The year was 1972. There was progress towards peace with the SALT agreement, the Summit meeting of the superpowers, and President Nixon's unprecedented visit to Red China. Polyester leisure suits were in fashion. "American Pie" by Don McLean topped the music charts. "Jonathan Livingston Seagull" headed the bestseller lists, and at the movies, "The Godfather" set box office records. In the World Series, the Oakland Athletics edged the Cincinnati Reds, four games to three, and the Cowboys beat the Dolphins in the Super Bowl. After a decade of research on digital force sensors, Jerome Paros and Walter Kistler joined forces to create a new quartz crystal technology. It was the year Paroscientific was born.

The year 2002 marks our 30^th anniversary. The world as we know it has changed markedly. Paros and Kistler now have more than 100 years of combined experience in the technology, and Paroscientific is the recognized leader in the field of quartz crystal instrumentation.

This DigiNews Issue highlights the world’s greatest Barometers and our new Low-Pressure Bi-directional Gauge Transducers. Application Notes include the use of our transducers in High Precision Calibrators and as Meteorological Sensors in conjunction with GPS stations.  

Last year was our best year ever - nothing short of record-breaking. I want to thank our customers, employees, and suppliers whose combined efforts made it possible. We send you our deepest appreciation and best wishes for a peaceful and prosperous new year.   

Jerry Paros

We will be at the following tradeshows and exhibits.  Please visit us:

Zoom In on High Resolution

Digiquartz® Intelligent transmitters use separate pressure and temperature signal measurements to calculate temperature-compensated pressure values.  The resolution of a pressure measurement is dependant on the length of time that the pressure and temperature signals are sampled.  Longer sample times result in better pressure resolution.  For example, at a rate of 8 pressure samples per second, the pressure resolution is approximately 10 ppm; at a rate of one sample per second, the resolution improves to better than 1 ppm.  

Traditionally, the PR and TR commands have been used to set the pressure and temperature signal sampling times, respectively.  The latest generation Digiquartz® transmitters feature improved sampling rate commands in addition to PR and TR.  PI and TI function much like PR and TR, but express sampling time directly in milliseconds, making it easier to calculate the resulting pressure sampling rate.

The pressure and temperature signal sampling times can be set using the software supplied with your Digiquartz® Intelligent transmitter.  Use  Digiquartz® Interactive software to set PR and TR, and use  Digiquartz® Terminal software to set PI and TI or PR and TR.

Changing the ID Parameter on Digiquartz® Intelligent Instruments

When you have more than one Digiquartz® Intelligent Instrument in an RS-232 loop, different identification numbers must be assigned to each instrument in the loop.  

The ID of your instrument can be changed via any terminal-based software, but our custom-built software Digiquartz® Interactive and Digiquartz® Terminal software provided with each unit makes this process easier.  This free software is also available on our web site to download.

After the Digiquartz® Interactive software detects your instrument, go to the configuration page and click on the Start button.  Make sure that the software reads the configuration of the instrument.  When this is done, click on the ID button.  A message box pops up on the screen.  Enter the new ID of your instrument and click on the OK button. 

If two units have the same ID in the loop, you must separate these instruments from each other and assign IDs individually.

Packing and Handling of Paroscientific 
Products  for Service

Please  include a detailed description of the service requested and contact information in the box with the returned unit.

All Paroscientific products should be handled like the precision scientific instruments that they are.  Always store and transport our instruments in static-dissipative packaging with at least 3 inches of mechanical shock-absorbing anti-static material around each unit.

A sensor packed in clear, non-dissipative bubble pack or floating in Styrofoam pellets can develop electrostatic voltages of up to 20,000 Volts of ESD potential that can damage electrical components.

If you have technical questions that you would like answered in the tech tips section, please send them to us.  We will answer them in our next issue.

Minimizing the “Cost of Ownership”
One of the primary concerns for sensor and transducer manufacturers is the amount of downtime required to send a pressure instrument in for calibration.  The Mensor Model 8100 calibrators with Paroscientific Transducers provide a solution.

Shanghai Selects Ashtech GPS and Paroscientific's MET3 for Multifunction Reference Network
The City of Shanghai has selected Reference Stations and Software from Thales Navigation. In addition to navigation and surveying uses, information is available for weather forecasting with the MET3 Meteorological Measurement Systems.

The Digiquartz® Barometers are used in a variety of precision applications including our MET3 and MET3A Meteorological Measurement Systems as well as Calibrators, Air Data Computers, Air Data Test Sets, and Digital Altimeter Setting Indicators.  The Model 740-16B and Model 760-16B are used as transfer standards in laboratory and field applications.  They offer microbar resolution high accuracy, and excellent long-term stability.

The 202BG is a bi-directional gauge transducer that offers unparalleled precision over the range -15 kPa to +15 kPa.  The instrument is ideally suited for metrology, portable transfer standards, atmospheric research and flow applications.