Darrell Newell, chair of NIU’s electrical engineering department, has been cited for developmental work in his field by an international engineering organization.

Newell was recently awarded the W.G. Cady award by the sonics and ultrasonics group of the Institute of Electronics and Electronics Engineers.

The Cady award, along with a check for $500, was given to Newell for his “contributions to the development of the temperature-compensated crystal oscillator (TCXO); and for stimulation and education of students in the field of frequency control,” said Thrygve R. Meeker, chair of the international symposium.

Newell has focused his recent work on quartz resonators, which are similar to those used in the timing mechanisms of watches.

The frequency of the resonators tend to vary with temperature. “It was formerly required that batteries be used to power an ‘oven’ around the resonator to maintain a constant temperature environment,” said Newell.

However, Newell’s newly-designed circuitry has made the task of maintaining a constant temperature for the resonators much more efficient. Newell’s circuitry draws only micro-watts, instead of the several watts formerly supplied by batteries. This allows for tremendous savings on power supplies.

Newell said he believes that his new circuitry might be employed in “hand-held cellular telephones, military backpack radios and satellite communications.”

He has also developed, along with colleague Alan Genis and two graduate students, an advanced type of electrical resonator with possible applications in telephone circuitry, tone generators, temperature-humidity sensors and residual gas analyzers.

This is not the first time that Newell has been honored for his accomplishments. In 1986, he won the university’s Exellence in Undergraduate Teaching award.

Newell also recently has developed on-site courses for such northern Illinois firms as Northrop Corp. in Rolling Meadows and Pacific Scientific in Rockford.

Newell is originally from Audubon, Iowa. He came to NIU in 1967, after receiving his doctoral degree from the University of Iowa.