X-RAY PROTOTYPE TO REVOLUTIONISE AIRPORT SECURITY WITH FAST SCANNING A


prototype of a next-generation X- ray scanner that has been


developed using technology created at Cranfield University is predicted to lead to a revolution in security in the aviation sector. X-ray technology is central to


protecting the lives of millions of passengers and air crew. However, terrorist threats continue to evolve and challenge the technical capability of existing systems. The technology currently used in airports has its limitations: X-ray scanners will give


images of objects and a broad material category, but they can’t tell you definitively what substance an object is made from. This can lead to increased false alarms and a need for further investigation by hand that slows down security checks. Cranfield University, working in partnership with Nottingham Trent University, has developed a scanner that, in a matter of milliseconds, will identify whether a substance is, for example, an explosive or an illegal drug. Professor Keith Rogers, head of


Cranfield Forensic Institute, has used his background in crystallography (determining the structure of large biomolecules) to develop a technique that uses the way an object diffracts X- rays to identify what substance an object is made of in approximately 100ms. He said: “This is an exciting application of a traditional laboratory method for identifying materials. The technique is a simple and low-cost solution to the longstanding problem we faced - producing data and results was taking so long, the technology


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PROTOTYPE OF ELECTROMECHANICAL SENSOR DETECTS MULTIPLE IONS IN FLUIDS A


prototype of a single-chip electrochemical sensor for


simultaneous detection of multiple ions in fluids has been demonstrated by Imec and Holst Centre. This ion sensor solution enables efficient monitoring, such as monitoring of nutrient concentrations in surface and waste water, both for agricultural applications and water quality.


In the healthcare and lifestyle


applications, it provides disposable point-of-care solutions, or conformable solutions for integration


into patches. Depending on the application and the form factor, it can be mass produced through microfabrication or through screen- printing on inexpensive substrates such as glass or foil. As compared to commercial ion


sensors, this brings a unique advantage in terms of low cost manufacturability, and size of the solution. Moreover, by changing the selective membranes on the electrodes, the sensor can be adopted to detect other ions. The presented prototype is a


handheld device that integrates a single-chip sensor with different electrodes that detect pH levels in a range from 2 to 10 at a 0.1pH accuracy. For the chemical elements chloride


(Cl-), sodium (Na+), potassium (K+), and nitrate () -ranging from 10-4M to 1M ions- the sensor detects at a 10 percent accuracy. Benchmarked against other available single-ion sensors, imec’s prototype demonstrated comparable sensitivity and accuracy for a versatile multiple-ion solution. www.imec.be


WEARABLE DISPLAYS


ensing technology has come a long way proliferated by the recent advancement of IoT devices. Confocal chromatic sensors are also part of this sensing revolution and in this issue we explore how these sensors are being used to inspect MEMS structures on p8. A post show review of the 2015


S


Micro Nano MEMS exhibition and conference offers a round-up of the highlights of this industry leading event on p10 whilst the latest in edible electronics is the focus for euspen on p14, investigating the world of microelectronics for medical applications. Along with focuses on many more innovations.


Michelle Winny - Editor 4 WINTER 2015 | MICROMATTERS


Researchers from Holst Centre (set up by TNO and imec), imec and CMST, imec’s associated lab at Ghent University, have demonstrated the world’s first stretchable and conformable thin-film transistor (TFT) driven LED display laminated into textiles. This paves the way to wearable displays in clothing providing users with feedback. Today’s wearables are separate devices that users must remember to wear. The next step forward will be to integrate these devices into our clothing. Doing so will make wearable devices less obtrusive and more comfortable, encouraging people to use them more regularly and, hence, increasing the quality of data collected. A key step towards realising wearable devices in clothing is creating displays that can be integrated into textiles to allow interaction with the wearer. The conformable display is very thin


and mechanically stretchable. A fine- grain version of the proven meander


interconnect technology was developed by the CMST lab at Ghent University and Holst Centre to link standard (rigid) LEDs into a flexible and stretchable display. The LED displays are fabricated on a


polyimide substrate and encapsulated in rubber, allowing the displays to be laminated in to textiles that can be washed. Importantly, the technology uses fabrication steps that are known to the manufacturing industry, enabling rapid industrialisation. Smaller LEDs are now mounted on


an amorphous indium-gallium-zinc oxide (a-IGZO) TFT backplane that employs a two-transistor and one capacitor (2T-1C) pixel engine to drive the LEDs. These second-generation displays offer higher pitch and increased, average brightness. The project has achieved the


creation of a 32x32 pixel demonstrator with a resolution of 13 pixels per inch (ppi) and average brightness above 200 candelas per square meter (cd/m2). Work is ongoing to further industrialise this technology. www.imec.be


Micro-Epsilon UK has extended its eddyNCDT 3001 series of eddy current sensors (with integrated electronics), with a new 2mm measuring range option, giving a resolution of 4µm. Although this sensor is similar in size to a typical proximity or inductive sensor, its measuring performance is much greater, making it ideal for OEM displacement, distance and position measurement applications. The sensor’s high measurement accuracy and linearity, as well as its high frequency response rate of 5kHz, are outstanding characteristics when compared to other sensors in the same price class. The sensors are protected to IP67 and so are suitable for a wide range of applications including automation, machine building and systems integration. As the sensors are cost effective and easy to use, they are particularly suitable for medium-to-high volume OEM applications.


www.micro-epsilon.co.uk


An ultra-thin IFL16 noise suppression sheet has been developed by TDK Corporation. The sheet has a thickness of just 0.03mm or 0.05mm, depending on type, making it 20 percent thinner than existing sheets with the same performance. At this thickness the new material offers one of the world's highest magnetic permeability of 220µ at 1MHz (typ.). This material is designed for a temperature range of between -40°C and 85°C and is suitable for the frequency range from 0.5MHz to 1000MHz. The standard size of the sheet is 300mm x 200mm. The sheet can also be supplied on a roll (300mm x 100m). Development of smartphones and other mobile devices is still focused on the miniaturisation of the individual components, while the range of functions increases. Apart from a PCB layout that supports EMC, adequate additional shielding of the devices is playing an increasingly important role. Noise suppression sheets such as the new ultra- thin IFL16 are a space-saving answer to this requirement.


www.global.tdk.com / MICROMATTERS


could not be used in the real world.” As a result of this research Cranfield


and Nottingham Trent have set-up Halo X-ray Technologies, a joint company created to develop and exploit this licensed and patented technology. The company has created its first prototype to scan mobile devices for any prohibited substances. Halo CEO Simon Godber said:


“Halo’s ‘focal construct technology’ will revolutionise X-ray scanning at airport security checkpoints.” www.cranfield.ac.uk


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