This application note details how the PocketPico Picoammeter may be used in photoemission spectroscopy for the purposes of beam monitoring, beam current measurements and beam alignment.

Researchers at Georgia Tech have developed a new method for harvesting ambient energy by using an ultra-wideband antenna, resulting in “greatly increased power-gathering capability.” The researchers believe that this technology could power networks of wireless sensors for chemical, biological, and heat sensing, RFID tagging, and other monitoring tasks at a very low cost.

Interestingly, the researchers use inkjet printers to print sensors and antennas on flexible surfaces like paper and other polymers. But don’t expect everyone with an inkjet printer at home to be able to print their own sensors — it turns out you’ll need to get a hold of some silver nanoparticles and other nanomaterials first.

Ambient electromagnetic energy harvested as power source [EDN]

Ix Innovations is pleased to announce the release of version 1.1 of its PocketPico Reader software for use with the PocketPico Picoammeter. Among minor updates and bug fixes, the new software version adds advanced data logging features including the ability to set the sampling interval and the number of samples to log before stopping, and to append new data to an existing data file.

This new software installer is available for download immediately from the downloads tap at pocketpico.com (note: unless already registered, you must create a pocketpico.com account to download).

This application note explores the low-current optical measurements — including exponential behavior of photodiodes and the currents induced in phototubes — that are possible with the PocketPico Ammeter.

Resistance measurements are more than just power, they are process. Best-practices for resistance measurements are introduced in our resistance measurements application note. Test approaches are discussed for both low and high voltage testing.

All new PocketPico Picoammeters are now shipping with our latest firmware, version 1.1. Among stability enhancements, this firmware version now includes native LabVIEW compatibilty (with the PocketPico enumerating as a virtual serial device in the list of COM ports. Contact Ix Innovation if you are a current owner of a PocketPico and would like to upgrade to the latest firmware.