Chippenham company leads US public safety technology revolution
Key step to a US national network
IPWireless in Chippenham has used a show in the US to launch a new communications system for federal government and public safety applications that for the first time is creating a national network.
The company, which has over 100 engineers in the town, develops technology and systems that are part of the latest LTE communications standard. Its LTE system will be used by Adams County in Colorado for their Public Safety Network in the 700MHz that has been allocated for a national US broadband public safety network.
The network is one of the first in the country to be deployed in 700MHz and will be integrated and deployed by IPWireless’ system integrator partner, Raytheon, to provide the county’s Police, Fire and EMS first responder agencies with a dedicated wireless broadband network that enhances public safety and improves citywide data communications, while lowering overall communication costs.
“After our extensive review of potential LTE solutions for the Adams County 700MHz LTE network, it was clear that IPWireless had leveraged its experience and expertise in government mobile broadband and 3GPP technologies to develop an LTE solution that better meets the unique needs of government customers,” said Bill Malone, Executive Director of Adams County Communications. “The IPWireless LTE Solution allows us to meet our immediate requirements to support efficient communications for our 1,500 diversified users and will also scale to support neighbouring counties, the state of Colorado, or even the surrounding region as part of the nationwide public safety network.”
New products
The company also launched a range of new systems. The EPC3000 is designed to support small-to-large local and regional networks, and scales as government agencies needs evolve to support large state-wide network deployments and ultimately, an interoperable national public safety network. The EPC200 is designed to support single cell deployments for military applications, private compounds or disaster response. Both are designed to work with other LTE networks.
The company has also developed a new digital and radio frequency card that supports the latest LTE tecnhnology, called Release 8, and is software upgradable to Release 9. This can be deployed outdoors at the tower top or building rooftop, at the base of a tower, or in an equipment room, shelter or outdoor cabinet. It is also ideally suited to rapid deployment disaster response networks and military tactical deployments.
“We are dedicated to helping government agencies maximize their spectrum assets especially during these challenging economic times,” said Bill Jones, CEO of IPWireless. “Our LTE solutions provide the performance, scalability and flexibility government agencies require so they can deploy mobile broadband networks more easily and with less operational overhead than is traditionally associated with network build outs.”
The company also offers LTE modem devices, including PCI Express Mini cards and USB sticks that support band 14 (public safety and D-block) in 700 MHz as well as a wide range of commercial bands. These LTE modems can be supplied with other specialized public safety user devices, including devices that are backwards compatible to 3G commercial networks.
An IPWireless Band Class 14 LTE USB modem is currently being tested on the LTE emergency communications demonstration network in Boulder, Colorado. The demonstration network is being managed by the Public Safety Communications Research program established by the US Department of Commerce and is intended to provide a common demonstration site for manufacturers, carriers, and public safety agencies to test and evaluate advanced broadband communications equipment and software for emergency first responders.
Kyoto delegation visits Bristol to explore research collaboration
A top-level delegation from Kyoto University visited Bristol as part of an ongoing relationship aimed at exploring collaborative research opportunities. The visit aims to showcase some of Bristol’s expertise in environmental change, nuclear research and composite materials, and builds on previous collaborative work in Information and Communication Technology (ICT), and clinical translational research (TR).
During the stay, the team, led by Professor Kiyoshi Yoshikawa, Executive Vice-President for Research, visited the University’s National Composites Centre to see its innovation in high-tech materials and example of university – industry collaboration. They saw some of the groundbreaking work being carried out in the Cabot Institute, which is developing risk and resilience models for major catastrophes, linking the environment, critical infrastructure and the insurance industry.
The delegates met with academics from the Faculties of Engineering, Social Sciences and Law and Medical Faculties, and toured the School of Chemisty’s state-of-the-art laboratories.“In order to tackle the increasing challenges that are likely to have a major impact on people’s lives in the future, it is important for Bristol to collaborate with leading research universities such as Kyoto to harness the research excellence at both institutions, and to explore collaboration with industry partners,” said Professor Guy Orpen, Pro Vice-Chancellor for Research and Enterprise. “The relationship between Bristol and Kyoto continues to mature and I am convinced will lead to even further interaction, collaboration and activities between academics and students at both universities.”
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Exeter develops magneto-optical sensor for detecting malaria
Researchers at Exeter University have developed a handheld instrument that can rapidly diagnose malaria. It uses magneto-optics to detect the hemozoin crystals produced as a byproduct of malaria parasite digestion of hemoglobin in the red blood cell and so avoids having to take blood to sample.
Phase I of the project developed the hand-held diagnostic device that can detect malarial infection at well below 100 parasitized red blood cells per microliter in less than two minutes in the lab. In Phase II, simpler yet improved second generation devices will undergo further development and clinical testing under field conditions until they can meet the sensitivity and specificity standards required of a test for malaria.
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Centre opens for road-testing intelligent transport systems – E & T Magazine
Centre opens for road-testing intelligent transport systems in Nuneaton – close to the region and a key resource for system testing
via Centre opens for road-testing intelligent transport systems – E & T Magazine.
BAE Systems recruiting hundreds as part of investment in skills – E & T Magazine
BAE Systems recruiting hundreds as part of investment in skills – E & T Magazine.
Southampton research brings smart gold nanoparticles closer to a treatment for cancer
Scientists at the University of Southampton have developed smart nanomaterials which can disrupt the blood supply to cancerous tumours and be used in nanosurgery.
The team of researchers, led by Physics lecturer Dr Antonios Kanaras, showed that a small dose of gold nanoparticles can activate or inhibit genes that are involved in angiogenesis – a complex process responsible for the supply of oxygen and nutrients to most types of cancer.
“The peptide-functionalised gold nanoparticles that we synthesised are very effective in the deliberate activation or inhibition of angiogenic genes,” said Dr Kanaras.
The team went a step further to control the degree of damage to the endothelial cells using laser illumination. Endothelial cells construct the interior of blood vessels and play a pivotal role in angiogenesis. They also found that the gold particles could be used as effective tools in cellular nanosurgery.
“We have found that gold nanoparticles can have a dual role in cellular manipulation. Applying laser irradiation, we can use the nanoparticles either to destroy endothelial cells, as a measure to cut the blood supply to tumours, or to deliberately open up the cellular membrane in order to deliver a drug efficiently,” said Dr Kanaras.
TopicLogic looks to shine out of the cloud in the US
Bristol startup TopicLogic is looking to raise runds for the launch of its cloud-based software in San Francisco later this year.
The company develops a web-based service that manages online storage such as Evernote and Dropbox. It has already raised £100,00 in angel funding and is looking for £250,000 to support the product and for online marketing, with the launch at the TechCrunch event in September.
The tool is already being used in a trial of barristers in London to organize their legal documents.
peter@topiclogic.com
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Brightpearl aims at the US from Bristol
Bristol startup Brightpearl is aiming to make waves in the US.
The company raised £3m last month and has starting gaining key customers in the US for its software that dramatically simplifies backend systems for online retailers and wholesalers with integrated web-based software for accounting, CRM, stock control and ecommerce. This builds on £1m investment in 2008. In the last 12 months the company has moved from 100 to 500 customers.
“What we want to be is a success story for the South West in cloud-based software, and hopefully we can build a really successful US business from Bristol,” said US entrepreneur and CEO Salman Malik. “It’s a fantastic ride.”
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- Brightpearl Scores Further $5M For Its Cloud-based Solution For SMEs (techcrunch.com)
- SETsquared showcases cutting-edge SW technologies (swinnovation.co.uk)
- SETsquared links up with local angel group as funding recovers (swinnovation.co.uk)
- Bristol startup Gnodal opens US office as it launches its first products (swinnovation.co.uk)
Bristol starts offering its research for free
Following the ground breaking study into offering IP with minimal licensing restrictions, Bristol University has started offering IP from its research in computer science, wireless technology, computer vision and semiconductor technology to companies under a new licensing scheme.
“As early adopters of the Easy Access IP model we have a real opportunity for companies to move our innovations into the marketplace more quickly and easily than before,” said Dr Neil Bradshaw, Director of Enterprise at the University of Bristol. “This is a significant advance for our Universities and one where we are leading the world.”
The ‘Easy Access IP’ project aims to increase engagement between universities and industry and speed up the transfer of academic knowledge and expertise into the hands of commercial partners who can then develop it to benefit the economy and society as a whole.
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It is also offering IP in biomedical technology:
The IP can be licensed from here with exclusive or non-exclusive licenses.
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SETsquared links up with local angel group as funding recovers
The SETsquared Business Acceleration Centre in Bristol has teamed up with the SouthWest Angel Investor Network (SWAIN) in a revenue sharing deal,. SWAIN, which brings together individuals to back projects with funding from £25,000 to £750,000, will have an office in the centre and be the ‘funder in residence’.
Early stage companies have struggled to raise money n the last year, says Centre Director Nick Sturge. In 2009 companies in the centre raised £20m, but last year it is fell to just £1.7m. So far this year those early stage ventures have raised £6.9m, and the Centre is closing its doors to new business as it is full until September.
The Centre will share the fees that SWAIN charge to arrange the deals, and will feed the income back into supporting new companies, says Sturge.
“This more formal partnership is the natural progression after so many years of working together,” he said. SWAIN started six years ago and its first three deal were with the Centre. “We have done well with venture capital invesmtent recently but there are many companies for whom angel investment is more appropriate and we are excited about accelerating this,” he said.
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- Bristol startup Gnodal opens US office as it launches its first products (swinnovation.co.uk)
SETsquared showcases cutting-edge SW technologies
An innovative system that aims to convert waste water to protein, creating algae farms for the fish and animal feed markets, and a spherical musical instrument that glows were just two of the pioneering technologies showcased this week in Bristol.
Some of the South West’s most innovative technology companies from the SETsquared Business Acceleration Centres at the Universities of Bath, Bristol and Exeter presented their businesses to large corporate companies, prospective investors and grant-funders.
Danny Wootton, Innovation Director of Logica UK, gave the keynote speech, and described the importance of corporate and early stage companies working together: ‘In today’s economic environment, it’s clear that businesses doing everything themselves is a thing of the past. We see huge benefits from early-stage companies leveraging the routes to market and scale offered by a corporate and in return a corporate can tap into a constant stream of great innovative solutions and services from smaller businesses.’
Nick Sturge, SETsquared Centre Director, commented: ‘The key to success in any organisation is partnership: we are now working with corporates and investment groups to really accelerate the growth of companies we support. The creation of our joint technology investor network with SWAIN should double the amount of angel investments that happen.’
During the evening, eight selected companies entered a 60-second ‘Elevator Pitch’ competition to promote their businesses. The audience, of venture capitalists, SWAIN investors, representatives of the grant-funding and venture capital communities from London and the South West, senior executives from major corporates and supporters and mentors of the SETsquared activity, voted for the best pitch.
Aragreen (UK) Limited won the most number of votes and secured the top prize of £500 and the Veale Wasbrough Vizards Elevator Pitch trophy. By utilising a combination of cutting-edge production technology and what would otherwise be wasted nutrients (mainly phosphates and nitrates) from waste water, Aragreen aims to redefine the value proposition of algae, as a sustainable and cost-competitive source of protein, for commodity markets.
A further eight ventures that are supported by the SETsquared Centres at Bath, Bristol and Exeter showcased their work, including ‘nu desine’, which makes the Alpha Sphere, a novel new musical instrument that brings the musician away from the computer, and back to the instrument.
Three of the SETsquared’s 52 current members are based at the renowned Pervasive Media Studio in Bristol and receiving business support from the SETsquared Centre, demonstrating the value being created at the interface of creative industries and high-technology.
Dr Neil Bradshaw, a director of the SETsquared Partnership, commented: ‘This is the best city and region in the country to create a technology company and the event shows how universities, large companies and investors are all coming together to help entrepreneurs make these businesses even more successful.’
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Exeter pioneers 3D printing in chocolate
Manufacturing and retail could get a boost from a newly-developed 3D chocolate printer.
The University of Exeter has developed a way of using the new 3D printing technology to make customised, edible treats from chocolate.
The project, in collaboration with the Brunel University and software developer Delcam, is funded as part of the Research Council UK Cross-Research Council Digital Economy Programme and presents many challenges. Chocolate is not an easy material to work with because it requires accurate heating and cooling cycles. These variables then have to be integrated with the correct flow rates for the 3D printing process. Researchers overcame these difficulties with the development of new temperature and heating control systems.
“This is an imaginative application of two developing technologies and a good example of how creative research can be applied to create new manufacturing and retail ideas,” said EPSRC Chief Executive Professor Dave Delpy. ““By combining developments in engineering with the commercial potential of the digital economy we can see a glimpse into the future of new markets – creating new jobs and, in this case, sweet business opportunities.”
3D printing is a technology where a three-dimensional object is created by building up successive layers of material. The technology is already used in industry to produce plastic and metal products, but this is the first time the principles have been applied to chocolate.
Research leader Dr Liang Hao of the University of Exeter’s College of Engineering, Mathematics and Physical Sciences said: “What makes this technology special is that users will be able to design and make their own products. In the long term it could be developed to help consumers custom-design many products from different materials but we’ve started with chocolate as it is readily available, low cost and non-hazardous. There is also no wastage as any unused or spoiled material can be eaten, of course! From reproducing the shape of a child’s favourite toy to a friend’s face, the possibilities are endless and only limited by our creativity.”
A consumer-friendly interface to design the chocolate objects is also in development. Researchers hope that an online retail business will host a website for users to upload their chocolate designs for 3D printing and delivery.
Designs need not start from scratch, the web-based utility will also allow users to see designs created by others to modify for their own use.
“In future this kind of technology will allow people to produce and design many other products such as jewellery or household goods. Eventually we may see many mass produced products replaced by unique designs created by the customer,” said Hao.
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Innovation forum looks at the future of Integrated Transport
Integrated Transport…what the future holds, Wed 29 June, 09:00 – 16:00, Leigh Court, Bristol BS8 3RE
Within our complex transport infrastructure moving people, goods and data efficiently and securely, where are the upcoming opportunities for technology companies to engage? Specific areas of opportunity may include intelligent transport systems, goods handling and tracking, infrastructure management, marine systems, telemetry, security and safety and many more, and the SW Microelectronics iNet, in partnership with ESPKTN and NMI, is holding an innovation forum to bring together South West based Microelectronics companies to identify these opportunities and generate several project ideas that the iNet can directly support through feasibility study stage and beyond….
- Receive exclusive access to bespoke research
- Find new partners to collaborate with
- Stay informed on future market directions
- Identify new market opportunties
- Extend your network and open up opportunties to gain new customers, employees, investors and advisors
- Work with other members to access new services and facilities
- Project ideas generated by the event will be eligible to apply for iNet funded support
Who should attend:
Transport companies, technology suppliers, researchers, entrepreneurs, investors or anyone passionate about identifying new opportunities in the South West.
Agenda
09:00 – 09:30 Coffee and Registration
09:30 – 09:40 Welcome: Rick Chapman, Microelectronics iNet
09:40 – 10:25 Keynote Speaker: Professor Eric Sampson CBE, former DfT civil servant; Visiting Professor at Newcastle and City (London) Universities; Ambassador, and former Chairman, of ITS UK.
10:25 – 10:55 Talk 1: Stephen Hart, Technology Strategy Board
10:55 – 11:30 Coffee
11:30 – 11:45 Talk 2: Glenn Lyons, Professor of Transport and Society at the University of the West of England
11:45 – 12:00 Workshop introduction
12:00 – 13:00 Workshop 1
13:00 – 14:00 Lunch
14:00 – 14:30 Talk 3: Andy Graham, White Willow Consulting
14:30 – 15:30 Workshop 2
15:30 – 16:00 Wrap up & next steps
16:00 Close
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Bristol lawyers run IP and patent primer course free to iNet users
“Have you got a patent for that?”, Bristol Thursday 30th June 2011, 13:00 – 17:30
Withers & Rogers is running a half-day intensive session takes a fresh, accessible, workshop-based approach to the issues of identifying and exploiting IP rights. The primer, supported by the SW Microelectronics iNet, is looks at the entire innovation process, from concept through to commercialisation and set out the context in which IP rights arise and how and why they are useful.
A series of interactive sessions will be run to heighten focus on key stages of the product development process. Content will include invention, design, branding, how best to exploit innovation, the sensitive issue of infringement and where to find financial support.
A number of formal presentations will be provided looking at patents and confidentiality; the differences between registered and unregistered designs; trade mark creation, clearance and registration; licensing, franchising, sale and assignment; IP litigation, in particular process and costs; and finally, access to finance and insurance.
The primer is intended to provide the knowledge required to protect investment in R&D and brand building activity so as to maximise revenue and is aimed at anyone within an innovative organisation wanting to achieve greater value from their innovation. The course is also suitable for anyone wanting to learn about or refresh their knowledge of intellectual property.
Detailed course materials will provide a useful take home reference guide to IP for future use.
How to appy?
Places are limited. Simply reply by email to admin@withersrogers.com mentioning SW Microelectronics iNet, and your place will be free or charge. Precise joining instructions and a map will be sent to you no later than one week prior to the event.
Timetable
* 13:00pm Registration and coffee.
* 13:30pm What is Intellectual Property? Discover IP through three every day objects.
* 13:50pm The Innovation Process: Going from Concept to Commercialisation.
* 14:00pm Invention: Confidentiality and Patents – how they work.
* 14:40pm Design: Registered Designs, UDR and Copyright – what is the difference?
* 15:10pm Refreshment break.
* 15:25pm Branding: Trade mark creation, clearance and registration.
* 15:55pm Exploitation: licensing, franchising, sale and assignment.
* 16:20pm Enforcement: IP infringement issues & litigation.
* 16:55pm Financial support and reward: Access to finance, insurance and other
* 17:20pm Questions and answers session.
* 17:30pm Drinks & networking.
Composites Centre appoints Chief Executive
The University of Bristol has appointed Peter Chivers as the Chief Executive of the National Composites Centre (NCC) confirming his interim role.
“I am delighted that Peter has been appointed as the Chief Executive of the NCC. He’s carried out the role on an interim basis for the past 15 months and in that time he has had many achievements, not least in ensuring that the NCC was one of the partners in the national High Value Manufacturing Technology and Innovation Centre,” said Professor Guy Orpen, the University’s Pro Vice-Chancellor for Research and Enterprise, and chair of the NCC’s Steering Board. “I am looking forward to continuing to work closely with Peter in the coming years as the NCC forges a place for itself in the growing and exciting global composites industry.”
“This is a fantastic opportunity. The NCC is in the right place, at the right time in the right industry,” said Chivers. “Working with colleagues throughout the country, my aim is that the UK maintains and enhances its position in the world-wide composites industry. There are many challenges in the coming months and years, and I am relishing securing the NCC’s future in this exciting landscape.”
He was previously vice president of research and technology at Airbus and Director of Engineering at GKN Aerospace.
The NCC is part of the first Technology Innovation Centre – for high value manufacturing. The HVM TIC will provide an integrated capability and embrace all forms of manufacture using metals and composites, in addition to process manufacturing technologies and bio-processing. It will draw on excellent university research to accelerate the commercialisation of new and emerging manufacturing technologies. This was the first of an elite network of Technology and Innovation Centres that are being established by the Technology Strategy Board with over £200m of Government investment overall.
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Bath fitness software startup sold
SETsquared-supported Fitronics bought by large Canadian Software conglomerate
Bath-based software developer Fitronics has been sold to Canadian conglomerate Constellation Software through its subsidiary, Gary Jonas Computing Ltd for an undisclosed sum.
The company is a leading supplier to customers for the leisure industry, and provides solutions, processes and training packages to improve customer experience and loyalty. It has 400 customers around the world, including Fitness First, Holmes Place and Reebok Sports Club and through The Retention People (TRP), is leading researcher in leisure customer retention and a provider of a range software tools and services to help manage customer experience and retention. Fitronics also operates yourhealthtrainer (yht), an online tool enables health club members to track their workouts and view their performance.
The company was started by Alister Rollins in his final year of a Mech Eng degree at the University of Bath. SETsquared provided mentoring, financial support and offices for the company at its Business Acceleration Centre in Bath. In 2002, when Rollins was only 20, the company won the SETsquared business plan competition prize of £5,000. Since then, it has attracted funds from the University Enterprise Development Fund, bank funding and investment from the Sulis Seedcorn Fund. It also attended SETsquared’s annual Investment Showcase event, which provides a platform for early-stage businesses to meet potential investors.
“Without the support from SETsquared and the University of Bath’s Innovation Centre, we would not have been able to grow so quickly and profitably,” said Alister Rollins, Founder of Fitronics.
Simon Bond, Centre Director at SETsquared, said: “I’m delighted that Alister and his team have been so successful, and this profitable exit for a start-up is testament to the ability of SETsquared and the University of Bath to help early-stage businesses develop and grow.”
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- UPDATE 2-Constellation Software’s review may lead to sale-shareholder (reuters.com)
XMOS First to Move AVB Software Into Open Source
Drives collaborative development of standard media streaming between audio visual devices
Bristol chip designer XMOS is transferring its entire audio-visual software reference design into an Open Source Project to drive the adoption of the technology. This is the industry’s first open source implementation of the popular AVB standard for streaming sound and video over Ethernet standard.
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Wave power drives SETSquared international studentship
A student from Southampton has won a place in the prestigious Kauffman Global Scholars Program.
Alistair Shepherd, 22, is in the final year of a Masters degree in Aeronautics and Astronautics at the University of Southampton and will be the only UK student participating in the Program in 2011. Applicants from across the 75,000 students in the SETsquared partnership of Bath, Bristol, Exter, Surrey and Southampton were assessed on their ideas for high-growth businesses, and Shepherd’s winning entry was based around an innovative approach to exploiting wave energy. The judging panel chose Shepherd because they saw great potential both in him, and in the wave power device.
Shepherd’s innovation uses the motion of ships to generate electricity in a device that is inside the ship itself. As the device is not immersed in water, it overcomes the problems of sea damage that affect other wave power solutions.
“The potential for this approach is enormous – wave power could replace diesel auxiliary generators on millions of ships worldwide, saving money for the ship owners and reducing carbon emissions,” said Shepherd. “I’m an engineer by trade, and the Global Scholars Program is going to be great experience and will help me develop the wave power device.”
The 2012 Global Scholars Program, a program of the US-based Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, will run from January to June 2012, and provides participants with an opportunity to enhance their entrepreneurial skills and ideas, competences and capabilities. The Global Scholars Program exposes students to some of America’s most innovative entrepreneurial professors, experts, universities and companies. The Program includes six months in the US, funded by SETsquared, with an elite group of Global Scholars picked from other countries.
As part of the program, Shepherd will also spend a year as ‘entrepreneur in residence’ at the University of Southampton, enabling him to develop his business concept with support from the SETsquared team and includes a paid role to help advocate and develop student enterprise activities across the SETsquared partnership.
New chip for remote ECG monitoring
The new Electric Potential Integrated Circuit (EPIC) sensor is a completely new area of sensor technology that measures changes in an electric field in a similar way to a magnetometer detecting changes in a magnetic field. The sensor requires no physical or resistive contact to make measurements and so will enable innovative new products to be made such as medical scanners that are simply held close to a patient’s chest to obtain a detailed ECG reading or devices that can ‘see’ through walls. The sensor can be integrated on a chip with other features such as data converters, digital signal processing and wireless communications capability.
“EPIC technology is the most exciting addition to our expanding range of smart sensors,” said Francois Pelletier, Plessey Semiconductors’ Regional Sales Manager Americas. “We already have demonstration kits which are available now for customers to evaluate the enormous possibilities of this innovative new field of sensor technology that is turning science fiction into actual products.”
The technology works at normal room temperatures and functions as an ultra high, input impedance sensor that acts as a highly stable, extremely sensitive, contactless digital voltmeter to measure tiny changes in the electric field down to milliVolts. EPIC technology is so sensitive that it can detect these changes at a distance and even through a solid wall. Thus, for example, in a fire situation, it could be possible to determine if there any people in a smoke filled room before opening the door.
The first EPIC product, the PS25150, is an ultra high impedance, solid state ECG (electrocardiograph) sensor for applications such as non-critical patient monitoring, emergency response diagnostics, sports and health products and will be sampling in September. It can be used as a dry contact ECG sensor without the need for potentially dangerous low impedance circuits across the heart. Key to this is that EPIC detects the voltage change in muscles and nerves without electrical contact so there is no need to have electrodes on or in the body to detect current changes.
Silicon South West Newsletter – Issue 30 May 2011
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