets throughout the US look out for in the next few years? What do these changes mean for the Mid-Atlantic States and for Pennsylvania in particular? What major dynamics will affect how utility-scale solar systems are deployed?
“Keystone Solar Future Project”
Speaker: Yi Li, Senior Engineer, Distribution Operation, PPL Electric Utilties
Abstract: As distribution systems begin to experience high penetration of distributed energy resources (DERs), new technical challenges emerge for distribution system operators associated with hidden load, bi-directional power flow, and power quality issues. PPL Electric Utilities, kicked off the Keystone Solar Future Project in 2017 with a Sunshot Award from Department of Energy to design, implement and pilot a Distributed Energy Resource Management System ( DERMS). This seminar will provide a high level overview and scope of the Keystone Solar Future Project, along with an engineer’s bird eye view of how distribution system engineering and operations are adapting to the changes of the future grid.
SPRING 2019
"Data-driven Whole Building Fault Detection and Diagnosis"
Speaker: Yimin Chen Ph.D. Candidate at Drexel University
Abstract: Residential and commercial buildings are responsible for more than 40% of the primary energy consumption in the U.S. Energy wastes are estimated to reach 15% to 30% in commercial buildings due to malfunctioning sensors, components, and control systems, as well as degrading components in Heating, Ventilation, Air-conditioning (HVAC) systems and lighting systems in the U.S. Studies have demonstrated that a significant energy saving can be achieved by automated fault detection and diagnosis (AFDD) followed by corrections. In buildings, AFDD tools can achieve an energy saving of 5-20% of whole building energy consumption. Despite the development and adoption of component-level AFDD tools, whole building faults, which refer to faults that occur in one equipment or component but would cause fault impacts (abnormalities) on more than one component and subsystem, or cause significant impacts on the energy consumption and/or indoor environmental quality, are difficult to be diagnosed by component-level AFDD tools due to the strong coupling of building systems. In my research, data-driven based methods that integrate expert knowledge/rule are developed. Techniques, such as pattern matching, Symbolic Aggregate Approximation , Principal Component Analysis, and BN, are employed to address the challenges faced by the whole building AFDD, such as the curse of dimensionality, lack of fault data, and a need for cost-effectiveness. The methods have been evaluated using data collected from a demonstration building at Drexel University, including those data that contain both artificially implemented and naturally occurred fault behaviors.
“Offshore Wind in the United States”
Speaker: Kris Ohleth Senior Manager – Stakeholder Engaegment, Ørsted
Abstract - Offshore wind energy has been a major source of renewable energy in Europe for nearly three decades, however there are no utility-scale offshore wind projects here in the United States. Meanwhile, the United States boasts some of the most ideal conditions for offshore wind development in the world. Come and learn more about the status of offshore wind development in the US, and how and why it is currently poised to be at the center of the next energy boom. Find out more about the technology, geography, financing, environmental issues, and policy that are involved in developing and building an offshore wind farm, and when and where you can expect to see a wind farm off of one of our coasts soon.