2002 Best Paper Awards

The "Dr. Allen V. Astin" Award

High-Capacity Mass Dissemination with Four-Position Mass Comparator

This paper discusses the basic elements of mass dissemination, and requirements of high-capacity mass dissemination as it is used to calibrated weights and wieght sets. A new mass comparator for high capacity mass dissemination is introduced, with actual results of the comparator's capability, and presents addtional applications of the device

Applied Category

High-Capacity Mass Dissemination with Four-Position Mass Comparator

This paper discusses the basic elements of mass dissemination, and requirements of high-capacity mass dissemination as it is used to calibrated weights and wieght sets. A new mass comparator for high capacity mass dissemination is introduced, with actual results of the comparator's capability, and presents addtional applications of the device

Invited Category

Improving Temperature Accuracy for Rapid Thermal Processing at NIST

This paper presents methods to improve measurement accuracy of semiconductor materials undergoing high-temperature thermal processing, with a goal of 2 degrees Celsius from 700 to 1000 degrees C. New methods for calibrating lightpipe radiation thermometers against blackbody sources are introduced. While the work specifically addresses a semiconductor application, the approaches have geneal applicability for acheiving reliable traceable temperature measurements in other material processing and manufacturing environments.

Quality Management Category

Facing the Challenge of Measurement Interoperability: Taiwan's Dilemmas in the establishment of a National Measurement System

Taiwan has been recognized as an important base for product development with flexible manufacture and dynamic design in a global product value chain. Characteristics of Taiwan industry are analyzed, and special attentions are paid to electronics and IC industries. The national measurement system is introduced briefly, including CMS-NML and CNLA. Besides primary calibrations, CMS-NML is strongly requested by the government and Taiwan industry to apply the standards-based technologies to promote the competitiveness of Taiwan companies. Examples are given to demonstrate the supports of CMS-NML to electronics, petroleum and emerging industries.

Technical Category

One Port Characterized Devices in Vector Network Analyzer Calibrations: Theory and Experiments

This paper we presents the results of a study on the use of characterized devices in microwave vector network analyzer (VNA) calibrations and measurements. A brief review of the theory of one-port characterized device calibration is given. The scattering parameter error box representation and widely used terminology of error terms in one- port VNA calibrations such as directivity, source match and tracking are adopted in this paper. Based on these parameters, the quality of one class of one-port VNA calibrations achievable through the use of characterized devices and the effects of different kinds of errors in device characterization can have on VNA calibrations are examined.