Fraunhofer IPMS

RTD Perfomer
Contact Person: Heinrich Grueger
Homepage: www.ipms.fraunhofer.de

General: Fraunhofer IPMS carries out developments in the fields of microelectronic, micro-systems technology and organic materials and systems in Dresden. Approximately 250 employees work with the latest equipment to solve customer specific problems in the following areas: light modulating micro-systems, organic materials and systems, sensors, actuators, distributed systems, image processing and image transmission, as well as digital and analogue circuit design. Fraunhofer IPMS also operates two clean rooms for manufacturing and pilot fabrication of silicon based Micro-Opto-Electro-Mechanical Systems (MOEMS) and Organic Light Emitting Diode (OLED) based devices.

Expertise: Fraunhofer IPMS is a leading R&D institute in the field of optoelectronic systems. It combines competencies like optical system design, optical assembly, electronics development and software implementation at one place. Hence, systems like the envisioned tip quality sensor can be completely developed taking dependencies between the different multi-disciplinary components and tasks into account. IPMS has shown its capabilities in the sector of optoelectronic systems for industrial quality control by several installations at car manufacturers and suppliers operating 24 hours seven days a week. Equipment and facilities for testing those kinds of sensors are available at IPMS, including machinery for assembly of optical parts and laboratories for optical and electrical testing. All R&D work at Fraunhofer IPMS is carried out according to rules defined by ISO 9001, a prerequisite for automotive related development.

Role in project: IPMS will be involved as an RTD provider, mainly in WP3 which focuses on the development of the tip quality sensor. During WP3 IPMS will define the specification for the sensor sub-system, evaluate different optical sensing principles and carry out the development of the tip quality sensor. Of course, participation in other WPs, like WP1 for the definition of the entire SmartDress system and WP4 and WP5 regarding system integration is also required. Finally, IPMS will take actions to disseminate the project results in WP7.

Benefits expected: The next generation of SWANTEC modelling software is planned to extend the scope of the product to include predictions on electrode tip performance and lifetime; as a function of consumables used and parameters adopted. This will be one of the key outputs of TWI during WP1; enabling SWANTEC to extend the performance of their products maintaining their client base, and extending their consultancy support business to new customers. This is expected to generate a gross profit of 4M (5 years post project).

Key personnel:
Dr. Heinrich Grueger studied physics at the University of Hannover where he specialized in plasma physics. From 1994 to 1998 he was employed by the Institute of Solid State and Materials Research (IFW) Dresden and the Technical University Dresden. In 1999 he was employed by the Fraunhofer (IPMS) at Dresden, where he works in the field of sensors. Since 2000 he is group manager and responsible for sensor system developments.

Dr. Markus Schwarzenberg studied mechanical engineering at the TU "Otto von Guericke" Magdeburg from 1988 to 1991, and information technology at the TU Dresden from 1991 to 1996. He obtained a Doctoral degree in Electrical Engineering from Technical University Dresden in 2000, Specialising in audio signal and image processing, he is currently working in the fields of software development and system integration. He has been working at the Fraunhofer IPMS since 1996.