MicroStrain
Microminiature Sensors

MicroStrain products are ISO 9000 compliant. Using a mix of in-house assembly and testing and ISO 9000 certified manufacturers, MicroStrain offers quality products while maintaining cost efficiencies. The calibration systems used by MicroStrain® are traceable to National Institute of Standards and Technology for quality assurance throughout the sensor range.

MicroStrain is committed to quality and innovation throughout the company. In 1998, MicroStrain® received the prestigious National Tibbetts Award for exemplary achievement in the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program. MicroStrain® also received business innovator awards from the State of Vermont and has been selected for several product innovation awards by Sensors Magazine, a leading authority in the sensor market.


Sensors

Displacement

Displacement Sensor MicroStrain has developed and patented temperature compensated differential variable reluctance transducers (DVRT). Due to their extremely small size, high accuracy and ability to withstand high temperatures, temperature gradients, saline and pressurized oil environments, the MicroStrain® DVRT stands out from other sensors in the market.
MicroStrain's sophisticated sensor technology has applications with medical instruments, health monitoring of civil structures (bridges, dams, buildings) and aerospace sensing.

In the automotive industry, MicroStrain's DVRTs provide feedback for electronic valve control in automotive engines, an advance that will allow the elimination of camshafts, and permit more precise control of valve timing. International Truck & Engine Corp has used these sensors in prototype engines and plans to replace camshafts with electronic valve control by 2007.

In the medical arena, MicroStrain® has applied its sensor technology to build improved miniaturized implantable ligament strain sensors for the University of Vermont and biomedical researchers worldwide. MicroStrain's sensors were also used to test the Rear Release System ski boot technology developed by Pierce Instruments of Stowe.

Orientation

Orientation Sensor MicroStrain's inclinometers and orientation sensing modules combine micro electro mechanical sensors (MEMS) and smart embedded microcontrollers to create angle sensors with both static and dynamic response. Developed for use as feedback for the re-animation of paralyzed limbs, these systems are now being used in unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and other military applications.

Wireless

Wireless Sensor Leading early sensor development in wireless technology, MicroStrain® launched the Micro Datalogging Transceiver in 2001. This is a high-speed system that enables wireless data collection from up to 8 channels of sensor input. It can be triggered to initiate data collection remotely or by any specified sensor exceeding a programmable threshold.

The scalable Wireless Web Sensor Network allows the transmission of data from 1,000 unique sensors to one web based receiver, enabling massive amounts of data to be shared globally in real time. This network can be used in structural, agricultural, environmental, military and industrial applications. The system can not only collect data from hundreds of nodes, but can then, utilizing the web based system, allow the information to be shared with an unlimited number of users with secure access. For example, in an earthquake situation, the sensors can report information to construction engineers as well as fire, police and safety workers to intelligently assist critical emergency response.