Sensors Magazine articles from July 2002

Sensors Magazine archives from July 2002

Biological mechanoreceptors point the way. (Guest Editorial).(discussion of mechanoreceptors in animals)(Brief Article)(Editorial)
July 1, 2002... Through evolution, nature has developed a wide variety of mechanoreceptors in animals. These specialized sensory organs can serve as prototypes for structures and mechanisms being developed to address challenging sensor applications. The...

SensComp. (Business Sense).(company formed by Jack O'Brien, Phil Jackman)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2002... SensComp has formed, based on the purchase of Polaroid's ultrasonic sensor and components business, and two key individuals (Jack O'Brien, managing director, and Phil Jackman, director of operations and technology) have gone along to launch the...

W.M. Keck Laboratory for the Fabrication of Microminiaturized Analytical Instrumentation. (Business Sense).(Brief Article)
July 1, 2002... A new laboratory at Iowa State University (Ames, IA, rmills@iastate.edu), the W.M. Keck Laboratory for the Fabrication of Microminiaturized Analytical Instrumentation, is helping researchers shrink scientific instruments to microscopic size....

Immersion Corp. (Business Sense).(awarded patents)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2002... Immersion Corp. (San Jose, CA, www.immersion.com) has been awarded seven new patents for technologies in the area of haptics, or force-feedback touch sensing. One of the new patents involves adding touch sense to Web pages; it allows a user to...

Xicor, Inc. (Milpitas, CA, www.xicor.com), a supplier of programmable mixed-signal integrated circuits. (Business Sense).(acquires Analog Integration)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2002... Xicor, Inc. (Milpitas, CA, www.xicor.com), a supplier of programmable mixed-signal integrated circuits, has announced the acquisition of Analog Integration Partners, LLC (AIP, www.analog-ip.com), also of Milpitas, a leader in the design and...

MicroChip Technology. (Business Sense).(gives analysis of 8-bit microcontroller market)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2002... According to MicroChip Technology (Chandler, AZ, www.microchip.com), the 8-bit microcontroller market is shifting quickly to field-programmable technology. In fact, the company says, this segment is growing by more than 25% each year. To prove...

Kistler Instrumente AG (Winterthur, Switzerland, www.kistler.com), known for precision pressure, force, and acceleration sensing. (Business Sense).(acquires Leichtbau GmbH)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2002... Kistler Instrumente AG (Winterthur, Switzerland, www.kistler.com), known for precision pressure, force, and acceleration sensing, has acquired all activities of the Ingenieurgesellschaft fur Leichtbau GmbH (lGel, Schonaich, Germany), a leading...

Market trends. (Business Sense).(report about small-tech sensors is published)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2002... The first business-oriented market report to address the small-tech sensors industry has arrived. "Small-Tech Sensors: U.S. Markets, Applications, and Forecasts" is published jointly by the Nano-business Alliance and Deloitte & Touche...

Bubble activity could launch new liquid analysis technique. (Research & Developments).(Brief Article)
July 1, 2002... Research into the behavior of bubbles generated in a tank holds great promise as the basis of an acoustic sensor capable of determining various physical characteristics--density, surface tension, viscosity, the presence of contaminants--in a...

Passive piezoelectric sensor monitors structural integrity. (Research & Developments).(Brief Article)
July 1, 2002... Sandia researchers Kent Pfeifer, Sarah Leming, Art Rumpf, and Robert Waldschmidt have designed a structural integrity monitor based on piezoelectric technology. The wireless, battery-free microsensor is attached to a beam in a bridge, building,...

Application snapshots that show how handy a sensor can be: baby on board. (APP Snaps).(NASA Langley Research Center develops Child Presence Sensor)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2002... Disturbed by the stories of young children and infants dying after accidentally being left in vehicles, William "Chris" Edwards, along with co-inventors Terry Mack and Edward Modlin from the NASA Langley Research Center, have developed the...

One of these bolts is not like the others. (APP Snaps).(Brief Article)
July 1, 2002... The scenario: you're machining and assembling engine block and cylinder heads. You want to record the history of the machining process with a data carrier but the data carrier has to be able to survive the machining environment, high...

Fish gotta swim, birds gotta fly. (APP Snaps).(Brief Article)
July 1, 2002... What do you do if you're studying fish farming, trying to monitor and maintain the recirculating flow of 110 tons of seawater per hour pumped into fish tanks, and on a budget? Well, if you're the Seafish Industries Research Station in Scotland,...

SoundPrint: an infrastructure early warning system. (Cover Story: Putting Sensors to Work).(Pure Technologies' SoundPrint system detects construction failures)
July 1, 2002... Combining an array of acoustic sensors, a PC, and a new data acquisition processor board, this monitoring system alerts building owners at the first sign of structural failure. The environment can be hard on buildings and other concrete...

All together now: ultrasonic and optical imaging. (Sensor Technology and Design).
July 1, 2002... Superposing an ultrasonic image onto an optical image of the same sample yields data on structural integrity that an inspector can readily interpret. A coustic imaging has gained widespread favor as a handy nondestructive tool for...

Is Wireless Ethernet safe to use? (Data Security).
July 1, 2002... Recent security breaches have raised questions about the wisdom of using 802.11-based wireless LANs on the factory floor. But it's too soon to give up on this protocol. The possibility of using IEEE 802.llb (a.k.a. Wireless Ethernet or...

Distributing control with Ethernet and TCP/IP. (Distributed Control).
July 1, 2002... Industrial Ethernet is a hot topic these days. And although it's not ideal for sensors, its TCP/IP (Transport Control Protocol/Internet Protocol) peer-to-peer capabilities make it an excellent network for linking controllers and data...

Fundamentals of pressure sensing: brush up on the physics of pressure and the operating principles of pressure sensors. (Sensor Technology and Design).
July 1, 2002... Pressure is an operating parameter that is relevant in many applications. But before you can effectively sense and measure this property, you need to understand the fundamentals. First of all, pressure is defined as force per unit area. It's a...

Mobile Robot has the smarts to hide from its enemies. (Research & Developments).(Brief Article)
July 1, 2002... Intelligent sensor packages that are introduced into hazardous or hostile environments need self-protective capabilities well beyond rugged housings. Air-dropped sensor clusters, for example, have no control over their location and are prey to...

Cantilever probe measures microwave fields near ICs. (Research & Developments).(Brief Article)
July 1, 2002... The semiconductor industry needs accurate measurements of microwave fields near digital ICs, but conventional contact probes interfere with circuit operation and are expensive. High-resolution, noncontact measurements of high-frequency signals...

Watch out for the blueberry yogurt! (Research & Developments).(ANIA uses sensor to test freshness of yogurt)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2002... The French food producers's group ANIA wanted its yogurt to be fresh enough to reach right out and pinch you. And part of being fresh is staying cool. Should yogurt--or any of a variety of temperature-sensitive foods such as dairy, meat, fish,...

Best of Sensors Expo awards. (Best of Sensors Expo Spring 2002).(Brief Article)
July 1, 2002... With the Best of Sensors Expo awards, the editors of Sensors recognize new products (available now but released since the last Sensors Expo in October) that we predict will significantly impact the use of sensing in design and application....

Fun and useful curiosities in R&D Pavilion. (Best of Sensors Expo Spring 2002).(Brief Article)
July 1, 2002... Sensors Expo Spring 2002 featured, for the first time, an R&D Pavilion packed with demos of research and cutting-edge products. Among these was an application of Accenture Labs' data acquisition and analysis system that involved live trees and...

Eureka! The best of the rest. (Best of Sensors Expo Spring 2002).(Brief Article)
July 1, 2002... At Sensors Expo Spring 2002, the editors of Sensors launched a new awards program. We found it necessary because this time we also changed the deadline structure for the Best of Sensors Expo awards. Time was when the editors would visit every...

Conference highlights. (Best of Sensors Expo Spring 2002).(Brief Article)
July 1, 2002... Go to the exhibit hall to look at products and talk with vendors. But take in the Sensors Expo conference program when you need to understand issues and fundamentals, get a complete overview of a particular topic, or hear industry experts...

Attendees choose Show Stopper winner. (Best of Sensors Expo Spring 2002).(Advanced Embedded Systems wireless sensor transceiver take top honors at)(trade show)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2002... Of all the cool demos on display at Sensors Expo, attendees selected that of Tucson, Arizona--based Advanced Embedded Systems as the very coolest. At each expo, the Show Stopper award (determined by attendee voting) is given to one exhibitor in...

50 Msps 14-Bit ADC. (Product News).(Linear Technology LTC1744 digitizes high-frequency, wide range signals)(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
July 1, 2002... The LTC1744 from Linear Technology Corp., Milpitas, CA, provides 14-bit resolution with no missing codes for digitizing high-frequency, wide dynamic range signals. SNR is 77 dB, SFDR is 87 dB with a 5 MHz input frequency, sample rate is 50...

Palm DA software. (Product News).(Datastick Systems introduces Datastick Connection 2.0 and Datastick Connection Plus 2.0 data acquisition software)(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
July 1, 2002... Datastick Systems, Inc., Santa Clara, CA, offers Datastick Connection 2.0 and Datastick Connection Plus 2.0 software for use with its Palm-OS-based MyCorder DAS-1206 DA system. The system lets you take measurements in the field, record them,...

I/O, data logging modules. (Product News).(Action Instruments develops I/O devices for industrial DA and control)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2002... Action Instruments, San Diego, CA, introduces the C, K, and DL Series distributed I/O modules for industrial DA and control. C Series modules are 100 Hz, 16-bit analog measurement devices with Modbus-RTU, Profibus-DP, and ASCII communications...

Dew point transmitter. (Product News).(advertisement)
July 1, 2002... The Model 202RT from Nova Analytical Systems Inc., Niagara Falls, NY, is specifically for use on atmosphere gases from an endothermic generator. The device continuously monitors gas dew point, displaying it on a large LED meter and transmitting...

Guided wave radar transmitters. (Product News).(advertisement)
July 1, 2002... The MT2000 from K-TEK, Prairieville, LA, measures bulk solid and liquid levels with accuracy of [+ or -]5.1 mm, maintaining accuracy under harsh conditions, variations in operating temperatures and pressures, and low dielectric constants. It...

Subminiature pressure transducers. (Product News).(advertisement)
July 1, 2002... Usable in OEM applications, 980-2350 Series transducers from Robitech, Inc., Wilmington, MA, contain a digitally programmed electronic circuit to provide accurate zero offset, gain and temperature compensation settings and a precision voltage...

High-temperature accelerometer. (Product News).(advertisement)
July 1, 2002... Bruel & Kjaer, Livonia, MI, offers the Model 65HT-10 from Endevco Corp., San Juan Capistrano, CA, a miniature accelerometer (weighs 5 g without cable) that can continuously operate in temperatures over 175[degrees]C. Nominal amplitude response...

Engine RPM sensor. (Product News).(advertisement)
July 1, 2002... The RPM8000 from Caesar DataSystems Inc., Farmington Hills, MI, plugs into a vehicle's cigarette lighter and monitors the residual AC ripple riding on the vehicle alternator output voltage, converting it to a DC output proportional to engine...

Noninvasive analysis system. (Product News).(advertisement)
July 1, 2002... The OxySense 101 from OxySense, Inc., Las Vegas, NV, lets you analyze low levels of oxygen within sealed packages without opening or damaging the package. The system uses an oxygen sensor, the [O.sub.2]xyDot, attached to the inside of the...

Linear position sensor module. (Product News).(advertisement)
July 1, 2002... Capable of measuring linear or angular position, the HMR400l from Honeywell SSEC, Plymouth, MN, is a high-resolution single sensor module based around the company's HMC15l2 magnetic displacement sensor IC, which requires a magnetic field source...

Noncontact position sensor. (Product News).(advertisement)
July 1, 2002... The Posichron-Quad Model PQ from ASM Measurements GmbH, Moosinning, Germany, is an IP67-rated noncontact magnetostrictive position sensor with absolute position output. The sensor's easily mounted profile contains the magnetostrictive waveguide...

Smart level sensor. (Product News).(SK1-FSA M30 capacitive sensor from SIE Sensors, Inc)(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
July 1, 2002... The SK1-FSA M30 capacitive sensor from SIE Sensors, Inc., Toledo, OH, is self-compensating and designed for nonflush/liquid level sensing applications. Switching frequency is 2 Hz; accuracy is medium dependent. The device operates from 10-35...

Digital recorder. (Product News).(advertisement)
July 1, 2002... The DAQ 800 Series from KineticSystems Co., Lockport, IL, is available in either 32-channel (DAQ832) or 48-channel (DAQ848) configurations and features field-connectable sensor termination, analog DA with 16-bit A/D resolution, and support for...

Flash-based microcontrollers. (Product News).(HC9S12A256 and HC9S12A128 microcontrollers from Motorola Inc's Semiconductor Products Sector,)(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
July 1, 2002... Motorola, Inc., Semiconductor Products Sector, Austin, TX, offers the HC9S12A256 and HC9S12A128 flash-based microcontrollers that feature 25 MHz bus speed, a 16-channel ADC, 8-channel timer, 4- or 8-channel PWM, as well as 2 asynchronous serial...

Parasitic data radio. (Product News).(Data Hunter's Tick)(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
July 1, 2002... The Tick, a complete data radio from Data Hunter, Huntington Beach, CA, draws all of its operating power from the RS-232 dab interface; no external power is required. All data radio functions are built in, including the antenna,...

Spectrum analyzer. (Product News).(AeroComm's SA3000)(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
July 1, 2002... Covering the entire 2.4 CHz ISM band, the compact, PC-based SA3000 from AeroComm, Inc., Lenexa, KS, identifies optimal locations for wireless equipment and alerts installers to potential interference. When combined with a laptop computer,...

Terminal Chamber junction box. (Product News).(Terminal Chamber multibox from Turck)(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
July 1, 2002... The Terminal Chamber multibox from Turck, Inc., Minneapolis, MN, tires an industry standard M12 connector to attach to the device, and it allows field wiring of the homerun cable with either screw teriniiial or cage clamp termination. The 4- or...

Miniaure data logger. (Product News).(Dwyer Instruments Inc's BDL)(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
July 1, 2002... Measuriirg 17 mm dia. by 6 mm thick and housed in a SS case, the water-resistant Series BDL button dab logger from Dwyer Instruments, Inc., Michigan City, IN, records temperature data for 1 yr. at an operating temperature range of -20[degrees]C...

IR cameras. (Product News).(VisIR rairge of IR cameras from Thermoteknix Systems)(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
July 1, 2002... Tire VisIR rairge of IR cameras from Thermoteknix Systems, Ltd., Cambridge, U.K., includes the first portable radiometric camera that transfers IR images and data wirelessly. VisIR cameras weigh 3 lb. and offer full radiometric imaging, a...

Ultrasonic tension sensor. (Product News).(Utensor from Micro Control)(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
July 1, 2002... When glued onto the head of a bolt with a weak adhesive, the Utensor from Micro Control Inc., West BloomField, MI, can measure the tension in the bolt while it is being tightened. You can easily remove the small sensor with a shear force. A...

Sensor signal conditioning IC. (Product News).(ZMD31020 from ZMD America)(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
July 1, 2002... A CMOS IC for conditioning ratiometric differential sensor signals, the ZMD31020 from ZMD America Inc., Melville, NY, provides digital compensation of sensor offset/sensitivity, temperature drift, and nonlinearity through a 16-bit RISC...

Temperature measurement system. (Product News).(CANbus-based DMes system from AFT Atlas Fahrzeugteehnik GmbH)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2002... The CANbus-based DMes system from AFT Atlas Fahrzeugteehnik GmbH, Wetzlar, Germany, distributed in the U.S. by Corrsys-Datron Sensorsystems, Southfield, MI, consists of the DMes networking module and individual DMes thermocouple modules....

Low-Profile serial boards. (Product News).(Brief Article)
July 1, 2002... Quatech Inc., Akron, OH, offers 6 multiport serial Low Profile PCI boards that fully comply with all other aspects of the PCI 2.2 specification and can be used in either standard or low-profile PCI backplanes. The boards are available for...

Temperature pressure standard. (Product News).(Martel Electronics M2001 laboratory standard bench calibrator)(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
July 1, 2002... Martel Electronics, Londonderry, NH, offers its M2001 laboratory standard bench calibrator that lets you perform voltage, current, thermocouple, RTD, and pressure calibration with accuracy to 0.0025% of reading. The calibrator can source...

Linear image chip. (Product News).(C212 from CMOS Sensor)(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
July 1, 2002... The C212 from CMOS Sensor Inc., Cupertino, CA, is a linear image sensor chip that is 11 mm long, has a 20 MHz data rate, and 400 or 1200 dpi selectable resolution. The chip can operate at 1200 dpi resolution with RGB LED light switching without...

Programmable transmitters. (Product News).(DTE1000 Series pressure transmitters from Sensortechnics)(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
July 1, 2002... Based on silicon piezoresistive sensors, DTE1000 Series pressure transmitters from Sensortechnics, Inc., Dublin, CA, let you read out pressure arid access control functions via an RS-485 interface, and can measure pressure either on request or...

Mass and volumetric flowmeters. (Product News).(FMA-1600 and FVL-1600 flowmeters from Omega Engineering)(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
July 1, 2002... With no moving parts, FMA-1600 and FVL-1600 flowmeters from Omega Engineering, Inc., Stansford, CT, offer measurement ranges from 500 [mu]lpm F.S. to 1000 lpm F.S. FMA-1600 Series mass flowmeters use discrete differential pressure, absolute...

Ultrasonic transmitters. (Sensors Express Readers' Choice).(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
July 1, 2002... U Series noncontact ultrasonic transmitters from SOR, Inc., Lenexa, KS, measure level in difficult applications, with ranges from 10-80 m (liquids) and 3-80 m (solids) and [+ or -]0.25% F.S. accuracy. Depending on the transducer, the operating...

www.brantacan.co.uk/bridges.htm. (Web Picks).(Brief Article)
July 1, 2002... Bridge Building--Art and Science is an amazingly thorough site. However deep into the subject you want to go, if it's just looking at certain bridge types or trying to understand the various principles of construction, the information is here....

www.atomica.com. (Web Picks).(Brief Article)
July 1, 2002... Thank you to Sara Stanton for recommending Atomica to me. If you go to the site, at the top right-hand corner is a search area. Type a term in and click the Answer button; a window will pop up, giving you the standard dictionary definition of...

www.despair.com. (Web Picks).(Brief Article)
July 1, 2002... Does your office have those big, glossy motivational posters all over the place? Do they irritate the living daylights out of you? Do they incite your inner cynic to dark mutterings and crankiness? Well, if the answer is yes, you need to visit...

Quick Poll: www.sensorsmag.com. (Web Picks).(Brief Article)
July 1, 2002... At what stage are you in implementing wireless networking for your operation? 25.6% Have no plans to implement 20.5% Plan to implement in 1-2 years 17.9% Considering whether to implement 15.3% Already implemented 12.8%...