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 you asked for, and updates you on happenings in the sensor science and industry. 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, No. 5, May 2004

Sponsors Links:

In this issue:

1. Editorial: “How Internet Development will Influence on Sensors Industry?” 

2. Sensors Journal (free online access).

3. Information for IFSA Members

4. Sensors & Transducers e-Digest, No.5, May 2004 (free full pages articles and papers)

5. Sensors Web Portal Up-dates Briefs

6. Subscriber services

7. Additional Information

Plus lots more information to be found on Sensors Web Portal

The new standard, Internet Protocol Version 6 (IPv6) ('next generation' of IP, designed to replace the current version IPv4) is coming. It was first devised in 1995 and endorsed by an Internet task force in 1998. Most significant players (Cisco and Microsoft) are already testing equipment and connections that conform to IPv6 [1].

Vinton Cerf, vice president of Technology Strategy for MCI, widely known as one of the 'Fathers of the Internet,' is the co-designer of the TCP/IP protocols and the architecture of the Internet, said that IPv6 brings us back to the original Internet architecture. So what's new about IPv6? The Internet model based on IPv6 would cater for ten more large-scale applications even larger than the web of today. By increasing the length of addresses from 32 to 128 bits, IPv6 increased the number of devices that could connect to the Internet and give an opportunity to address 3.4 x 10³⁸ devices in comparison with 4.3 x 10⁹ for IPv4 [2].

Of course, IPv6 does more than simply extend the address space. This upgrade to IPv4 makes node setup easy and automatic—another must for embedded applications. It also makes the network as a whole more robust and extensible, and adds security features and quality-of-service support not previously available. Importantly, IPv6 also helps speed and simplify routing, which has become a bottleneck as Internet use has increased [3]. Remote sensing, Smart Homes, Ad hoc networks, Mobile devices, Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS), Consumer Electronics, Home appliances and networked RFIDs are some of the applications that will see the light with IPv6 and dwarf current network concepts into oblivion. The main benefit of IPv6 is its ability to scale the Internet and reach a mass-market size, defined as 20% or more of a given population [4].

According to Connexion by Boeing [5], the average home contains 250 devices that could at some future time be connected to the Internet via IPv6. Many of them have been mentioned (refrigerators, stoves, etc.) during Internet Global Congress (INET’ 2004) in Barcelona. Some of them are available now on the market, others are coming soon. A lot of IPv6-enabled products will be introduced to the market by 2005. Let me consider only one interesting example, that I am sure, will be realized in the nearest future. Please depicture a wine bottle cork with IP-address… What is a reason ? First of all a lot of benefits from the logistic point of view: how many bottles exist, where it is and in which stores. But if to equip such cork with IPv6-enable chemical sensors array (electronic nose), temperature sensor, etc., for example, it gives an opportunity to know if storage conditions are good, what is the best date to open the bottle and drink a wine sort form harvest of 200X year, and much more about wine’s quality.

Due to IPv6 protocol and wireless smart sensors we will have an ambient intelligence for everywhere. Numerous sensors, transducers and measuring instruments will be IPv6-enabled soon. It will be the next step in the IT – revolution. Sensors nodes will connect real world information into global networks and make our life more safely and comfortable. You are welcome, IPv6. Are you ready for IPv6?

References:

[1] Christopher M. Wright, Imagineering the Future of the Internet:  Sketches from the Year 2010, Bulletin of the American Society for

Information Science, Volume 25, No. 4, April/May 1999.

[2] Itaru Mimua, Home Network and Sensor Networking technology based on IPv6, Hitachi, Inspire the Next, 2004 International CES, 8-11 January, 2004, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA.

[3] Robert Muchsel, IPv6 on a microcontroller, Embedded Systems, Vol. 16 No. 7, July 2003.

[4] IPv6 - Scaling the Internet, Driving New Services, January 2004

[5] http://www.connexionbyboeing.com/

Sergey Y. Yurish,

Editor-in-Chief

  Information for IFSA Members

It is my great pleasure to inform you that John Wiley & Sons Ltd. are pleased to offer members of the International Frequency Sensor Association (IFSA) an exclusive 20% discount on books (it can not be used in conjunction with any other discount). As a member of the association you are entitled to a special 20% discount on all our books when purchased directly through www.wileyeurope.com Simply quote a special reference (it has been sent to all IFSA members in April 2004) at the appropriate field of shopping cart when placing your order or to Wiley’s customer representative on +44 1243 843294.

Nikolay V. Kirianaki,

IFSA President

Sensors & Transducers e-Digest (ISSN 1726-5479), No.5, May 2004

     (free full pages articles and papers)

Editorial

• S.Yurish, How Internet Development will Influence on Sensors Industry ? Vol.43, Issue 5, May 2004, pp.248-249

Research and Developments

• A. Kalach , Application of Chemometrics Methods for Alkanes Qualitative Detection, Vol.43, Issue 5, May 2004, pp.228-233

• E. Marianovsky, Advanced Electronic Compass for Mining Applications, Vol.43, Issue 5, May 2004, pp.234-239

• A. Kalach, N. Klochkov, Determination of Nitromethane in the Air with the use of a Piezoelectric, Sensors Set and Pattern Recognition Technique, Vol.43, Issue 5, May 2004, pp.240-247

Product News

• Accelerometer Accurately Measures Rotational or Torsional Accelerations

• Multi-purpose 4-20 mA Sensor

• High Precision/High Torque, Direct-drive Rotary Positioning Stages

• Float Level Switches Feature Lowest Cost and Largest Selection of Float Designs

• Infrared Gas Sensors - the IRceL

• New Robust Laser Transmitter Accurately Measures Level, Distance and Position

The deadline for articles, press releases and sponsored White Papers for the next issue of S&T e-Digest No.6, Vol.44, June 2004 is 15 June 2004.

Sensors Web Portal Up-Date Briefs:

• Sensor Industry News subsection in NEWS section

• Sensor Industry News Archive section

• Nanosensors section

• Chemical Sensors section

• Plug-and-Play Smart Sensors (TEDS) section with practical articles about TEDS sensors configuration that allows to measure from the sensor in LabVIEW

• Magnetic Sensors section

• Other 2 sensors section (Sensors Interfaces, Buses and Networks)

• The following Lists of Sensors Manufacturers have been updated. There are digital, frequency output and smart sensors in:

• Load Cells list of manufacturers

• Accelerometers list of manufacturers

• Gas Sensors list of manufacturers

• New contents of 'Sensors and Actuators'  A: Physical, Vol.112, Issues 1 (15 April 2004), Vol.112, Issue 2-3 (1 May 2004) and  B: Chemical, Vol. 99, Issues 1 (15 April 2004), Vol. 99, Issue 2-3, (1 May 2004) and Vol. 100, Issue 3 (15 May 2004)

• Links section with most detailed calendar of coming sensors related events 2005

• Training Course section. There is new free online course "Designing a 1451.2 Smart Sensor"

Addition Information

Our next Newsletter will be published at the end of June 2004. If you wish to appear in the next issue please contact us mailto: ifsa@list.ru