March 10 - 11, 2009 in Brussels/Belgium

Booth no. 1-102

The Fraunhofer Institute for Photonic Microsystems IPMS carries out customer specific developments in fields of microelectronic and micro systems technology in Dresden, serving as a business partner that supports the transition of innovative ideas into new products. The Fraunhofer IPMS develops and fabricates innovative MEMS technology products in its own clean room facilities, up to small pilot series production. With modern equipment and about 240 scientists, the range of projects and expertise covers sensor and actuator systems, microscanner, spatial light modulators, lifetronics and organic materials and systems.

At the SSI 2009 show the Fraunhofer IPMS presents:

1. MEMS based light curtain

Fraunhofer IPMS shows a system for infrared-optical room surveillance, based on a 1D micro scanner device which was developed at the institute. The module, designed by CTR Carinthian Tech Research AG, Villach/Austria, contains the scanning mirror as core component. This micro scanner spans a fan-like light curtain over the observing area.

The light signal, back-scattered by the surrounding area is collected and directed to an optical detector and electronically processed. The penetration of an object into the scanning area is detected by a change within the received signal. Using particular developed filter techniques the system is highly insensitive to optical interfering signals e. g. emerging from changing the ambient light conditions. The demonstrator, consisting of transmitter, receiver and signal processing electronics, is placed in the volume of a cigarette box and has the potential for further miniaturization. Due to the very precise definition of the surveillance area, this laser scanner system is especially suitable from the safeguarding of danger zones to interior surveillance in automotive applications, e. g. as detector system for the anti-trap protection.

2. Intelligent Implants

For years medicine has used implants to improve or reestablish functions in the human body. Up to now mechanical implants mainly have been implanted to improve the stability as well as replacement of bones and joints. A well-known example is the artificial hip joint endoprosthesis. Now electronic devices will be integrated into the endoprosthesis to expand the functionality of the system. The Fraunhofer IPMS has developed a transponder based platform, which is able to transfer the required energy into the body and to read out the measured data wirelessly at the same time. At the SSI 2009 the Fraunhofer IPMS presents an endoprosthesis with an integrated microsystem for the control of the firm anchor­age of the prosthesis in the bone: an acceleration sensor finds the characteristic resonant frequency of the implant-bone system. Through mechanical stimulation the artificial limb is put into vibration. These vibrations are received by the sensor and transferred through the transpon­der as an acceleration value directly to the doctor's PC. During a routine health check the doctor can track the growth of the thigh bone to the endoprosthesis or the ablation of the implant. So, the doctor is able to carry out a suitable therapy against critical situations.