Fiber Optic Sensors Help Stop Subway Shutdown
Fiber optic sensors will help keep commuters moving between Manhattan and Brooklyn this year and beyond. Recently, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo announced that New York City’s Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA) would not close the L train tunnel for a planned 15-month repair project. Instead, the MTA will use technology-driven solutions to keep the tunnel open and operational for weekday riders. In a joint statement, a panel that included engineering experts from Columbia and Cornell explained that "The L Train Tunnel project gives us the opportunity to integrate technologies and methods that have never been used before in a [...]
3D Integrated Circuits Use Capacitive Sensing to Ensure Coplanarity Gallery3D Integrated Circuits Use Capacitive Sensing to Ensure Coplanarity
Application Notes-MTI, Brand-MTI, Industry-Consumer Products, Industry-Electronics, Industry-Manufacturing, Industry-Semiconductor, Industry-Semiconductor-MTI, Industry-Sensors, Z-REPUB, z1
3D Integrated Circuits Use Capacitive Sensing to Ensure Coplanarity
Three-dimensional (3D) integrated circuits (ICs) feature silicon wafers and dies that are stacked vertically for improved device performance. By using the Z-axis, 3D ICs can overcome the power and footprint limitations associated with two-dimensional (2D) integrated circuits. Yet 3D ICs need coplanar surfaces to contact all of the pads, pins, and pillars. To determine coplanarity, semiconductor manufacturers measure the angle and gap between two planes. Bonding tool actuators use these measurements to adjust components and ensure that all device pins and solder balls reside on the same geometric plane. This process, active parallelism compensation, promotes proper bonding without residual [...]
Oiling System Uses Capacitive Sensing to Detect Water Contamination
Water contamination can reduce the life of lubricants and increase the frequency of maintenance and repairs. If corrective action isn’t taken before an out-of-limit incident occurs, operational costs can escalate. When unplanned maintenance disrupts operations, productivity suffers and technicians may focus on a quick fix instead of the root cause. To detect water contamination in oil systems, in-line capacitance probes can be used. These flexible, off-the-shelf devices provide automatic and continuous monitoring. Yet checking moisture levels isn’t just about enhancing reliability or eliminating corrosion. In-line capacitance probes improve operations by supporting a proactive approach to maintenance. How In-Line Capacitance [...]
The Top Five Trends Impacting Test and Measurement for 2019
With 2019 upon us, we know everyone is thinking about what's next in the Test and Measurement industry. We also know that without test and measurement equipment, engineers can't accurately and consistently prove that their mechanical or electronic devices perform as required. When they don't work, engineers also need to determine why and how to fix them. All of this leads to innovative thinking on how to test and measure even better by taking advantage of rapidly growing trends such as digitization, software, additive manufacturing, the Internet of Things (IoT), and new sensing applications that are driving advances in T&M. [...]
Offshore Wind Supply Chain Uses MTI Capacitance Sensors
Capacitance sensors from MTI Instruments are an important part of the supply chain for offshore wind (OSW) in New York State. According to a recent report from the Center for Economic Growth (CEG), New York’s Capital Region is home to MTI Instruments and dozens of other manufacturers who support this growing form of wind power. The Capital Region also offers essential infrastructure for OSW. As the CEG report explains, the New York State Energy Research Development Authority (NYSERDA) has assessed 54 waterfront sites for OSW-related projects such as component staging, manufacturing, and fabrication. Two of the most promising sites [...]
Digital Accumeasure Gen 3 Reduces Noise and Increases Resolution
MTI Instruments is announcing a third-generation digital capacitance displacement gauge with lower noise and an industry-leading resolution. The Digital Accumeasure DSeries Gen 3 provides up to 0.01% FST linearity and is designed for measuring gap, vibration, and positioning. In both analog and digital systems, noise is an unwanted disturbance that distorts or interferes with a desired electrical signal. MTI’s Digital Accumeasure Gen 3 is a lower-noise amplifier than the Gen 2 and features sub-nanometer resolution for highly-precise measurements. Using state-of-the-art technology, the Digital Accumeasure DSeries Gen 3 converts a highly-reliable capacitive electric field measurement (displacement) directly into a highly-precise [...]
Vitrek Completes Acquisition of XiTRON Technologies Brand and Product Lines
Vitrek Completes Acquistion of XiTRON Technologies Brand and Product Lines Acquisition broadens Vitrek’s power analyzer portfolio and adds range of complementary products; expands customer base with limited overlap; adds domestic and international representation and distribution channels. […]
White Paper: Fundamentals of Electrical Safety Testing
Part 1 - Functions & Features of Advanced Hipot Testers Introduction Electrical safety testers - often referred to as "hipot" testers - are an integral part of electrical and electronic equipment manufacturing. Hipot testers get their name from the high potential (high voltage) they produce to perform dielectric withstand and insulation resistance tests. In addition to these tests, many hipot testers provide accurate low-resistance measurements and low-resistance/high-current outputs to test ground resistance and ground bond integrity. Hipot testing has long been a standard procedure for assuring the electrical safety of electronic equipment. Early commercial hipot testers were actually not [...]
Vitrek Introduces Glen Broderick as New Western Regional Sales Manager
Vitrek Introduces Glen Broderick as New Western Regional Sales Manager Industry professional brings industry expertise as company grows its high performance line of hipot testers, precision high-voltage meters and power analyzers. […]
Functions & Features of Advanced Hipot Testers – as published in Test & Measurement Tips – 6/18
Functions and Features of Advanced Hipot Testers June 18, 2018 by Lee Teschler Modern instruments help to check whether manufactured equipment meets the proliferating variety of international safety standards that govern factors such as grounding and the ability to withstand overvoltages. KEVIN CLARK, VITREK Electrical safety testers — often referred to as hipot testers — are an integral part of electrical and electronic equipment manufacturing. Hipot testers get thei name from the high-potential (high voltage) they produce to perform dielectric withstand and insulation resistance tests. In addition to these tests, many hipot testers provide accurate low-resistance measurements and low-resistance/high current [...]