Besides
having the first cloned mammal, scientists in Scotland are riding on the
forward edge of optoelectronic technology. The fast-growing market of digital
cameras has inspired one company, Vision Group, Edinburgh University, UK,
to develop a single microchip that handles both image sensing and processing.
Unlike most imaging products that use charged-coupled devices requiring
one or more support chips, cameras incorporating Vision's complementary
metal-oxide-on-silicon semiconductors use just the one chip, reducing size,
power consumption and cost. Exposure control, timing logic and image conversion
from analog to digital are all functions now controlled by this component.
Another company, Barr & Stroud of Glasgow, Scotland, continues their
110-year-old tradition of high-quality specialty optics manufacture with
the production of a unique periscope that stays within a submarine's hull.
A full suite of imaging sensors combine advanced image and signal processing
to enable a sub to watch the above-surface world, while the vessel remains
submerged. The optoelectronic mast, seen here, has very low acoustic, visual,
thermal and radar signatures, plus a low weight. The device is operated
and controlled by a remote-control console fitted with high-resolution displays,
and the same technology can be retrofitted to conventional periscopes.
Meanwhile, here in the colonies, one company last
year bridged the gap between large-scale factory machines, such as lathes,
mills, machining centers, hobs and grinders, and the PCs used by the design
engineers. Rather than requiring complex firmware-based motion control hardware,
OpenCNC, from Manufacturing Data Systems, Inc., Ann Arbor, MI, is a production-proven
software-based CNC machine tool control, delivered on a single disc. This
protocol produces a more direct path from CAD development to final product,
to where the machine shop could eventually be considered an output device
connected to designer's desk. A PC software-based machine shop also simplifies
machine set-up, point-to-point communication and networking, and the system
has greater flexibility due to the selection from the diverse pool of hardware
and software. OpenCNC runs on QNX, an industry-standard real-time operating
system, and it supports RS-274D standard part program ming. With OpenCNC,
no proprietary hardware or motion control cards are required, allowing interchangability
between machines and making maintenance easier. Thus, an engineer could
work a design in their laptop while returning from a client, walk into the
shop, download and start producing parts.
Originally published in the January 1998 issue of designfax.
Please Note: some pictures or diagrams are only available
through the printed media.
Besides
having the first cloned mammal, scientists in Scotland are riding on the
forward edge of optoelectronic technology. The fast-growing market of digital
cameras has inspired one company, Vision Group, Edinburgh University, UK,
to develop a single microchip that handles both image sensing and processing.
Unlike most imaging products that use charged-coupled devices requiring
one or more support chips, cameras incorporating Vision's complementary
metal-oxide-on-silicon semiconductors use just the one chip, reducing size,
power consumption and cost. Exposure control, timing logic and image conversion
from analog to digital are all functions now controlled by this component.
Another company, Barr & Stroud of Glasgow, Scotland, continues their
110-year-old tradition of high-quality specialty optics manufacture with
the production of a unique periscope that stays within a submarine's hull.
A full suite of imaging sensors combine advanced image and signal processing
to enable a sub to watch the above-surface world, while the vessel remains
submerged. The optoelectronic mast, seen here, has very low acoustic, visual,
thermal and radar signatures, plus a low weight. The device is operated
and controlled by a remote-control console fitted with high-resolution displays,
and the same technology can be retrofitted to conventional periscopes.
Meanwhile, here in the colonies, one company last
year bridged the gap between large-scale factory machines, such as lathes,
mills, machining centers, hobs and grinders, and the PCs used by the design
engineers. Rather than requiring complex firmware-based motion control hardware,
OpenCNC, from Manufacturing Data Systems, Inc., Ann Arbor, MI, is a production-proven
software-based CNC machine tool control, delivered on a single disc. This
protocol produces a more direct path from CAD development to final product,
to where the machine shop could eventually be considered an output device
connected to designer's desk. A PC software-based machine shop also simplifies
machine set-up, point-to-point communication and networking, and the system
has greater flexibility due to the selection from the diverse pool of hardware
and software. OpenCNC runs on QNX, an industry-standard real-time operating
system, and it supports RS-274D standard part program ming. With OpenCNC,
no proprietary hardware or motion control cards are required, allowing interchangability
between machines and making maintenance easier. Thus, an engineer could
work a design in their laptop while returning from a client, walk into the
shop, download and start producing parts.