Solions, their Characteristics and Commercial Applications

The name ``solions'' comes from ``ions in solution,'' and it classifies a number of electrochemical devices, including many varieties of pressure transducers, integrators, and electro-osmotic transducers. Several types are now available to the commercial market as off-the-shelf items. Most of the interest has centered around the solion integrator types for integrating noise-exposure meters, integrating electrical variables as part of laboratory instruments, gas chromatographs, for obtaining integrals of generated functions, and in simple resistive circuits to obtain very stable low frequency to dc amplification. General characteristics of the solion integrator types will be presented together with some general characteristics of several end products. The low stand-by power requirements and certain unique characteristics of the solion transducer types have been of greater interest to the military than to industrial companies so far. They can be used commercially in compact vibration meters, sensitive alarm systems, and ``go, no-go'' type of service in place of electrical contacts. Characteristics and application notes will be presented on this class of solions also.