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ifm electronic gmbh wins HERMES AWARD 2005 As announced at the opening ceremony of HANNOVER FAIR 2005 on 10 April, the German-based ifm electronic gmbH company from the city of Essen was recipient of the EUR 100,000 technology prize.

The company received the award for its optical distance sensor using PMD technology (photonic mixer device).

This "efector PMD" distance measuring system deploys the echo light location technique to determine the distance between itself and an object. Both the light receptor and signal processing system are integrated on a single chip - a world first. This innovative, low-cost, high-precision sensor element contains the world's first on-chip, time-of-flight measurement system with industrial feasibility. The system can serve as the basis for the development of new 3D-applications. The innovation supports improved auto safety, for example, by providing for swift identification of possible dangers in the context of an active safety mechanism.

"This distance sensor represents a genuine breakthrough innovation," declared Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Wahlster, Director and CEO of the German Research Center for Artificial Intelligence (DFKI) and a member of the jury panel, in his laudation at the opening ceremony. "The completely new principle behind the photonic mixer device has been deployed for the first time in an optoelectronic, high-precision, mass-produced product," he continued.

The prize was handed over by German Federal Education and Research Minister Edelgard Bulmahn, Lower-Saxony Minister-President Christian Wulff and Federal Chancellor Gerhard Schröder.

The nominated and prize-winning products will be exhibited by the respective companies at HANNOVER FAIR 2005 (11 to 15 April). Attendees can also get detailed information on all the competing entries for the HERMES AWARD 2005 as well as the responsible companies at the "techtransfer - Gateway2innovation" stand in Hall 2 (D16).

With a prize purse of EUR 100,000, the HERMES AWARD is one of the world's most lucrative technology prizes. "We offered this award to promote a spirit of innovative enterprise," stated Sepp D. Heckmann, Chairman of the Managing Board at Deutsche Messe AG. "The HANNOVER FAIR in particular feels a special obligation to make a strong statement in favor of promoting future technologies and technological creativity," he added.

Hermes Award 2005 – the award ceremony (2005) The laudation is held by Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Wahlster at the Hannover Fair 2005. The award is received by the shareholder and managing director Michael Marhofer. flash video — Length: 1:03 minutes