Pictures of the Future Fall 2005
In Brief
Siemens: Two Nominations for German Future Prize
For the first time in the almost ten-year history of the German Future Prize, one company has received two of the four nominations for the award. This year, the Straton X-ray tube—a key component of the world’s fastest computer tomograph—and the piezo fuel-injection technology for diesel and gasoline engines have been nominated. Both innovations were developed by Siemens. The winners of the 250,000-€-prize will be announced by German President Horst Köhler on November 11. It’s generally regarded as an honor just to be nominated. Since the award was introduced in 1997, Siemens employees have been nominated four times. This year’s nominees are Dr. Peter Schardt, Dr. Karin Söldner and Prof. Wolfgang Knüpfer (Straton X-ray tube) and Dr. Klaus Egger and Prof. Hans Meixner (piezo fuel-injection system).
Nominations for two teams from Siemens. From left to right: Prof. Hans Meixner, Friedrich Böcking (Bosch) and Dr. Klaus Egger for piezo fuel injection; and Dr. Peter Schardt, Dr. Karin Söldner and Prof. Wolfgang Knüpfer for the Straton X-ray tube
With the Straton X-ray tube, researchers at Siemens Medical Solutions pursued a new imaging concept for computed tomography (CT). The tube cools much quicker than conventional systems—thus eliminating the need for cooling-off periods during examinations and thereby cutting the time patients have to spend in the CT. It also features a new projection technique whereby the X-rays strike the detector several thousand times a second at two alternating angles. Resolution can be boosted to below 0.4 mm as a result. This provides images of the tiniest blood vessels in a beating heart at an unparalleled resolution, which in turn enhances diagnostic quality. The Straton is now a part of the CT Somatom Sensation 64. Since its launch in 2003, more than 350 systems of this type have been installed worldwide. The nomination of the piezo direct fuel-injection system also marks another first. It is the only time to date that two rival companies—Siemens VDO Automotive and Robert Bosch GmbH—have been jointly nominated for the award. The piezo system provides more precise control of the amount of fuel injected into the combustion chamber, which in turn cuts consumption and emissions. Researchers at Siemens Corporate Technology and developers at Siemens VDO have been working on the technology since the early 1980s. The piezo directinjection system for diesel engines was launched in 2000, and Siemens is planning to introduce a counterpart system for gasoline engines in 2006. Bosch and Siemens have invested over 5 billion € in the development and production of such systems since the mid-1990s. All in all, the two companies employ 9,400 people in this field, not counting an additional 8,000 jobs at suppliers.
Latest News: On November 11, Prof. Dr. Hans Meixner, Friedrich Böcking (Bosch) and Dr. Klaus Egger recieved the German Future Prize 2005 from German President Horst Köhler for the piezo fuel injection system.
Giant TV Screen
Enhanced TV images for soccer. Giant flatscreen displays with backlighting technology feature Osram LEDs
Flat screen displays can now be produced in much larger sizes than ever before possible thanks to a new backlighting system developed by Siemens subsidiary Osram Opto Semiconductors. The company has produced a two-meter prototype display featuring 1,120 Golden Dragon light-emitting diodes (LEDs). The display measures 82 inches (208 cm) diagonally, which is about the size of a door. Moreover, as the system is scalable, it can be used to backlight much larger areas in the future. Osram’s LEDs are now almost on a par with the backlighting technology currently used for LCD displays. Their high luminous efficiency is achieved by means of a special thin-film technique involving the use of a mirrored layer to ensure minimal light diffusion within the LED and therefore maximum luminosity in the desired direction. Moreover, thanks to very fast switching times (less than 100 ns), LED-based backlighting systems are free of striation. The new system uses a monochrome, high-speed switching display. Only those pixels are opened that produce the three primary colors—with each associated LED flashing at high frequency from red to blue to green. Since the human eye cannot follow such rapid changes, the system creates the impression of brilliantlycolored moving images. This results in high resolution, since each LCD pixel is polychromatic. And since color filters are not needed, the display looks brighter and the price can even be lower.
New Look for Products
Cornflakes packaging. Design study showcases the use of an ultra-thin electrochromic film to display information
The products on the shelves of stores and supermarkets could soon be featuring a novel way of telling consumers their price and use-by date. A new wafer-thin adhesive display developed by Siemens can be used to show animated sequences on product packaging. Available in various sizes, it will also display other information at the press of touch-sensitive keys. The flexible film is around 200 µm thick and generates its colors by means of an electrochemical reaction, whereby so-called electrochromic substances change color when subjected to a voltage.
These substances, which have been specially developed by Siemens researchers, are coated very thinly on the foil. The voltage—in this case 1.5 V—is applied by means of a lattice of fine electrodes. The application of the voltage causes the molecules to alter their light absorption properties and appear in another color. By regulating the voltage at particular nodes of the lattice, it is possible to create letters or images. The power for the display comes from tiny batteries, which are made from organic material or miniature solar cells. Present plans envisage the introduction of the flexible mini-screens in food packaging as early as 2007. What’s more, the technology could also be used to display information on prescription packaging in different languages.
High Voltage Connection
Siemens and Pirelli Energy Cables & Systems are increasing the reliability of the power supply to Long Island. In particular, they are installing a facility for transmitting highvoltage direct current (HVDC) between power plants in Sayreville, New Jersey, and Long Island. This new facility is designed primarily to cover the increased demand for electricity in summertime. Long Island—some of the island forms part of New York City—is home to eight million people. Starting in the summer of 2007, 105 km of submarine and land cable will transmit up to 750 MW of electrical power at a direct voltage of 500 kV. In terms of both efficiency and technological feasibility, HVDC represents an attractive complement to conventional energy transmission, which relies on alternating current. Siemens has been a pioneer in this field for a number of decades (see Pictures of the Future, Fall 2003, "More Power to You!"). HVDC technology is mainly used to transmit power over long distances or to link different power grids that operate with different frequencies or control systems. At the start of the process, a rectifier takes power from a three-phase system. This power is then transmitted as HVDC. Finally, an inverter is used to feed the power into another three-phase system. The reliability of HVDC is partially due to the use of direct-light-triggered thyristors with integrated overvoltage protection. Developed by Siemens, these thyristors are responsible for the current conversion.
Valve towers in a converter station. Watercooled thyristors will make Long Island’s power supply more secure
Television via the Internet
TV via DSL: Siemens offers network operators a comprehensive and userfriendly solution
The age of interactive digital television via the Internet has now dawned in Belgium and the Netherlands, where Siemens is supplying Belgacom and Dutch telephone company KPN with a complete package for "TV-over-IP" (see "Tuning in to Internet TV"). To receive programs via the Internet protocol, viewers simply need a DSL connection and a conventional television. These are linked by means of a set-top box that converts digital data into interference-free TV signals. The network operators are supplied with everything from a single source. The package includes server technology, user software, data encryption technology, the hardware needed to receive satellite data, and set-top boxes for consumers. Viewers also benefit from the fact that the set-top boxes and menu navigation are easy to operate. Belgacom, meanwhile, is offering an exciting and exclusive attraction—transmission of games from the Belgian and Italian soccer leagues. If a fan misses a game, a server stores it as a digital recording. What’s more, Belgacom customers can use their TVs to make videotelephone calls, download their favorite movies from the Internet, surf the Web, send e-mails and chat.