Sensors Pre-Conference Symposia

 

2010 Sensors Pre-Conference Symposia
Register for a Gold Conference Pass and your Pre-Conference Symposium is included!

 

Monday, June 7 • 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM


Symposium 1: Data Acquisition Systems
Session Chairman and Organizer: Dan Shangraw, P.E., President, Automated Software Technology

Introduction to Data Acquisition
• Learn the basics of data acquisition and get an in depth overview of data acquisition theory.
• Learn how to specify and develop your own data acquisition system.
• Leanr how to connect various sensors to a PC-based data acquisition system.
• Examine a sample of a typical data acquisition system.

Minimizing Noise in Data Acquisition Systems
• Learn the main causes of electrical noise on PC-based data acquisition systems.
• Learn tips to reduce electrical noise on their data acquisition systems.
• Learn wiring techniques to maximize signal integrity and reduce noise.

 

Symposium 2: The Realities of Satellite and Cellular for Sensor Networking
Session Chairman and Organizer: Joel Young, CTO and SVP of Research and Development, Digi International

There is perception that satellite connectivity is hard, expensive, inaccessible and difficult to deploy. This isn’t true. With recent innovations in satellite technology, cost—both hardware and service plan—is no longer prohibitive. Attend this symposium and learn how to combine cellular and satellite that allow end users to switch easily from one technology to another. Take a deep-dive into this emerging space and examine how the proliferation of satellite and solutions that combine satellite with cellular is enabling a whole new world of “anywhere connectivity” ideal for numerous sensor networking applications.

 

Symposium 3: Power Management: Energy Harvesting & Storage
Session Organizer: Randy Frank, President, Randy Frank & Associates, Ltd.

Energy harvesting, or scavenging as it is frequently called, provides new opportunities for sensor manufacturers in applications that would otherwise have difficulty obtaining a reliable power source or require batteries and the associated replacement effort and costs. Several techniques exist for converting mechanical or electrical energy, light, or temperature differences into energy for powering sensors including piezoelectric, radio frequency, inductive coupling, wind and solar power. In addition to exploring the various energy harvesting technologies, other system aspects that will be addressed in this full-day symposium include high efficiency, low-power microcontrollers, wireless connectivity and advanced batteries. By focusing on existing energy harvesting products with real-world experience, attendees will have new tools to consider in the design of next-generation sensor systems.

 

Symposium 4: Thinking Outside the Chip: MEMS-Based System Solutions: Designs, Tradeoffs and Applications
Session Chairman & Organizer: Roger H. Grace, President, Roger Grace Associates

This all-day symposium addresses, from a global perspective, current and future applications and major issues associated with the creation of a MEMS-based system and its design and manufacturing/testing. The focus is on the system elements which compliment the MEMS sensor/actuator e.g. signal conditioning circuits, microcontrollers, embedded intelligence/software algorithms, networking circuits and their interaction with the MEMS device. System element connectivity and device/system packaging is addressed. The symposium begins with an overview of market and technology trends and the technology infrastructure to support the systems approach. World-renowned researchers from national laboratories and academia review some of their more significant current activities that are expected to form the basis of many innovative products scheduled for near-term commercialization. Technical staffers from major manufacturers and exciting new startups present information on their technology approaches to systems solutions for current and future applications. A panel discussion concludes the event.
   


The conference program is subject to change without notice.