smart sensors – TechConnect Briefs

Nano-structure or nano-system: opportunities and pitfalls

French P., Delft University of Technology, NL

Scaling down has revealed many new effects leading to new devices able to measure faster and more accurately than traditional devices. They also present challenges in terms of connecting to the macro-world and in reliability. [...]

Intelligent Sensors: Systems or Components?

White N., Southampton University, UK

This paper reviews the field of intelligent (smart) sensor technology and describes some of the trends that have emerged over the last two decades. The functionality of intelligent sensors is discussed, together with an assessment [...]

Model of Photovoltage Response of Bacteriorhodopsin in PVA Films

Frydrych M., Lensu L., Aschi C., Parkkinen J., Parkkinen S., Parkkinen J., Parkkinen S., Jaaskelainen T., Lappeenranta University of Technology, FI

Bacteriorhodopsin (BR) is a light-transducing protein contained in a purple membrane of microorganism Halobacterium salinarium. Natural function of BR is to act as a light-driven proton pump in energy balancing mechanism of the bacterium. Numerous [...]

On the Utility of Airborne MEMS for Improving Meteorological Analysis and Forecasting

Manobianco J., Short D.A., ENSCO, Inc., JP

Among the applications envisioned for Micro ElectroMechanical Systems (MEMS) sensors are weather observations from probes that are suspended in the atmosphere and carried by wind currents. This paper describes preliminary experiments with a state-of-the-science numerical [...]

Self Aligned Gate JFETs for Smart MEMS

Amon S., Vrtacnik D., Resnik D., Krizaj D., Aljancic U., Levstek A., University of Ljubljana, SI

Self Aligned Gate JFET (SJFET) devices and circuits are reported. The problem of electrical isolation between devices on the same chip is realized through Self Aligned Gate approach, enabling the application of standard bipolar discrete [...]