Sensors Magazine articles from March 2003

Sensors Magazine archives from March 2003

How engineers can win customers. (Editorial).(Editorial)
March 1, 2003... How can engineers make a real difference in service to customers? Product and system design engineers are not typically on the front lines of customer interaction, so the answers to this question aren't necessarily obvious. But when I...

FLX Micro. (Business Sense).(includes several articles)
March 1, 2003... FLX Micro (Solon, OH, www.flxmicro.com) has completed the inaugural run of MUSIC, its multiuser MEMS prototyping service. FLX Micro says that MUSIC is the first and only surface micromachining process that uses structural layers made of silicon...

Calendar.(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... Infrared Applications, Level I Coarse April 28-May 2, Toronto, Canada May 5-9, Palm Springs, CA May 12-16, New Orleans, LA www.snellinfrared.com Intl. Conference on Metallurgical Coatings & Thin Films April 28-May 2,...

Sniffing out gas attacks. (Research & Developments).
March 1, 2003... Researchers Doug Adkins, George Dulleck, and Greg Frye-Mason at Sandia National Laboratories, in partnership with Lockheed Martin Corp., have created the SnifferSTAR, a small gas monitor that detects nerve gases and blister agents quickly and...

A tiny atomic power source. (Research & Developments).
March 1, 2003... What's smaller than a cubic millimeter, provides a high-impedance source, and can power remote sensors or implantable medical devices for decades? No, it's not an impossible dream. Cornell University researchers have built a microscopic device...

Putting your back into it. (APP Snaps).(BioDynamic Solutions Inc.)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... To cut down on lower back disorders, BioDynamic Solutions has created the AcuPath Industrial Lumbar Motion Monitor to help ergonomists or occupational safety engineers determine which motions involved in a job are most likely to cause lower...

Preventing breakouts. (APP Snaps).(from Ircon Inc.)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... Steel mills are, to put it mildly, extreme environments --you're not only dealing with molten metal, you're moving it from place to place. The molten steel is moved from the furnace to the caster in torpedo cars, specialized rail cars lined...

Streamlined security. (APP Snaps).(from View Systems Inc.)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... If YOU fly, you know the drill. Shuffle up to the security checkpoint, empty anything metal into a little basket, switch on your laptop to show that it is, in fact, a real computer, go through the archway, and then try to remember to retrieve...

The impact of photovoltaic technology on sensor design: do you design sensors? If so, you'd better take a look at a new technology that will power sensors into the wireless age. (Intelligent Systems).
March 1, 2003... Wireless sensors--no need to install miles of wiring, and no more maintenance of complex and remote cabling systems. Like the wireless phone, it's an idea whose time has come. But like mobile phones, the communications network is only half of...

Choosing the right op amp for your high-resolution ADC. (Intelligent Systems).
March 1, 2003... Designing with the proper combination of ADCs and op amps can deliver 16-bit performance to sensor-based systems, bridging the gap for high-performance data acquisition systems Even though modern A/D converters (ADCs) have input impedances...

A statistical approach to the verification of thread holes. (Putting Sensors to Work).
March 1, 2003... Eddy current methods of thread verification corn pare the signature of a good part with that of the unit under test. The results can be plotted as a bell curve and used for trending. Threaded fasteners are by far the most common way to join...

Angular position sensing with 2-axis hall Ics: a unique IC with 360[degrees] sensing capability expends the applications of hall effect technology in angular position products. (Sensor Technology and Design).
March 1, 2003... The 2-axis Hall sensor integrates a standard CMOS process and planar magnetic concentrators. Four sets of Hall elements are placed on the silicon die at the edge of a very small ferromagnctic disk concentrator consisting of a high-permeability...

High-resolution, chip-size magnetic sensor arrays. (Sensor Technology and Design).
March 1, 2003... You may have heard of the technique before, but the materials and applications are new. Now you can manufacture arrays that measure small magnetic fields or changes in magnetic fields. And you can use the signal conditioning and logic of...

Temperature and humidity monitoring. (Product News).(from Azova Inc.)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... With up to 32 input points connected on 1-3 data lines, the LTM-8201C and LTM-8203C from Azova, Inc., Akron, OH, provide stand-alone temperature and humidity monitoring and control. The LTM-8201C has 16 points of 12-bit temperature monitoring....

Fiber-optic temperature sensor. (Product News).(from Fiso Technologies Inc.)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... Designed to mate with the company's optical signal conditioners, the FOT-HERO sensor from Fiso Technologies Inc., Ste-Foy, P.Q., Canada, offers

Interface module for ControlNet. (Product News).(from Weed Instrument)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... The 2C20 EOTec 2000 electrical interface module from Weed Instrument, Fiber Optic products Div., Round Rock, TX, lets you run the ControlNet protocol over a fiber-optic network system to lengthen cable runs and provide EMI/RFI immunity and...

Dual-axis inclinometer. (Product News).(from Limaco Inc.)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... Intended for high-precision 2-axis inclination measurements, the ILM-01 tilt sensor from Limaco Inc., Tula, Russia, offers [+ or -]0.1[degrees]accuracy, 0.01[degrees]resolution, and [+ or -]90[degrees]measuring range for each axis. The 85 by 72...

DMM/thermometer/IR pyrometer. (Product News).(from Omega Engineering Inc.)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... The Omegasays Model HHM2-IR from Omega Engineering, Inc., Stamford, CT, is a full-function digital multimeter that measures true rms AC voltage and current, resistance, and noncontact IR temperature and accepts 2 type K thermocouples. Featuring...

Swept laser interrogator. (Product News).(from Micron Optics Inc.)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... Micron Optics, Inc., Atlanta, CA, introduces the HR-SLI high-resolution swept laser interrogator that measures the wavelength shifts caused in fiber-optic sensors when they detect changes in strain, temperature, pressure, or displacement. The...

Oxygen Sensor. (Product News).(from Aanderaa Instruments)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... The Oxygen Optode Sensor 3830 from Aanderaa Instruments, Nesttun, Norway, accurately measures dissolved oxygen in flesh and sea water using a fluorescence-based technique. The fluorescent indicator is a gas permeable foil exposed to the...

Energy meeting IC. (Product News).(from Analog Devices Inc.)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... The ADE7754, from Analog Devices, Inc., Norwood, MA, supplies active energy, apparent energy, voltage and current rms, and waveform samples data for the electricity metering market Including digital power, phase, and offset calibration...

Laser doppler velocity sensors. (Product News).(Canon U.S.A. Inc.)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... For noncontact velocity measurements of moving or rotating objects in inline manufacturing processes, Canon U.S.A., Inc., Semiconductor Div., Encoder Products, Lake Success, NY, offers two additions to its Laser Doppler Velocity (LDV) sensor...

Pressure transmitters. (Product News).(from Sensortechnics Inc.)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... CTU7000 transmitters from Sensortechnics, Inc., Dublin, CA, offer long-term stability and linearity in pressure ranges from 0-0.15 psi to 0-100 psi. A range of additional fittings allows all industrial standard pressure connections. The series...

Pulse wire sensors. (Product News).(from Tyco Electronics)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... Pulse wire sensors from Tyco Electronics, Harrisburg, PA, suitable for motor communications applications, can sense rotor positions, serve as revolution counters, and detect speed and rotation. They are noncontact and do not require external...

Pulse radar probes. (Product News).(from ABM Sensor Technology)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... ABM Sensor Technology, Peterborough, Ont., Canada, offers pulse radar probes with ranges to 50 and 100 ft. and low-noise performance. Models include 3-wire models (ABM300) and 4-wire, isolated 4-20 mA models (ABM400) offered with 50 ft. range...

Ethernet reference design. (Product News).(Cygnal Integrated Products Inc.)(CMX Systems Inc.)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... Cygnal Integrated Products, Inc., Austin, TX, and CMX Systems, Inc., Jacksonville, FL, introduce an embedded Ethernet reference design that combines Cygnal's C8051F124DK microcontroller development kit and the CMX-MicroNet TCP/IP stack to show...

PWM output temperature sensor. (Product News).(from Maxim Integrated Products)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... Offered in a 6-pin SOT23 package, the MAX6676 from Maxim Integrated Products, Sunnyvale, CA, encodes temperature data in its single-wire PWM output waveform and operates from a 1.8-5.5 V supply, drawing 50 [mu]A typical. It provides [+ of...

Tiny SBC. (Product News).(from Persistor Instruments Inc.)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... The 2.5 by 2.0 by 0.7 in. CF2 SBC from Persistor Instruments Inc., Bourne, MA, combines a 3.3 V, 16 MHz Motorola 68332 with a Texas Instruments MSP430 for remote or portable equipment development in data logging or control applications....

Temperature sensors. (Product News).(from Quality Thermistor Inc.)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... The ThermalBridge from Quality Thermistor, Inc., Boise, ID, monitors temperature using a thermistor/resistor bridge to measure voltage or voltage ratios with a variable input up to 48 V. The compact precision temperature sensor provides...

Vision appliance. (Product News).(from ipd (Intelligent Products Div.), Coreco Imaging)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... Supplied with either an integrated CMOS sensor or an external CCD interface, the iGauge from ipd (Intelligent Products Div.), Coreco Imaging, Billerica, MA, is a small, plug-and-play, prepackaged gauging system for applications that require...

Velocity Interferometer. (Product News).(from Martin, Froeschner and Associates)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... The VISAR (Velocity Interferometer System for Any Reflector) from Martin, Froeschner & Associates, Livermore, CA, is an all-fiber interferometer that can detect Doppler shifts in light reflected from any moving surface and so measure the...

Photoelectric sensors. (Product News).(from Pepperl and Fuchs Inc.)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... Constructed with a threaded 1-piece, polycarbonate housing and offered in cabled or quick-disconnect styles, the CP18 Series from Pepperl+Fuchs, Inc., Twinsburg, OH, is available in convergent, diffuse, retroreflective, and through-beam...

Portable hydrometer. (Product News).(from Sundial Analytics L.L.C.)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... Sundial Analytics, Mt. Laurel, NJ, offers a digital hydrometer that can measure and record the dynamic time dependence of liquid density during mixing or temperature-pressure cycling as well as monitor and record liquid density at remote...

Networking transmitter. (Product News).(from Ebtron Inc.)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... For HVAC control in commercial and institutional buildings, Ebtron, Inc., Loris, SC, introduces the GTN116 networking transmitter for its Gold Series airflow sensors; the transmitter enables RS-485 communication with field-selectable Modbus RTU...

Torque power monitor. (Product News).(from Binsfeld Engineering Inc.)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... The TorqueTrak Revolution Series system from Binsfeld Engineering, Inc., Maple City, Ml, continuously monitors and controls torque and power on rotating shafts and monitors shaft speed (rpm) and direction. It installs onto shafts up to 20 in....

Submersible microcamera. (Product News).(from Intertest Inc.)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... Submersible to 100 ft., the iShot Imaging AquArray from Intertest, Inc., Columbia, NJ, captures color inspection footage from wet and immersed areas with 330 HTVL resolution. The unit has a 1/4 in. 512 by 492 pixel interline transfer CCD,...

Wireless transmitting system. (Product News).(from Cole-Parmer Instrument Co.)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... To record and send temperature or temperature and humidity data to a single computer for tracking, Cole-Parmer Instrument Co., Vemon Hills, IL, offers the Oakton wireless transmitting system that integrates a TempLog or RH/TempLog data logger...

Pressure sensors. (Product News).(from Silicon Microstructures)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... The SM5415 and SM5455 from Silicon Microstructures, Inc., Milpitas, CA, are MEMS-based piezuresistive pressure sensors in small-footprint, SIP packages. Available in gauge, absolute, or differential configurations for pressure ranges from 0-5...

Palm PDA software. (Product News).(from B and B Electronics Manufacturing Inc.)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... Syphon freeware from B&B Electronics Mfg. Co., Ottawa, IL, when used with a Palm PDA, a serial cable, and a 232SDA12 I/O module, lets you display up to 11 analog and 3 digital inputs and control 3 digital outputs. You can display data in...

Pocket hydro-thermo-anemometer. (Product News).(from Extech Instruments Corp.)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... A pocket-sized device, the Model 45160 from Extech Instruments Corp., Waltham, MA, measures RH, temperature, and air velocity and displays temperature and air velocity or temperature and RI-I on its large LCD. The device uses a thin film...

Ethernet-equipped controller. (Product News).(from Io Ltd.)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... Designed around the NetSilicon NET+ARM processor, the CNet5O from Io Ltd., Cambridge, U.K., is a 10/100 Mbps Ethemet-equipped controller with real-time control capability for industry and aerospace applications. The 127 by 127 mm module...

Wireless sensing system. (Sensors Express Readers' Choice).(from MicroStrain Inc.)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... The GLink from MicroStrain, Inc., Burlington, VT, integrates 3 orthogonal MEMS-based linear accelerometers ([+ or -]2 C and [+ or -]10 C F.S. ranges) with a microcontroller and a programmable wireless RF transceiver. Addressable data logging...

Cockney rhyming slang. (Web Picks).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... If you're fond of words and word origins or you're confronted with a phrase and don't quite know what it means (especially for phrases that are fascinating yet obscure--Cockney rhyming slang being an excellent example of this), then I suggest a...

Temperatures.com. (Web Picks).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... One of the first sites I ever covered for this department is due for a revisiting, because it has a ton of new stuff added to it. If you are involved with temperature sensing and have not visited Temperatures.com, then you should. This...

MEMS Industry Group. (Web Picks).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... The MEMS Industry Group is a trade association for North American MEMS and Microstructure Industries. If you're interested in the MEMS industry, take a look at its Web site to see the names of companies involved in MEMS, what's happening in the...

Quick poll.(Brief Article)(Illustration)
March 1, 2003... Quick Poll www.sensormag.com Have you made resolutions the new year? No, just no 37.7% No because I make resolutions 24.5% throughout the year Yes, both personal and professional 16.3%...

New/Redesigned. (Web Picks).
March 1, 2003... BEI Technologies, Inc. www.bei-tech.com DJ Instruments www.djinstruments.com Measurement Systems Engineering www.primenent.com/~meas-sys Melexis Inc. www.melexis.com ShenZhen Saiheng Communication Technology...

Goodies. (Web Picks).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... Online Configuration Tool www.deltacompsys.com Gas Detection Tutorials www.controlinstruments.com/edu.html Ethernet/TCP/IP Basics Reference Chart www.ctrlink.com/slidechartpr3.htm

Presens AS. (Big Deals).(European Space Agency)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... Presens AS (Oslo, Norway, www.presens.com) has signed an agreement with the European Space Agency to develop and qualify a combined pressure and temperature sensor for spacecraft propulsion systems. The contract is strategically important to...

Anadigm. (People).(William McLean)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... Anadigm (Campbell, CA, www.anadigm.com), known for its timesaving field-programmable analog ICs arid associated design software, had named William McLean as its new CEO and president. McLean, a 20-year veteran of the semiconductor industry, was...