International Frequency Sensor Association (IFSA) Newsletter

   (ISSN 1726-6017)

This monthly e-newsletter, written by the editors of Sensors & Transducers Magazine (ISSN 1726-5479), delivers the product and research news, end-use application news, information on upcoming events for MEMS and sensors professionals, and updates you on happenings in the sensor science, industry and markets. The Newsletter reports the latest developments in sensor industry as it happens from leading research centers, universities and manufacturers. Who should read this Newsletter ? All who are interested in the newest information and trends in sensors, transducers, MEMS and sensor instrumentation, including DAQ.

IFSA Newsletter (ISSN 1726-6017), No.8, August 2012

Sponsored Links:

In this Issue:

1.   Sensors & Transducers Magazine (e-Digest) and journal, Vol.143, Issue 8, August 2012

2.   Sensors Web Portal Up-dates Briefs

3.   Sensors Related Published Books

4.   Sensors Related Events Sponsored by IFSA: Digital and Intelligent Sensors and Sensor Systems: Practical Design (tutorial)

5.   Subscription

6.   Additional Information, Comments, Suggestions

Plus lots more information to be found on Sensors Web Portal: http://www.sensorsportal.com

  Sensors Web Portal Up-Date Briefs

News:

• New issue of Sensors & Transducers e-Digest, Vol.143, Issue 8, 2012 is in the DIGEST section with business and products news

• Air Gauges: Static and Dynamic Characteristics - a new book published by IFSA Publishing

• Carbon Nanotubes and Nanosensors: Vibration, Buckling and Balistic Impact - a book published by Wiley-ISTE

• Measurements and Instrumentation - a new professional discussion group has been started at LinkedIn

Up-Dated:

• Sensor Industry News subsection in NEWS section

• Sensor Industry News Archive section

• Sensor Industry News Syndication page (an opportunity to put latest Sensors Industry news feeds in your own blog and web site)

• Measuring and Control News page

• Sensors Web Portal at Twitter

• Sensors Professional Discussion Group at LinkedIn

• Biosensors web section

• Chemical Sensors web section

• Gas Sensors web section

• Position Sensors web section

• Proximity Sensors web section

• Temperature Sensors web section

• Online Bookstore with new sensor books from IFSA Publishing

• Links Section with most detailed, monthly up-dated calendar of sensors related events in 2012/2013

• New contents of 'Sensors and Actuators' A: Physical:

•     - Vol. 184, Issue 1 (September 2012)

• New contents of 'Sensors and Actuators' B: Chemical:

•     - Vol. 171-172, Issue 1 (August-September 2012)

• New contents of Biosensors and Bioelectronics Journal:

•     - Vol. 38, Issue 1 (October-December 2012)

• New contents of Sensor Letters:

•     - Vol. 10, Issue 3-4 (March/April 2012)

Sensors Related Published Books

For more sensors books please visit our IFSA Publishing web page and Online Bookstore

Sensors Related Events Sponsored by IFSA

I. IARIA Sensors Related Conferences:

Net Ware 2012: http://www.iaria.org/conferences2012/NetWare12.html     Do not miss the Digital and Intelligent Sensors and Sensor Systems: Practical Design tutorial by Prof. Dr. Sergey Yurish, IFSA, Spain 19 August 2012, Sunday, 13:30 - 16:30 http://www.iaria.org/conferences2012/TutorialsSENSORDEVICES12.html     This tutorial describes modern developments and trends in the field of digital sensors and intelligent sensor and sensor systems design. Its background is based on programmable parameter-to-frequency (time) converters as a core microelectronic component and structural-algorithmic methods for data extraction in order to move from a traditional analog-to-digital conversion to alternative frequency (period, duty-cycle, time interval)-to-digital conversion. Working in the frequency-time signal domain simplifies design, and obviates some technical and technological problems, due to the properties of frequency as informative parameter of sensors and transducers.   Digital sensor integration are heavily driven by technology scaling. The main reason for scaling is increased system performance at reduced manufacturing cost. In most systems digital circuits dominate with respect to die area and functional complexity. Digital blocks take full advantage of reduced device geometries in terms of area, power per functionality, and switching speed. On the other hand, analog circuits rely not on the fast transition speed between a few discrete states but mainly on the actual shape of the transistor characteristic. Technology scaling continuously degrades these characteristics with respect to analog performance parameters, such as output resistance or intrinsic gain. Below the 100 nm technology, the design of analog and mixed-signal circuits becomes perceptibly more difficult. This is particularly true for low supply voltage near 1 V or below. The result is not only an increased design effort, long development time, high risk, cost, and the need for very high volumes, but also growing power consumption. There are many reasons that analog doesn’t scale as readily. However, digital circuits scale very well with scaling CMOS technologies. So, the promised trend is the transition of traditional analog functions to the quasi-digital domain, for example, to use a frequency (time)-to-digital conversion instead of analog-to-digital conversion, and implement as many system components as possible in the digital or quasi-digital domain. It lets get over technological limitation at scaling.   After a general overview of modern smart, digital and quasi-digital (with frequency, period, duty-cycle, pulse-width modulated (PWM), phase-shift, pulse number, etc., output) sensors and transducers, intelligent sensor systems details will be discussed including: sensors, FDC (frequency-to- digital conversion based on advanced methods for frequency-time parameters measurements with adaptive possibilities), communication and interfacing. A systematic approach towards the practical design of low-cost, high-performance intelligent sensors and sensor systems with self-adaptation and self-identification possibilities is presented. The proposed design approach and technological platform for integration compatible with MEMS, system-on-chip (SoC) and system-in-package (SiP) implementations. It is based on the novel integrated circuits such as the Series of Universal Frequency-to-Digital Converters, Universal Sensors and Transducers Interface, and can overcome current hurdles to truly widespread deployment of smart sensors and systems. Different examples of sensors systems will be given and discussed in details. This tutorial is suitable for engineers and researchers who design and investigate various digital and intelligent sensors, data acquisition, and measurement systems. It should be also useful for sensors manufacturers, graduate and post graduate students.     1) The 3rd International Conference on Sensor Device Technologies and Applications (SENSORDEVICES' 2012)     August 19 - 24, 2012 - Rome, Italy     http://www.iaria.org/conferences2012/SENSORDEVICES12.html   2) The 2nd International Workshop on Sensor Networks for Supply Chain Management (WSNSCM' 2012)     August 19 - 24, 2012 - Rome, Italy     http://www.iaria.org/conferences2012/WSNSCM.html   3) The 6th International Conference on Sensor Technologies and Applications (SENSORCOMM' 2012)     August 19 - 24, 2012 - Rome, Italy     http://www.iaria.org/conferences2012/SENSORCOMM12.html   4) The 5th International Conference on Advances in Circuits, Electronics and Micro-electronics (CENICS' 2012)     August 19 - 24, 2012 - Rome, Italy     http://www.iaria.org/conferences2012/CENICS12.html

II. Events of Institute for Defense and Government Advancement (IDGA)

1) Event Name: Joint Force Integration and Projection Summit
    URL: http://www.JointForceSummit.com

    Dates: September 10-12, 2012

    Location: Washington, DC Metro area

    Tagline: Enhancing Joint Air-Sea-Land Battle Concept Technologies and Platforms

IDGA's Joint Force Integration and Projection Summit  provides the premier platform for military services to come together and address new requirements, best practices and the way forward for countering threats across a range of environments (A2/AD, close air support, etc). Visit the website at http://www.JointForceSummit.com for full information.

Unwrap transforming strategies and the accompanying technologies, platforms and systems supporting the Joint Air-Sea Battle and Air-Land Battle concept and the safety of our troops from experts including:

·        Lieutenant General Bradley Heithold, Vice Commander, SOCOM, US Air Force

·        RDML (Sel) Richard Butler, USN Head, Naval Aviation Programs

·        CAPT Michael Ott, USN, Commanding Officer, Assault Craft Unit Four

·        Colonel Jordan Thomas, USAF, Air-Sea Battle Office

·        Lieutenant Colonel Joseph Hitt, EXACTO Program Manager, DARPA

2) Event Name: Military Robotics Summit
    Dates: August 27 – 29, 2012
    Location: Washington, DC metro area
    Website URL: www.MilitaryRoboticsSummit.com
 

The Wall Street Journal recently noted, 'the Obama administration's new defense strategy pledges a "strong commitment" to emerging technologies and singles out robotics as an area of promise.’

In keeping with the recent increased military robotics use, IFSA is proud to team up with IDGA for its Military Robotics Summit, the premier platform to learn about creating and maintaining interoperable, integrated robotics systems.

For full information, please view the Program Agenda.

What are some of the summit’s key sessions?

• Robots for Rough Terrain: Supporting the Warfighter in Dismounted Operations
  Dr. Marc Raibert, Founder, Boston Dynamics

• Navy Explosive Ordnance Disposal: Opportunities & Challenges Ahead
  Rear Admiral Frank A. Morneau, Deputy Director, Expeditionary Warfare Division

• Top Priorities for Robotics at the US Army Rapid Equipping Force (REF)
  LTC Jackson, Head of Program, Management, US Army REF

• How the Next Generation Network Will Impact Future Robotics
  LTC Carl Hollister- Product Mgr. Command Post System & Integration, Warfighter Info Network-Tactical, PEO C3T

• JIEDDO Counter-IED Robotics: The New Ground Robotics Requirements
  CDR Cedric Richardson, US Navy, Chief, Defeat Branch, JIEDDO

Additionally, you’ll want to see the insightful speaker interviews in our Robotics Online Resource Library for some invaluable insight into current and future efforts and priorities:

• Dull, Dirty and Dangerous Jobs: Why Ground & Water Robots Are Important Now What tasks can robots complete for humans? Dr. Bill Powers, USMC Warfighting Lab explores funding and training aspects of development and autonomy's growing importance.

• Robots: Working to Meet the Needs of Today’s Soldier Dr. Naomi Zirkind, US Army Armament Research, Development and Engineering Center details the R&D, capabilities and requirements of Explosive Ordnance Disposal robots.

• Autonomous Robots: The Future of Robotics What is the DoD’s vision for robotics? Michael Edwards, II Marine Expeditionary Force discusses revitalizing amphibious proficiency, seabasing and developing an improved Cargo UAS that can operate from the sea.

Lastly, as an IFSA reader you are eligible for 20 % off standard pricing, so sign up today for access to the robotics community's top minds. To register and learn more, please visit www.MilitaryRoboticsSummit.com or contact IDGA at info@idga.org or 1-800-882-8684. Use promo code IFSA_MR to receive this deal.

Thanks, and hope to see you this August in Washington, DC !

Sincerely,
 

Verena Lagler
Robotics Program Director

PS: Need approval first? Download our 'Convince your Boss' letter which highlights the main benefits and features of the conference. It's in the Online Resource Library which features more exclusive content including the Robotics Summit Series Attendee Snapshot.

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Addition Information

1) Our next Newsletter will be published in the mid of September 2012. Interested in sponsoring IFSA Newsletter ? Please contact us mailto: editor@sensorsportal.com

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 Newsletter (ISSN 1726-6017)