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     Your update on ingeniously small motion systems
Summer 2008
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Thank you for subscribing and welcome to New Scale News, your quarterly update on miniature motion technology and applications from New Scale Technologies.

This issue features two new technical papers on SQUIGGLE motor applications. Let us know what you think!  Email us with your comments and questions.
 
In this issue
Application: Implantable hearing aids
Application: Ultra-thin autofocus cameras
New Scale expands global sales network
Fourth SQUIGGLE motor patent
New Scale named "cool vendor"
Application: Implantable hearing aids
hearing Researchers in Germany are investigating improved implantable hearing aids using a SQUIGGLE motor. Implantable hearing aids transmit sound waves mechanically to the ossicular chain using an electromechancial transducer, resulting in superior amplification and sound quality compared to classical hearing aids.

A key performance parameter is the applied initial load of the transducer towards the ossicular chain. Currently this load is adjusted by the surgeon during implantation using a micrometer screw, with limited accuracy due to the screw's relatively large linear motion. Furthermore, no readjustment after the surgery is possible. Therefore hearing aid performance decreases as the bone tissue grows, causing the initial load between transducer and ossicular chain to change.

The researchers describe an active positioning system that would allow the adjustment of the transducer in situ at any given time, preserving optimal performance. The system technical requirements were investigated and summarized in a paper presented at Actuator 2008 in June: Autonomous Positioning System for Implantable Hearing Aids Using Piezo Motors by D. Kaltenbacher and A. Sch�fer, Fraunhofer Institut f�r Produktionstechnik und Automatisierung (IPA) in Stuttgart, Germany and J. Rodriguez Jorge, Universit�tsklinikum T�bingen, T�bingen, Germany.

Visit www.actuator.de to purchase the conference proceedings.

Application: Ultra-thin autofocus cameras
phone camera This year, mobile phone makers will manufacture more than 200 million camera-phone handsets that have a micro actuator for automatic focus (AF). More than 10 million will have a second micro actuator for optical zoom (OZ).
New Scale's SQUIGGLE motor meets the long stroke requirements for optical zoom as well as the precision requirements for autofocus, and is being incorporated into tiny AF+OZ phone cameras.

Now, New Scale has developed another ultrasonic piezo motor for of Ultra-Thin Auto Focus (UTAF) cameras. The a new patent-pending UTAF motor saves space and height by combining the motor with the linear guide mechanism and enables overall camera thickness less than 5 mm.

At Actuator 2008, we presented a paper describing the use of the SQUIGGLE motor for AF+OZ modules, and the UTAF motor for ultra-thin AF cameras.  Email us for a copy of the UTAF paper, or visit www.actuator.de to purchase the full conference proceedings.
 
New Scale expands global sales force with austriamicrosystems
SQUIGGLE motor New Scale Technologies has named its strategic partner austriamicrosystems as a global, non-exclusive agent for its patented SQUIGGLE motors, micro motion systems and other products. The agreement significantly expands New Scale's global sales reach while enabling austriamicrosystems to introduce additional innovative products to its customers.

austriamicrosystems has a global sales network with approximately 100 direct sales engineers and field applications engineers (FAEs) in 19 offices worldwide, spread across Asia, Europe, the USA and South Africa.
 
austriamicrosystems is a leading worldwide designer and manufacturer of high performance analog ICs for communications, industry, medical and automotive applications. New Scale develops and manufactures miniature motion systems including the piezoelectric SQUIGGLE motor, the world's smallest linear motor. The two companies formed a partnership early in 2008 to create tiny closed-loop motion systems integrating SQUIGGLE motors with single-chip motor controllers and position sensor ASICs.
Fourth SQUIGGLE motor patent issued
SQUIGGLE motor inventor David Henderson New Scale Technologies has received its fourth U.S. patent for its miniature piezoelectric SQUIGGLE motors. This latest patent covers unique embodiments of SQUIGGLE motor technology that enable innovative form factors for micro digital cameras. It delivers significant advantages over voice coil motors currently used in these systems, and further demonstrates our team's capability to deliver customized motion module solutions. US patent # 7,339,306 was issued by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office on March 4, 2008 to inventor David Henderson.

See more patent details on our website.
 
New Scale named "Cool Vendor" by leading analyst firm
Gartner Logo New Scale Technologies has been included in the list of "Cool Vendors" in the "Cool Vendors in Semiconductors, 2008" report by Gartner, Inc.[1] The report identifies "innovations that promise to revolutionize electronic systems: integrated Wi-Fi flash cards, noise suppression technology for mobile communications, emerging memories, piezo-electric motors and the conversion of internal semiconductor intellectual property for external licensing."

[1] Gartner, Inc. "Cool Vendors in Semiconductors, 2008" by Jim Tully et al, April 18, 2008

Read the full news release on our website.
 
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