Several European manufacturers of acoustic and vibration sensors have joined with National Instruments to develop sensors that comply with the IEEE P1451.4 standard. The standard proposes that sensors add an embedded, low-cost memory chip containing a standardized transducer electronic data sheet (TEDS) that stores important sensor information and scaling parameters for self-identification and self-description. TEDS eliminate the need to manually input this data when configuring a measurement system. The manufacturers include: Bruel & Kjaer, G.R.A.S. Sound & Vibration, Kistler, LEM, RDP Electronics, Sensorex, WayCon Positionsmesstechnik. Other members include: Celesco, Endevco, Lebow, Lion Precision, Macro Sensors, Measurement Specialties, PCB Piezotronics, Honeywell Sensotec, Transducer Techniques, Watlow, Weed Instrument and Wilcoxon.

Read the press release on the National Instruments web site.

MTS and National Instruments have developed a partnership that intergrates I-DEAS Pro and Sound Engineering families of noise and vibration analysis software with National Instruments LabVIEW graphical development software and family of dynamic signal acquisition hardware.

Read the press release on the MTS web site.

Telaid in conjunction with Acentech have developed a product called Zone II, which is speaker that makes a low-level mashing noise to drown out background speech which is intended to provides “speech privacy.” There are several new laws that have come into effect that require health care and financial service companies to provide privacy when discussing details with customers. The kit contains 4 speakers that can be installed behind a ceiling tile and provides coverage for about 400 square feet.

Read more on the Telaid and the Acentech web sites.

The Institute for Safe, Quiet, and Durable Highways(SQDH), at the Ray Herrick Laboratories at Purdue University has built a device to test the noise generated from pavement – tire interaction. The pavement is attached to a circular drum and a tire rotates over the curved pavement surface.

Read more on the Purdue University web site.

Lord Corporation, North Carolina USA, have successfully installed an Active Vibration Control system in the Hindustan Aeronautics Advanced Light Helicopter, otherwise known as the Indian DHRUV. The system uses active Frahms to monitor and reduce vibration in the fuselage generated by the main rotor and the rotor aerodynamics.

Read the press release on the Lord Corporation web site.

Suss MicroTec and DELTA (Danish Electronics, Light and Acoustics) have created a website called Memunity that is dedicated to testing of microelectromechanical systems (MEMS). MEMUNITY and its members have techniques for testing MEMS accelerometers and microphones whilst they are still on the wafer.

Read more on the MEMUNITY web site.

Andromed has released an electronic stethoscope that has filtering to reduce ambient noise and noise generated by hand movement. It also has an auto-muting function that eliminates impact noise if the sensor is struck, or if the patient coughs.

Read more on the Andromed web site.

Innovative DSP have released a new DSP card for use with audio, vibration and sonar applications. The card has signal inputs for up to 32 channels at 24 bit resolution, up to 192kHz, and 6 analog outputs at 24 bit resolution. The card uses a Texas Instruments C6711 processor.

Read more on the Innovative DSP web site.

Nikon have released another camera lens in their VR – vibration reduction series, the AF-S VR Zoom-Nikkor 24-120mm f/3.5-5.6G IF-ED lens. The active vibration control help reduce the blurring of images that frequently occurs when taking pictures in low light conditions.

Orbseal have released an expanding polyurethane foam that can be used to fill cavities, designed for automotive use. The foam can improve the rigidity of panels and improve the transmission loss of panels.

Read more on the SAE web site.