ABOUT US Industrial group MIDA (Russian abbreviation of “Microelectronic Sensors”) is a voluntary association of several enterprises that specialize in developing, production and trading of microelectronic pressure sensors, related devices and medical facilities with “MIDA” trade mark. Industrial Group MIDA includes: Joint-Stock Company MIDAUS (Russian abbreviation of “Microelectronic Sensors and Devices”) – Ulyanovsk – development and production; State Scientific Enterprise UCM (Ulyanovsk Center of Microelectronics and Automation) – scientific investigations and production; Joint-Stock Company MNS (Microelectronic Normalizers and Systems) – Ulyanovsk – marketing, trading (including export). Joint Venture SAPFIR-MNS – Lvov (Ukraina) – trading and technical maintenance of devices in Ukraina. Joint-Stock Company MIDA-SAMARA – Samara – marketing and trading. The key enterprise of IG MIDA – MIDAUS - was established in 1991 soon after ceasing of financing for construction of scientific-industrial complex “Ulyanovsk Center of Microelectronics and Automation Application in Machinery”, SIC UCM (which was one of the most significant projects of the last years of USSR). The employees of Scientific Research Institute of Integral Sensors (the first of the five research institutes planned to be created within SIC UCM project) – formed the basis of MIDAUS staff. Cooperation with State Enterprise UCM (SE UCM) that in 1992 became the successor of SIC UCM and one of the co-founders of JSC MIDAUS, made it possible to organize investigation, designing and manufacturing of modern microelectronic sensors even in the hardest conditions of general economic crisis in Russia. MIDA transmitters and transducers development is based on proprietary domestic investigations of tensoresistive effect in heteroepitaxial semi-conductor structures “Silicon-on-Sapphire” (SOS) carried out in Russia in 1970-80s. The main technical concepts derived from these investigations have been patented in Russia, USA, France, Germany and resulted in a series of Russian measuring systems (Sapphire, Sapphire-22, Metran, etc.). The choice of the sensitive element material for tensotransmitters as well as some structural and technological solutions were extremely successful, thus nowadays SOS technology is being used in majority pressure sensors produced in Russia. Currently IG MIDA efforts are aimed at further enhancing of pressure measurement potentialities on the basis of SOS sensitive elements, improving sensors’accuracy and stability, reducing their weight and dimensions and optimizing the manufacturing process. New investigations are motivated mainly by customers’ demands; owing to organizational arrangement of IG MIDA enterprises new devices are developed and put into production in ultimately efficient and effective way. The first measuring device produced by IG MIDA in cooperation with other manufacturers in 1991 was the compact industrial gage pressure transmitter MIDA-GP-01 with pressure ranges from 0.16 MPa to 160 MPa, accuracy of 0.5 and 1.0% and operating temperature range from –40 to +80 °C., Today IG MIDA has got continuous production technological cycle of pressure sensors and other devices. IG MIDA manufactures several tens of transducer types for gage, absolute, differential pressure and vacuum measurement; the overall number of modifications of transmitters and transducers exceeds ten thousand. The upper limit of measurement ranges from 4 KPa to 250 MPa (for pressure/vacuum), from 0.1 to 0.5 %FS, from –100 to +500°C (for operating temperature of measured medium). In 2000 IG MIDA started to manufacture sensors with intelligent signal processing and overall accuracy of 0.25 and 0.5%. Every model has its modification for hazardous processes (intrinsic-safe electrical circuit and flame-proof casing). Apart from pressure transmitters and transducers IG MIDA develops and manufactures power supply and signal transduction units (including variants for hazardous processes), as well as digital indicators (that do not need separate power supply) and surge voltage protection devices, designed to protect measuring devices from powerful electrical impulse noises. A new trend originated in IG MIDA in 2001 includes development and manufacturing of medical devices. The first-born of the trend was a hardware-software system for electropuncture stimulation. The tests conducted revealed high efficiency of the device in treating various diseases. Presently IG MIDA operates the most up-to-date processes ensuring production of devices of high accuracy and reliability. Machining of titanium and other metals, including automated production of components; plastic parts casting; vacuum soldering of titanium with sapphire and stainless steel argon-arc, laser, electron-beam welding of metals; ultrasonic welding of aluminum with silicon; surface mounting of electronic boards – all these together with original designing and technological solutions allow to master new devices quickly and to produce them with high quality and relatively low cost. IG MIDA's successful work and development wouldn’t be possible without skilled, competent personnel who produce high-technology and competitive devices. Over one forth of the staff has been working for IG MIDA since SIC UCM was established; over a half of employees have working experience exceeding 5 years. IG MIDA employs one doctor of sciences, 5 candidates of sciences. In 1999 and 2002 SE UCM was attested as a scientific enterprise. Tens of thousands of MIDA devices are being used for many years in various enterprises in different branches: power sector (including atomic power stations), metallurgy, chemistry, etc. in Russia and abroad. Since 1995 thousands of pressure transmitters have been exported to USA, Czech Republic, China, India and South Korea. All the activities carried out in IG MIDA are certified by the State Standards Bureau and the State Atomic Energy Sector Monitoring Committee as well as Federal Department for Mining and Industrial Supervision of Russian Federation. IG MIDA sensors are also approved by the State Standards Bureau; they have hazardous-safe certificates and are licensed for use in atomic power stations.