Ep optima synopsis

Participants

Philips Automation (I), Daimler-Benz (D), CNR-LAMEL (I), INFM-TFL (I), IMSAS (D), Environnement (F)
Contact Point Duration

Massimo Nini 36 months from 15.05.96

Philips Automation S.p.a.

Via Casati 23

20052 Monza (Mi) (Italy)
tel: [phone]

fax: [phone]

EP 25296.ACS

Microsensor system for automatic process control in a food industry

Summary

The aim is the development of a chemical microsensor-based modular system for chemical control and monitoring in an industrial environment and its application into an automatic process control system (ACS) for the dairy industry. The system will make measurements in-line or at-line during production, transmit the data to a processing system which compares them with pre-defined values, and controls the process via an interface to the plant’s control systems. The plant control system is used to download the required process parameters to the ACS. ACS is will give closer control of the process based on real-time measurements, and reduce wastage and reliance on skilled operators.

Objectives

• 
  Design and develop an encapsulated ISFET sensor module for pH, Ca2+ with a temperature sensor module suitable for use in at line automated sampling and measurement
  
• 
  Develop microfabricated conductivity sensors for measurement in liquids with encapsulation to withstand cleaning in place
  
• 
  Redesign transducer to be able to process a minimum of 100 channels of NIR spectral data from 2 NIR probes, at data rates appropriate for real-time process and to simultaneously control and receive data from 8 chemical sensor modules
  
• 
  Increase the capability of the cell controller to process the data received from a number of transducers, and display the results from all the sensors and NIR probes
  
• 
  Derive an algorithm which corrects NIR readings of fat and protein content for variation in pH, temperature and conductivity
  
• 
  Design and develop a NIR probe for in-line measurements in milk, suitable for use in a production plant environment, with CANBUS communication to the transducer.
  
• 
  Install the ACS in a production plant of an end-user partner
  

Participants__Central_Research_laboratories_Ltd_(GB);'>Participants

Central Research laboratories Ltd (GB); K.A.T. GmbH (D); Kerry Ingredients (Ireland) Ltd (IE); National Microelectronics Research Centre (IE); Centro Nacional de Microelectrónica (ES); pdv Unternehmensberatung GmbH (D), Grup Fibosa, s.a. (ES), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (ES)
Contact Point Duration

Stephanie Dyson Heidrich 34 months from 15.11.97

CENTRAL RESEARCH LABORATORIES LTD

Dawley Road

HAYES Middlesex

UB3 1HH (United Kingdom)
tel: [phone]

fax: [phone]

E-mail: [e-mail]

EP 21152 QUANTUM

Sensors for Chemical Species Based on Luminescence Decay Time Measurement
Summary

QUANTUM aims to develop portable instruments for the measurement of oxygen in water analysis and during blood gas analysis. The instruments will be based on luminescence decay time measurement rather than luminescence intensity measurement. The project encompasses the development of two complete systems including opto-chemical sensors, optics, opto-electronics and instrumentation assembly. The high stability of sensors based on luminescence decay time measurement can be exploited to eliminate field calibration or to restrict this calibration to a one point test, reducing the cost and widening the application range of these sensors in industry and for environmental monitoring.

Objectives

· To start from the existing technology base in intensity-based optical oxygen sensors and measurement systems, and to introduce the luminescence decay time measurement into these systems.

· To investigate new oxygen sensitive luminescent dyes, Pt and Pd complexes of porphyrin-ketones, suitable for sensors and their application in the measurement systems.

· To develop, based on the new sensors, simplified optics and new production techniques for the mass production of cheap measurement units and to characterise these units to fulfil the specifications under all environmental conditions.

· To design an integrated circuit for signal generation, acquisition and processing which together with an Analogue to Digital Converter and a microcontroller can implement all processing required for a vector time measurement system.

· The preparation of the commercialisation of opto-chemical sensors in blood gas analysis and in water analysis in industrial and environmental applications

Participants__Guidant_Belgium_(B)'>Participants

Joanneum Research (A), AVL List (A), WTW (D), Univ. of Kent (UK).
Contact Point Duration

DI. Franz Reininger 36 months from 01.01.96

Joanneum Research,

Steyrergasse 17,

A-8010 Graz, (Austria)

tel: + 43 876 223

fax: [phone]

E-mail: [e-mail]

EP 21245 IMALP

Implantable Liver Pump
Summary

The IMALP project develops a microsystem incorporating a blood pump to improve functions in patients with liver cirrhosis. The proposed system will comprise a fully implantable electric micromotor driven micropump incorporating 'smart' flow, pressure and temperature sensors based on CMOS technology. By employing state-of-the-art ASICs, sensing and electrical processing of sensor signals will be performed on ICs installed within the motor/pump housing, which will be small enough to be implanted into the portal vein of the liver using minimally invasive procedures.

Objectives

· Development of an implantable blood pump system capable of delivering a flow rate of 1 to 2 litres/minute against a back pressure of up to 50 mm Hg with a maximum diameter of 8 mm and maximum length of 30 mm.

· Development of efficient sensing and control functions to the implanted motor/pump system and transmission of power and data by 'leadless' electromagnetic transmission through sub-cutaneous tissue.

· Development of a compact, efficient, high energy, rechargeable battery which can be implanted just below the skin.

· In vitro liver test models for testing the implantable pump system.
Participants___Alcatel_España_S.A._(E);_Ferroperm_(Dk);_Univ_Politécnica_de_Madrid_(E);_Univ._de_Oviedo_(E)_Contact_point_Duration'>Participants

Guidant Belgium (B), ETEL (S), FhG IMSS (D), Hammersmith Hospital (UK), Helmholtz Institut für Biomedizin (D), Heriot-Watt Univ. (UK), IMEC (B), Katholieke Univ. Leuven (B), St Andrews Univ. (UK), Ultralife Batteries (UK).
Contact Point Duration

Dr. Rolf Sammler 36 months from 01.01.96

Guidant Belgium,

Excelsiorlaan 37,

1930 Zaventem, (Belgium)
tel: [phone]

fax: [phone]
EP 22982 NICE

Real-time 3d ultrasound imaging system with advanced transducer arrays
Summary

The aim is to lay the foundation for a 3D ultrasound imaging system where the emphasis is on real-time data acquisition and near real-time data visualization. New features of this system are: i) two-dimensionnal transducer arrays using advanced microstructuring and interconnect techniques; ii) compact front-end electronics (beam former) combining rescaled ASICs and multi-chip modules. Prototype probes will be developed and implemented on a down-scaled beamformer prototype. Image quality evaluation will be performed using tissue-mimicking phantoms.

Objectives

· Definition of a scanning strategy with the aim of minimizing the number of channels, based on sparse array methods. The goal is to be able to find the best, sparse array layout pattern for a 2000-3000 element array, leading to optimum image quality with respect to the clinical application.

· Design of electroacoustic structures taking into account specific issues of high density 2d arrays operating at high frequencies.
· Establishment of key technologies for the transducer array manufacturing: especially controlled microstructuring, high density interconnects and micropackaging techniques.
· Development of a compact beamformer to support enough channels. Size, consumption and cost reduction will be achieved by scaling and integration of A/D converters and Focusor ASICs, and by tighter integration of analogue front-end electronics with the use of multi-chip modules.
· Integration of probe and beamformer prototypes. Data acquisition, processing and evaluation using tissue-mimicking phantoms, with respect to image quality.
Participants

Thomson Microsonics (F); Vingmed Sound A/S (N); Univ. of Oslo (N); Thomson-CSF/LCR (F); Cranfield Univ. (UK); Fraunhofer Institute/IBMT (D).
Contact Point Duration

Jean-Marc Bureau 30 months from 01.10.96

Thomson Microsonics

399 Route des Crêtes

06904 SOPHIA ANTIPOLIS (France)
tel: [phone]

fax: [phone]

E-mail: [e-mail]

EP 25644

TRAnsformers using MicroSystems Technology
Summary

During the last years, a clear trend to miniaturise electronic equipment has been detected world-wide. This trend is especially clear in the case of portable terminals for mobile communications. TRAMST aims to achieve a significant reduction in size and weight of the low power AC/DC adapters used for mobile phones. This can be achieved by replacing the classical transformer which is built with commercial magnetic cores that not only limit the miniaturisation of the converter but are also EMI sources, by an alternative piezoelectric transformer, which features very low profile, very high power density (10 times higher than magnetic ones) and low EMI generation. Piezoelectric transformers transmit energy from its input to its output through mechanical vibration of the ceramic layers from which it is made. This technology can also be used in other applications such as DC/DC converters for telecommunications applications, power converters for PCs, displays, portable equipment, etc.

Objectives

The main goal of this project is to reduce the size and weight of low power AC adapters used in portable equipment for mobile communications. Further objectives are:

• 
  Develop a high power density AC adapter demonstrator (6 W/in³), featuring low size, low profile and reduced weight.
  
• 
  Increase the power density of the power transformers for low power applications to achieve power densities 10 times higher (85 W/in³) as with conventional magnetic transformers .
  
• 
  Develop cost effective processes to develop ceramic materials that enable the use of piezoelectric devices as power transformers.
  
• 
  Develop new electrical and mathematical models that describe the functioning of piezoelectric transformers.
  
• 
  Test and design new power topologies and control schemes that make suitable the use of piezoelectric transformers in power electronics.
  
• 
  Extend this technology to other applications (power converters for Telecommunications, for PCs, portable terminals...)
  

Participants__ATG_(F)'>Participants

Alcatel España S.A. (E); Ferroperm (Dk); Univ Politécnica de Madrid (E); Univ. de Oviedo (E)
Contact point Duration

Salvador Ollero

Alcatel España S.A. - Ramirez de Prado 5, 24 months from 01.07.97

MADRID 28045 (España)
Tel: 34 - 1 - 330 43 61

Fax: 34 - 1 - 330 50 60

e-mail: [e-mail]


Peripherals

EP 20310 ECAM III

European Consortium Active Matrix LCD
Summary

ECAM III follows ECAM I and II, and aims at enhancing the existing European capability in flat panel display production. The ECAM III project focuses on the development and demonstration of state-of-the-art active matrix liquid crystal displays for low cost applications in business, consumer and industry. Project targets are 1.4" high resolution displays for projection, and industrialisation and fabrication with high yield of VGA and SVGA graphic data displays. Efforts will also be devoted to reducing the operating power of the graphic data displays, development of digital signal processing capabilities, module assembly development and continued research in polysilicon, especially geared towards low cost projection.

Objectives

· Manufacturing Science and Technology for improving the production capability and performance of AMLCDs is a major part of the work in this project. Improvement of yield, of manufacturing equipment and of methodologies receive particular attention.

· A TFT technology suitable for low cost, small pitch, projection light valves and key components such as micro-lenses, lamps and screens will be developed further.
· The development of reflective polarisers as part of an efficient backlight system for use in active matrix TN displays.
· The creation of the know-how and infrastructure for the assembly of high quality low cost LCD modules will enhance existing, or create new capabilities, in this domain.
Participants

FPD (NL), Thomson LCD (F), Merck (UK), Sagem (F), Ciba (CH), Thomson MM (F), Barco (B), PRL (UK), Thomson LCR (F), Corning (F), Rexham (UK), CNR (I)
Contact Point Duration

Dr Wanter REINTS-BOK 24 months from 01.01.96

FPD B.V.

Building WAY-2

Prof. Holstaan 4

5656 AA Eindhoven (The Netherlands)
tel: [phone]

fax: [phone]

EP 20771 LIPP

Very Large Flat Plasma Display Panel for Industrial Process Control

Summary

Industrial markets (factory and office automation, air traffic control, public information boards, etc.) present a demand for high resolution, large area, flat, colour displays to improve data visualisation and concentrate multiple information on a single screen of large size and limited volume. These displays will be the core of the factory of tomorrow, and are not yet available. Plasma Display Panel (PDP) is a strong candidate technology to fulfil these requirements. It is expected to produce 20" to 40" or greater, flat, colour displays within the next 5 to 10 years thanks to the particular operating behaviour (memory effect), simple manufacturing process and production tooling used.

An industrial process display monitor is under development at Thomson Tube Electroniques, the only European PDP manufacturer. Technology innovation is ongoing in the area of panel processing, large area masks, driver electronics and full digital interface. The Automation Department of Siemens will integrate the developed PDP in an existing control system and test it in a real application environment. Terapixel, is involved in the development of large area masks for PDP photolithography. Eldim is developing the interface electronics (with the capability of fully digital data exchange) between the panel and the computer.
Objectives

• 
  development of a 24" diagonal PDP demonstrator with high resolution: 1280x1024 pixels, full colour, 3" thick, 160 degree viewing angle, and multimedia compatibility.
  
• 
  feasibility study of a 40" diagonal high resolution PDP for professional applications.
  
• 
  development of photomasks for large size PDPs.
  
• 
  development of analog and digital interface cards for large area flat panel displays (PDP).
  
• 
  demonstration of use of 24" PDPs for use in industrial process control.
  

Results

Siemens has specified user needs and is monitoring market trends. A first 24" PDP mock-up has been produced by TTE with encouraging results. Analog interface boards from Eldim have been delivered; digital video adaptor feasibility study is in progress. First prototype sets of masks for the 24" PDP are available, further developments are ongoing at Terapixel. Studies on 40" high resolution PDP feasibility for professional applications are ongoing at TTE. Publications on the development of the 24" plasma display appear in Electronique International, Euro Photonics, Electronic Display World, Laser Focus World, Opto Laser Europe.

Participants

Thomson Tube Electroniques (F); Siemens (D); Terapixel (SF); Eldim (F)
Contact point Duration

M. Specty 24 months from 01.12.95

18, Avenue du Maréchal Juin

92366 MEUDON LA FORÊT (France)

tel: [phone]

fax: + 33 76574085

EP 21657 BLUE BIRD

High Capacity blue source based magneto-optical disc drive dedicated to network integration
Summary

The project objective is to address the need to handle files of ever-increasing size, to access them in the shortest time, to acquire and transfer information as quickly as possible, to ensure the safety of the stored information on a media and to reuse the same media.

The project work will entail:

Development of a powerful optical source (15mW, in pulse mode with a 50% duty cycle) operating at wavelengths of 430 to 480 nm obtained by frequency doubling.

Development of a MO layer sensitive at these short wavelengths. The basic material is a type of ferrite with a very high Kerr rotation, high stability, allowing a large number of write/erase cycles with a high contrast.

Mastering of technologies needed in an optical drive (optical heads, blocks, servo-mechanisms and algorithms to access to the information, electronics for signal treatment, writing/erasing strategy and logical formatting for the capacity and controller for the transfer rate.

Integration of software layers into the drive in order to connect directly the machine to networks such as FDDI, Token Ring, Ethernet with DECNET, TCP/ip, NFS, Ethershare, LAN Manager and IPX network protocol.
Objectives

• 
  A rewritable high–performance optical storage peripheral directly connectable to a network,
  
• 
  The rewritable optical storage peripheral will feature:
  
• 
  a double-headed magneto-optical 12’’ drive,
  
• 
  a double-sided magneto-optical disk, featuring a large capacity, in the range of 30 GBytes (twice the capacity foreseen for the products just to come), a high data rate in the range of 5 Mbytes/sec (average user data rate), a long user data life after recording and the ability to withstand a large number of write/erase cycles (>5.10⁶)
  
• 
  a direct connection to a network; the interface between the drive and the connection device will allow high performance: high data transfer rate and 16 bits (SCSI-2 fast and wide); the network connection will be an add-on element connected to the rear panel of the drive.
  

Participants

ATG (F); Thomson-CSF (F); IAN (I).
Contact Point Duration

Patrick Langlade – ATG 30 months from 02.05.96

Avenue Général Eisenhower

31047 TOULOUSE CEDEX (France)
Tel: [phone]

Fax: + 33 5.61.41.03.49

EP 22575 ELDISP

Next Generation Colour Electroluminescent Displays
Summary

The ELDISP project is aiming to develop the next generation of colour electroluminescent (EL) flat panel displays. It will also develop technologies for pilot manufacturing capacity for the production of these new displays. The target is cost effective, high performance EL displays based on the filtered concept with broad-band white light emitting phosphors.

The new generation of colour EL displays will target the existing European and worldwide industrial and transportation market segments, as well as specific new consumer applications.
Objectives

The main objectives are to develop 8.4” to 10.4” VGA resolution colour displays for graphic display applications and 4.8” quarter VGA displays for graphic applications. In order to achieve these objectives the consortium will address:

• 
  the development, scale-up and application of improved broad-band white light emitting phosphors as a crucial part of the work.
  
• 
  the development of the new inverted and filtered EL display structure and pilot manufacturing processes
  
• 
  the development of cost effective colour filters and high density interconnection techniques.
  
• 
  the improvement and modification of the EL display driving circuitry, as well as the development of the equipment interfacing circuitry.
  

Participants

Planar (SF); CRL (UK); Ericsson (S); HHI (Heinrich-Herz-Institut (D); Sagem (F); SGS-Thomson (I); UPMC-AOMC (University of Paris)(F).
Contact Point Duration

Mr Arto Pakkala 36 months from 01.11.96

PLANAR International Ltd
PO Box 46, Olarinluoma 9
FIN-02201 ESPOO, (Finland)

tel: [phone] (direct: 4200316)

fax: [phone]

E-mail: arto-pakkala@ planar.com

EP 22615 PHOSPAP

Development of Vacuum Ultraviolet (VUV) Phosphors for Large Plasma Display Panels
Summary

The project aims at the development of optimized phosphors with characteristics adapted to large size Plasma Display Panels (PDPs) used in fu­ture consumer TV and professional applications, as well as at the implementation in Europe of the manufacturing of such phosphors. The developed phosphors will have lower decay time (no smear on moving images), smaller grain size (higher pixel resolution), higher luminous efficiency (higher brightness of the screen or lower power consumption), more saturated colours (expansion of colour gamut).

Objectives

• 
  Reduction of the grain size of the red and blue phosphors currently used in PDP manufacturing, without degrading the other characteristics, particularly the luminous efficiency;
  
• 
  Synthesis at a lab-scale level of green phosphors with high luminous efficiency = commercial P1, decay time t10% = 10 ms, grain size _m = 3 µm, X = 0.30 and Y = 0.60. Selection of the best green phosphor;
  
• 
  Scaling-up of the improved green, red and blue phosphors and evaluation on 9" monochrome PDPs;
  
• 
  Manufacturing of a 24" trichrome PDP demonstrator using the conventional PDP manufacturing process.
  
  

Partners:
Thomson-CSF/LCR (F), Philips Research Laboratories (D), Technical University Delft (NL), Phosphor Technology Ltd (GB), Thomson Tubes Electroniques (F)

Contact Point Duration

Antoinette MORELL 24 months from 01.10.96

Thomson-CSF/LCR

Domaine de Corbeville

91404 ORSAY Cedex (France)
Tel : + 33 1 69 33 91 36

Fax : + 33 1 69 33 07 55

E-mail : [e-mail]

EP 22659 FED

Development of a 5.2 " FED Colour Display
Summary

Building on the foundations of AIMFED, and taking into account the specific requirements of European instrumentation for transport and industrial markets in the area of displays, FED is a focused R&D program leading to an extension of the FED performance envelope towards higher brightness and power efficiency. The display will be, by the end of month 18, a 1/4 VGA, 5.2”, 150 cd/m² full colour display.

Objectives

Extension of the performance envelope associated with PixTech’s FED, towards higher brightness and power efficiency. FED technology improvements include:

• 
  An anode with a voltage stand-off up to 600 V.
  
• 
  A transparent cathode for an inverted structure allowing a brightness improvement of a factor 2 relative to the standard structure.
  
• 
  New phosphors with a mean luminescence efficiency of 3 lm/W in the white.
  

Demonstration and full testing of 5.2’’, 1/4 VGA, full colour display with following basic characteristics:

• 
  Luminance 150 cd/m² in operation
  
• 
  Contrast ratio 12:1 in a 500 lux ambient light
  
• 
  6 to 8 bits grey scale depending on market requirements
  
• 
  More than 5000 hours lifetime in full white
  

Further development of FED specific materials and equipment, including holographic exposure equipment :

• 
  The hologram masks with 0.6 µm microhole diameter
  
• 
  Zero defect holograms
  
• 
  Equipment specification targeted to a production machine, with automated substrate handling system, a production friendly H-Mask changing system, an on-axis illumination system for the alignment and an environmental control system.