Tasks

The Electronics Group comprises the areas "Electronics Development" and "Microtechnology". Development and setting-up of electronic systems  The measuring instruments and test facilities developed by the Mechanical Design Group need electronic components allowing control, measurement signal processing and data analysis. In addition to this task, the Electronics Group carries on development work for promising modules as universally used in precision metrology. Research and development in sensorics, thin-film technology and microtechnology The adaptation of sensors, the fabrication of random functional areas as well as the integration of various microcomponents increasingly gain in importance for solving ever more complex tasks. So the function of a special measuring system for force, acceleration and sound can be realized by a layer some micrometres thick, a so-called thin layer. The sensor must withstand very different stresses and be durably connected to a component. In view of the changing requirements to be coped with when developing measuring instruments, the Scientific Instrumentation Section attentively keeps track of the worldwide research activities in these fields and is involved in promising research and development projects. Example of commission handling Circuit components for the highly precise flow velocity measurement in transparent media are used in a laser Doppler anemometer.   CNC drilled and milled with plotter platings RF shield enclosure 9 integrated circuits 3 trimmers 70 SMD components 30 conventional R, C Figure: Basic module for laser differential frequency control     Measuring equipment for electronic systems development The Electronics Group has the measuring instruments necessary for developing electronic systems. Furthermore, the Electronics Group is able to carry out measurements in those sections of the PTB whose measuring capabilities are not sufficient for the specific purpose. A clean room, an acoustic cabin and a high-frequency measurement room are available. Figure: Digital oscilloscope (500 MHz measurement range)   Research and development Subject: Thin-film force sensors Force sensors are used in technical systems in many different ways. The applications extend from sensors measuring forces of several meganewton to sensors whose measurement range is a few millinewton. Thin-film force sensors open up a new field of application. This is the measurement of forces in places which have not been accessible in the past, for example inside bearings. At present, layer growth defects prevent sensors from being reproducibly fabricated.   Figure: Shaft with thin-film force sensor (draft)   Instrumentation For the fabrication and optimization of layers (among other things, for thin-film force sensors), the Scientific Instrumentation Section has various coating installations and various analytical methods at its disposal.   PVD coating installation of type LS320S of Von Ardenne make DC and RF coating, multichannel gas control (N2, Ar, O2) multitarget implementation with rotary device Figure: Thin-film installation (magnetron sputter principle)

© Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt Page created: 2001-05-31, last update: 2006-12-04, Holger Drösemeyer