Sensors pose unique opportunities for design engineers. MEMS combine an electronic circuit and mechanical sensing element in one package. Smart sensors render moot the calibration challenges of analog devices. We'll look at where both are headed, along with the role of legacy parts.
To show we're not neglecting cars -- where, indeed, sensor usage has increased, due to the power management requirements in electrics and hybrids -- Tesla Motors Chief Technology Officer JB Straubel will be a keynote speaker.
Karen always takes pains to remind me that MEMS is more than just sensors. It encompasses microfluidics (MEMS that channel small fluid flows) and Texas Instruments' Digital Light Processing (microscopic mirrors for video and pico projection).
That puts me in mind of the 1966 movie, Fantastic Voyage, where the actors became anthropomorphic MEMS so they could travel through blood vessels to perform brain surgery. Assaying MEMS' rapid progress, analogous biological apps may follow even before today's consumer wave crests.
Hello and happy Friday! In case you missed it, ESC/Design West/Sensors in Design featured MEMS in its announcement and lovely quotes from Alex Wolfe and me - you can check it out here: http://www.marketwatch.com/story/sensors-in-design-summit-launches-at-design-west-2012-02-17
Hello and happy Friday! In case you missed it, ESC/Design West/Sensors in Design featured MEMS in its announcement and lovely quotes from Alex Wolfe and me - you can check it out here: http://www.marketwatch.com/story/sensors-in-design-summit-launches-at-design-west-2012-02-17
Thanks Karen for messaging me. It is an honour for me to get a message from you. I am a great fan of Feynman's "there is plenty of room.." and i am very passionate about MEMS. I work on the low cost medical devices for the poor in India and I am sure MEMS can play a significant role in medical domain. Keep up your good work and wishing you the very best..!
@vimalkumarp thanks for the acknowledgement of my prognistication that MEMS is the future. @Beth there are numerous applications of MEMS - too many to list here but you might be interested in seeing the list we've compiled of "MEMS in the Machine" on the MEMS Industry Group (MIG) website: http://www.memsindustrygroup.org/i4a/pages/index.cfm?pageid=3933
Beth, here's a few other MEMS applications that you may have seen. Nintendo's Wii uses three-axis MEMS accelerometers for motion detection. Many laptops use them to detect whether they've been dropped. If the laptop is dropped, it parks its hard disk heads to prevent damage when it lands. Camcorders also use them for image stabilization.
Beth, one way to think about MEMS is that they are insanely small machines (micro-electro-mechanical systems) on a chip. MEMS-based gyrometers and gyro sensors of various kinds are a type of MEMS that some think will be big in various apps, including medical equipment. The gyros used in the Japanese Defense Ministry's flying sphere are probably MEMS devices:
You'll find MEMS in wireless devices that either switch between a receiver and a transmitter section or a receiver or a transmitter that use antenna switching for better reception or range finding. MEMs also serve as resonators and variable inductors. As mentioned in another comment, Sandia Labs has created micro engines and micro locks. Sandia does a lot of work on security of nuclear weapons, so many unclassified photos on the Sandia site likely relate to security and safety applications.
Our LinkedIn systems and product design engineering group discusses if they are happy with their decision of remaining a technical contributor instead of becoming a manager.
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A quick look into the merger of two powerhouse 3D printing OEMs and the new leader in rapid prototyping solutions, Stratasys. The industrial revolution is now led by 3D printing and engineers are given the opportunity to fully maximize their design capabilities, reduce their time-to-market and functionally test prototypes cheaper, faster and easier. Bruce Bradshaw, Director of Marketing in North America, will explore the large product offering and variety of materials that will help CAD designers articulate their product design with actual, physical prototypes. This broadcast will dive deep into technical information including application specific stories from real world customers and their experiences with 3D printing. 3D Printing is
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