Development of sensors, instrumentation and systems (CD6) Center offers services for the development of projects of technological innovation in this sector

Created with the aim of providing solutions to the technological needs of the business sector in the field of optical engineering, the center of development of sensors, instrumentation and systems (CD6) develops sensors, instruments and systems tailored to a wide variety of industrial sectors. In the specific field metal, the CD6 makes measuring without contact, the control equipment on line of production and the advice on the design of end product in very specific cases.

The CD6 is a technological centre set up in 1997 with the aim of structuring the activities in the field of optical engineering developed various groups of researchers from the Campus of the Polytechnic University of Catalonia in Terrassa. The experience in the development of projects of research and technology transfer to companies in these groups goes back to more than 25 years.

The activity of the researchers of the CD6 has been recognized by the Cirit (interdepartmental Comissió de Recerca i Innovació Tecnològica, Generalitat de Catalunya) with the distinction as "Research consolidated Group" since his first call in 1993 and is a member of the network of centres of technological innovation of the Cidem (Centre d'Informació i Desenvolupament Empresarial)(, Generalitat de Catalunya) since 2002.

The activity of the CD6 focuses on developing research and technology applications in the field of optical engineering, in the broadest sense of the term. Thus, the specific areas in which these activities are as follows:

• Design of optical systems and sensors.
• Development of instrumentation.
• Optical metrology.
• Laser applications.
• Technology of color.
• Radiometry and photometry.
• Biomedical instrumentation.

Surface topography (3D map) of high-precision of a coin of 1 euro.

In 2001, the CD6 redefined its management with the dual intention model enable growth of its activities and, at the same time, focus on the end customer. East model management, from a quality system certified by Cidem and that it will be certified with the ISO 9001 standard in 2005, has allowed, inter alia, implement a standardization of the methodology of project management and alsoand set annual goals that measure the activity of the Centre as a whole. These two changes have directly affected in the amount and the quality of the overall activity of the Centre and also in the quality perceived by the customers of the CD6.

Other great pillar of this process of professionalization has been the gradual formation of a team of highly qualified and committed to the objectives of the CD6. The team of the CD6 is currently composed 11 researchers, 8 technicians and 3 people dedicated to the management and administration of the Centre and 8 students who develop their theses within the framework of research projects and technology transfer from the Center.

It should be noted the progressive internationalization of the Centre with attracting customers from around the world. This process has been heavily reinforced by three companies spin-off created from research results from of the CD6 Sensofar-Tech (www.sensofar.com), which manufactures and markets equipment for the characterization of surface roughness and shape of surfaces that areVisiometrics (www.visiometrics.es), dedicated to the manufacture and marketing of equipment for the objective control of the quality of human vision and, finally, Simulacions Òptiques (www.snelloptics.com), which provides tools for simulation of optical systems for high performance and very low cost. Commercial activities carried out by these companies have promoted the creation of research among potential customers and the CD6 contracts.

One of the most recent results of this process has been the awarding of the prize to the most innovative of 2004 product Photonics Circle of Excellence Award, awarded to the 2300 PLµ, for a fully developed in the CD6 product and marketed by Sensofar-Techa corporate spin-off mentioned above.

Measurement of surface roughness

The CD6 develops two clearly differentiated and closely related among them activities: applied research and technological development. Applied research is based on those projects that aim to generate knowledge that can potentially generate applications in the various fields where intervening optics. Usually, such projects are made from obtaining public, mainly from the National Plan of r & d funds. The researchers of the CD6 and students develop their theses within the framework of the doctoral program in engineering optics, taught mostly by the researchers of the CD6 and which has recently received the quality mention of the Ministry of education and science involved in these projects.

On the other hand, the technological development is the aftermath of the applied research that involves the application of established knowledge to solve specific problems, to develop applications not available on the market, to design and build instruments not available commercially or to design final product. This stage usually develops from three separate tracks: contracts with national and foreign companies, the licensing of patents and the creation of spin-off companies.

It has set itself the CD6 aims to maintain a minimum close to 40 percent of its economic activity dedicated to applied research projects, namely the generation of new knowledge. The rest of the economic activity comes from contracts with companies in different industrial sectors or institutions to realize the results of research in specific applications (technology transfer), and lesser degree, of the patent license.

Design optical and advice in the design of molds for the injection of lenses used in presence sensors.

The CD6 develops two distinct activities: applied research and technological development

Finally, there are projects developed entirely from own resources of the CD6 and which have been completed with the acquisition of a product likely to be successful in the market. In these cases, it has outsourced the production and marketing of these products through the creation of businesses spin-off (Sensofar-Tech, Visiometrics and Simulacions Òptiques).

System for topographic measurement of pieces in the chain of production.

Optics is a technology present in areas as diverse as our daily life or the most advanced research, going through innumerable applications in industry, medicine, etc. Its evolution has been a constant in the history and has accompanied the development of other disciplines that have impacted directly on progress and innovation.

Today, naturally, the optics is complemented with electronics, software and mechanics to give rise to highly specialized applications (perfilometría without contact surfaces, medical imaging, etc) or to products of mass consumption (digital cameras)(, lighting public, etc.).

In the industrial field, we find optical technology in applications that help improve the quality of the final products from the control of the production and the production processes and also incorporated into final products.

This situation makes the CD6 clients in a wide range of industrial sectors and these include the automotive, electronics and multimedia, biomedical, manufacturers of instrumentation and institutions among others.

See also...

• Applications of optical engineering in the metal sector