If you haven’t already submitted your design idea, you only have until this Friday, Nov. 17, to enter the fifth annual “Create the Future” design contest. You could win the Grand Prize of a hybrid car or $20,000 in cash. Visit http://link.abpi.net/l.php?20061113A9 for entry details.

The contest is sponsored by Emhart Teknologies, a global leader in the design and creation of unique assembly technologies, and co-sponsored by
SolidWorks Corporation ( http://link.abpi.net/l.php?20061113A10 )
and
COMSOL ( http://link.abpi.net/l.php?20061113A11 ).

Entries must be received by November 17. For rules and the official
entry form, visit http://link.abpi.net/l.php?20061113A9.

The Model M7500 infrared camera from Mikron Infrared (Oakland, NJ) was named PTB Product of the Month for November. The camera is an uncooled microbolometer camera that is configurable for mid-wave or long-wave imaging in four different temperature bands, and provides resolution of 320 x 240.

It uses spectral tuning technology and can image in the mid-wave bands in a temperature range of 400 to 1600 degrees Celsius. It provides temperature measurement accuracy of plus/minus 2 percent for glass, ceramics, food processing, paper, steel, textiles, and electronics applications.

For more information, see page 16a of the November issue of PTB, or
visit http://link.abpi.net/l.php?20061113A7

Looking ahead to 2007, optical design software will continue to enhance the capabilities of designers who must predict and analyze the performance of optical systems without experimental prototyping. An article in the November issue of Photonics Tech Briefs (PTB) titled “Optical Software in 2007: Isn’t That Easy?” provides an overview of the new capabilities available in upcoming releases of optical design software.

Michael Stevenson, director of marketing for Breault Research Organization, developer of ASAP optical software, highlights CAD interoperability enhancements, new material libraries, and other specific features that will help engineers simplify their optical designs.

See page 4a of the November issue of PTB for the full article. Visit
Breault at http://link.abpi.net/l.php?20061113A6.

Smart Materials with Precisely Controlled Constriction Properties A multi-billion-dollar electronics company seeks proposals describing responsive materials having controllable planar constriction.
http://link.abpi.net/l.php?20061113A3

Testing of Pressurized Hydrogen Storage Devices and Systems General Motors Corporation/Opel FCA is globally seeking proposals for the testing of pressurized hydrogen storage devices and systems for fuel cell vehicles.
http://link.abpi.net/l.php?20061113A4

The Technology Business Needs portray technology acquisition profiles intermediated by NextTechs Technology Exchange.

NextTechs Technologies, LLC is a Global Technology Investment Bank engaged in technology offers and needs intermediation in over 41 industries and 141 research disciplines. Search NextTechs’ Technology Portfolio at http://link.abpi.net/l.php?20061113A15.

The newly created UC Berkeley/Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory Nanomedicine Development Center is developing a method to put light-sensitive switches in the body’s cells that can be flipped on and off. Optical switches like these could trigger a chemical reaction, activate a drug, initiate a muscle contraction, or stimulate a nerve cell.

The Center is equipping cells of the retina with the photoswitches, making blind nerve cells see, restoring light sensitivity in people with macular degeneration. The method controls biological nanomolecules (proteins) with light, and involves altering an ion channel commonly found in nerve cells so that the channel turns the cell on when it is zapped by green light, and turns it off when hit with ultraviolet light.

The researchers believe that if they can control the nanomolecules with light, they can develop treatments for eye, skin, and blood diseases that can be activated by light.

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