C.L. Tarrida

A Miniaturized Two Axis Sun Sensor for Attitude Control of Nano-Satellites

This paper describes the design, fabrication, characterization, and satellite integration of a miniaturized two axis sun sensor which has been used in the attitude control system of the Spanish nano-satellite NANOSAT-1B. This device is made of four silicon photodiodes monolithically integrated in a crystalline silicon substrate, protected by a transparent cover glass assembled on the same silicon die against space radiation damage. The sensor fabrication combines standard silicon processing technology with a high performance solar cell fabrication process. The sensor, including electronics and mechanical and electrical interfacing with the satellite, has a small size (3 cm × 3 cm) and low weight (24 gr.), with a sun field-of-view greater than ±60° with an angle accuracy better than 0.15°. Three of these sensors have already been integrated in the NANOSAT-1B platform that has been successfully launched in July 2009.

Accurate and Wide-Field-of-View MEMS-Based Sun Sensor for Industrial Applications

This paper describes the design, fabrication, simulation, and experimental results of an improved miniaturized two-axis sun sensor for industrial applications, created by adapting a technology used previously in satellite applications. The sensor for each axis is composed of six photodiodes integrated in a crystalline-silicon substrate and a layer of cover glass, which is used to protect the silicon and to hold the windows. The high precision is obtained by the subdivision of the field of view, which is ±60°, with a resolution of 0.1°. Each region is controlled by an independent high-precision solar sensor. The sensor can be used for sun-tracking applications in a photovoltaic system, heliostat concentration plants, and lighting applications.

Health Care Applications Based on Mobile Phone Centric Smart Sensor Network

This paper presents the MIMOSA architecture and development platform to create Ambient Intelligence applications. MIMOSA achieves this objective by developing a personal mobile-device centric architecture and open technology platform where microsystem technology is the key enabling technology for their realization due to its low-cost, low power consumption, and small size. This paper focuses the demonstration activities carried out in the field of health care. MIMOSA project is a European level initiative involving 15 enterprises and research institutions and universities.

Design of a mobile telecardiology system using GPRS/GSM technology

This paper presents the design and development of a portable electrocardiograph to allow the on-line remote monitoring and real-time cardiac diseases diagnostics of patients from the specialist. This prototype has been satisfactory implemented finding a good balance between optimal signal processing and power consumption using a GPRS/GSM modem and a SMT low voltage microprocessor board.

A new design of high precision solar microsensor for satellite aplications

This paper shows the design and calibration of an improved miniaturized two-axis sun sensor for satellite attitude control. The proposed new structure is based on a previous sun sensor structure by adding multiple sensing cells. The improvement in precision is obtained by the subdivision of field of view (FoV), which is expected to be ±60°, with a resolution of 0.1°. In the paper, both the mathematical model and the experimental results are presented. The resulting device will be incorporated in Microsat satellite from INTA, which will be launched in 2012.

CARDIOSMART: intelligent cardiology monitoring system using GPS/GPRS networks

Cardiosmart project is based on a portable terminal for the acquisition, pre-processing and transmission of cardiac signals and the GPRS network (PAC) used to send the ECG signal to a host computer in the medical services provider centre or a specialist consulting room. The PAC terminal includes a GPRS modem for data transmission, a GPS device to provide an accurate location of the patient, and an intelligent heart pathology detection system. The objective of this project consists of the development of a European Cardiology On-line Monitoring System using GPRS/GSM wireless communication technology. The utilisation of electrocardiogram transmission will improve efficiency of medical care and service for patients if they could be monitored constantly by health care providers. A direct and almost instant medical support is provided, specially to those patients that vanish during a heart attack.

SENSOSOL: MultiFOV 4-Quadrant high precision sun sensor for satellite attitude control

The design, manufacturing and calibration of an improved miniaturized two axis sun sensor for satellite attitude control will be shown. The high precision is obtained by the subdivision of the field of view (FOV). The FOV and the resolution obtained are ±60° and 0.5° for the coarse measure and ±6° with precision better than 0.05° for the fine measure.

Integrated design of a smart analog sun sensor with CMOS technology

This paper shows the design of a miniaturized two-axis sun sensor for industrial application, using a CMOS proprietary technology. From a previous design, some changes have been proposed in order to improve the performance of the sun sensors. The integration of the sensing elements and the adaptation circuit in the same silicon die reduces the size an order of magnitude. Flip-chip technology is used to bond the cover glass and the sensing elements, increasing the accuracy of the measurements. Third, a self-tuning structure of amplifiers allows adapting sensor response to different lighting conditions.

Fabrication of a MEMS based high precision solar sensor for satellite applications using CMOS technology

This paper shows the design and fabrication of a miniaturized two-axis sun sensor for satellite attitude control, using a CMOS standard technology. The high precision will be obtained by the subdivision of field of view (FOV). A sun FOV of ±60 ° and a resolution of 0.1° will be expected.

IMS: A new technology to develop a telemedicine system

The emergent IMS (Internet Protocol Multimedia Subsystem) technology appears to improve the current communication technologies. Its characteristics, such as Quality of Service (QoS), make it an advantageous system for innovative applications. Providing integrated services to users is one of the main reasons for the existence of IMS. Operators provide the technology as an open source, to be able to use services developed by researchers. Combining and integrating them, users will receive completely new services. Our proposal of use for IMS is the development of a telemedicine platform, designed to support not only remote biological signal monitoring, but value-added services for diagnosis and medical care, both of these working in real time.