Novel design for an ultra high precision 3D micro probe for CMM applications

AbstractThe paper reports on the design and testing of several new piezoresistive ultra high precision 3D microprobes for the use in coordinate measuring machines (CMM). The microprobes are all composed of three primary components a piezoresitive sensing element and stylus with probing sphere. The sensing element consists of a bossed KOH-etched silicon membrane with diffused piezoresistors. Several designs were investigated to increase sensor sensitivity while improving the anisotropy of stiffness. The initial design used a Wheatstone bridge piezoresistor configuration with a solid sensing membrane. Additionally, apertures where added to the solid silicon membrane to increase stress within the piezoresistors which untimely led to higher probe tip sensitivity. To improve the stiffness in the xy direction of the probe tip a double triangle design was tested that bonded two sensor chips back to back. This was found reduce the ratio between the stiffness in xy- and z-direction from 32 initially to 2

Personalized online information search and visualization

BACKGROUND: The rapid growth of online publications such as the Medline and other sources raises the questions how to get the relevant information efficiently. It is important, for a bench scientist, e.g., to monitor related publications constantly. It is also important, for a clinician, e.g., to access the patient records anywhere and anytime. Although time-consuming, this kind of searching procedure is usually similar and simple. Likely, it involves a search engine and a visualization interface. Different words or combination reflects different research topics. The objective of this study is to automate this tedious procedure by recording those words/terms in a database and online sources, and use the information for an automated search and retrieval. The retrieved information will be available anytime and anywhere through a secure web server. RESULTS: We developed such a database that stored searching terms, journals and et al., and implement a piece of software for searching the medical subject heading-indexed sources such as the Medline and other online sources automatically. The returned information were stored locally, as is, on a server and visible through a Web-based interface. The search was performed daily or otherwise scheduled and the users logon to the website anytime without typing any words. The system has potentials to retrieve similarly from non-medical subject heading-indexed literature or a privileged information source such as a clinical information system. The issues such as security, presentation and visualization of the retrieved information were thus addressed. One of the presentation issues such as wireless access was also experimented. A user survey showed that the personalized online searches saved time and increased and relevancy. Handheld devices could also be used to access the stored information but less satisfactory. CONCLUSION: The Web-searching software or similar system has potential to be an efficient tool for both bench scientists and clinicians for their daily information needs