G U E S T E D I T O R I A L
Watts Up?
Randy Frank
F E A T U R E S
Temperature Measurement
Temperature sensors are everywhere—from the thermostat on the wall to the sensors in processing and manufacturing lines. To accommodate this variety of applications, the sensor industry has developed a number of sensing techniques. Here’s an overview of how each one works. Ed Ramsden
Designing the Embedded Temperature Circuit to Meet the System’s Requirements
In many applications, the characteristics of the temperature sensing element are critical. In others, the requirements on the sensor element are relaxed, enabling a wider selection of sensors for the job. The electronic circuit design then becomes the most important factor in system design. Bonnie C. Baker
High-Precision Ambient Temperature Measurement for a Climatological Database
Concerns about global warming have created a need for a reference-grade instrument for use in evaluating and confirming the precision of meteorological temperature measuring systems in the field. William M. Stein et al.
An Introduction to Regression Analysis
Regression analysis no longer requires weeks of work and hundreds of pencils—if you have the right software. Stephen Humpage
Using Ultrasonic Anemometers in Urban and Topographical Climatology Research
A new ultrasonic instrument can not only detect low-level winds but also simultaneously measure wind direction, horizontal and vertical wind speed, and temperature. Andreas Pflitsch and Bernd Flick
Bringing Nondispersive IR Spectroscopic Gas Sensors to the Mass Market
There’s a new component architecture for mass-market gas sensors based on photonic bandgap and MEMS fabrication technologies. This combination provides high-quality gas and chemical sensors at consumer prices. Brian R. Kinkade
Where Wireless Sensor Communications and the Internet Meet
The CrossNet architecture extends the Internet to the sensor using wireless connections based on the Bluetooth protocol.
Mike Dunbar
Neodymium-Iron-Boron Magnets: Flexibility in Sensor Design
“Neo” magnets are well worth considering for new or existing sensor applications where manufacturing and materials cost is an issue and high field strength is desirable. David Miller and Peter Campbell
A High-Precision Piezoresistive Flow Sensor for Microdosing Applications
Drug discovery and medical diagnostics equipment are driving the miniaturization of liquid-handling systems.
Marc Boillat et al.
C O V E R S T O R Y
Is Linux in Your Future? The major system vendors support it, the engineering and science applications support it, and the embedded and real-time developers support it. Should you?
Brian Sierer
D A S Y S T E M S
Isolation—Is Your Measurement System Safe?
Whether you’re working with hazardous voltages that need special handling or you simply want peace of mind and improved ease of use, isolation delivers.
Donnie Curington
S P E C I A L O N - L I N E E X C L U S I V E
What every designer must know about motion control
No longer do you need be an electrical engineer or even a motion control expert to design a functional system. Simply equip yourself with some off-the-self components and these key concepts.
Jacob Tal, Ph.D., Galil Motion Control
D E P A R T M E N T S
Calendar
Business Sense
Research and Developments
Wish List
ABOUT THE COVER
Linux is the maverick operating system that has broken all the rules. It started on the fringe of the computing world and then by virtue of its flexibility and stability carved out a significant market share as a workstation OS and a server platform. You can download it from the Web at no cost, yet it runs on the big boys of the processor world—Intel, Motorola, Compaq, and Sun Microsystems. Now it’s making strides on the desktop. So you have to ask yourself: Should you consider Linux for your next measurement and automation system? The article that begins on page 28 will help you answer that question. (Cover image courtesy of National Instruments.)
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September 2000 VOL. 17 NO.9
