Pressure Sensor Measures Blood Pressure From Inside Arteries
Vacuum panels are particularly good for insulating buildings – as long as the vacuum does not leak. A tiny pressure sensor constantly checks the condition of the vacuum and indicates whether the insulation effect is still present.
Mrs Miller is happy. Since she moved to the new apartment building she has not had any nasty surprises on her heating bills. This is because the building is insulated with a new material which exhibits particularly low thermal conductivity and therefore high energy efficiency. Vacuum insulation panels consist of a tightly sealed shell and porous core material made of silicic acid. This serves to support the vacuum in the insulation panel. Because a vacuum is a very good thermal insulator, the insulation value of the vacuum panels is five to ten times higher than that of conventional panels, for instance those made of polystyrene.
The panels are sensitive, however. Over the years the airtight film loses its insulating effect and the vacuum leaks. Experts put the increase in gas pressure at 1 millibar per year. Another problem is that because the film is very thin it can be damaged during transport. Before being installed the panels therefore have to be checked to see whether the vacuum and insulating effect are still present. So that the condition of the panels can be determined at any time, research scientists at the Fraunhofer Institute for Microelectronic Circuits and Systems IMS in Duisburg have developed a tiny pressure sensor. »The pressure sensor is placed in a recess inside the panel. On the board next to the microchip there is a transponder with a coil which transmits the measured data through the film without any hard wire connection. A reader on the outer wall of the panel receives the measured data and supplies the transponder with energy using a second coil,« explains Dr. Hoc Khiem Trieu, head of department at the IMS. »The sensor consumes very little energy and is extremely small, measuring only around 20 square millimeters. A further special feature of the tiny sensor is that it draws its energy from the reader’s radio signal even through thin metal layers. It is therefore also suitable for measuring the vacuum in refrigerators, where low thermal conductivity is likewise essential.«
The sensor is used in the medical field, for instance to measure blood or eye pressure. It has now been developed further for the construction sector. »The sensor is presently at the prototype stage. The aim is to put it into series production in one to two years’ time,« states Trieu. The IMS will be showcasing the sensor at Euro ID, the trade fair for automatic identification, in Cologne from May 4 to 6 (Stand A12).
Flow Sensor Ideal For Geothermal Applications
The new flow sensor launched by Clark is ideal for solar and geothermal hot water systems and equipment.
DN Series Flow Sensors are very accurate at low cost. Their accuracy is to 1% fs of measured value and are available for less than $100 in quantity.
To assist documentation of energy transfer in water & water glycol based heat exchange systems, DN Series Liquid Vortex Flow Sensors provide direct temperature measurement.
The new DN Series Flow Sensors operate on the principle of Kármán’s vortex trail and can be used for flow ranges from 0.9 to 150 liters per minute. Vortex-shedding flow meters were named after Theodore von Kármán’s mathematical description of the phenomenon. They present the flow in a pipe with an obstruction/bluff in the flow meter body.
Alternating vortices are formed on each side of the bluff body as velocity increases, and travel downstream.
DN series flow sensors use piezoelectric sensors embedded in an ETFE vane located downstream of the bluff to detect the generated vortices. Flow velocity is given by the frequency measured. The measurement result is not dependent on temperature and pressure loss is minimal. A flow factor is provided to convert frequency to volume flow rate for each model size. The series offer versions with a 1000 Ohm RTD temperature sensor built-in to the bluff, providing direct temperature measurement in the medium.
BIM-UNR Dual Sensor For C-Groove Cylinders
Minneapolis, MN — TURCK’s BIM-UNR line of compact magnetic cylinder position sensors now includes a dual sensor designed for detecting short and long stroke C-groove cylinders. BIM-UNR dual sensors provide a distinct advantage by combining two sensors through one cable connection to speed installation, as well as lessen wire costs and connection points. This design makes the sensor particularly beneficial in areas where multiple cylinders are used, as it only requires a single cable. With dimensions of 2.9 x 4.6 x 18 mm, BIM-UNR features one of the lowest profiles on the market.
Delivering reliable performance and high EMC immunity, TURCK’s BIM-UNR dual sensor provides an exceptional alternative to ordinary cylinder position sensors. The sensor mounts within C-groove cylinders with no accessories required. Plus, it can be inserted into a C-groove from the top rather than from the side, further simplifying installation. On the sensor’s side is a built-in tab that keeps the sensor in place to facilitate one-handed mounting. As the mounting screw is located near the cable exit, the sensor remains fastened even if the cable is pulled.
TURCK
www.turck.us
Hermetic Switch Introduces Liquid Level Sensors
CHICKASHA, OK – Hermetic Switch, Inc.unveiled its new series of liquid level sensors, also known as float sensors or fluid level sensors.
The new PRX+1660 series represents a new product line for the company, which enables Hermetic to address the need for reliable, robust, and reasonably priced sensors for liquid level monitoring applications in appliance, automotive, control, household, industrial, municipal, petrochemical, power generation, processing, and recreational markets.
These sensors can be used for level sensing or monitoring of brake fluid, contained water, dilute acid, gasoline, oil, or any number of process liquids, limited only by the series’ material of construction (polyamide or polypropylene).
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“Smart” Contact Lens Promises To Detect Glaucoma Earlier
STMicroelectronics will develop and supply a wireless MEMS sensor that acts as a transducer, antenna and mechanical support for additional read-out electronics in a breakthrough platform developed by Swiss company Sensimed AG. This solution will enable better management of glaucoma patients via earlier diagnosis and treatment that is optimally tailored to the individual patient.
Known as the SENSIMED Triggerfish®, the solution is based on a “smart” contact lens that uses a tiny embedded strain gauge to monitor the curvature of the eye over a period of, typically, 24 hours, providing valuable disease management data that is not currently obtainable using conventional ophthalmic equipment.
Glaucoma(3), the second most common cause of blindness around the world, is an irreversible progressive disease of the optic nerve that can eventually lead to blindness. Â Although it cannot be cured, its progress can be controlled once it is diagnosed and treated properly. The standard test is the measurement of intraocular pressure (IOP), using an instrument known as a tonometer, during periodic visits to an ophthalmologist. However, the tonometer may fail to detect an elevated IOP, especially in glaucoma patients, because the pressure varies during the day and often peaks during sleep or outside of office hours. As a result, the disease is often diagnosed only after significant damage to the optic nerve has already occurred, and the disease keeps progressing in many patients due to inadequate treatment.
Sensimed’s ingenious solution is a two-part system comprising the smart contact lens and a small receiver worn around the patient’s neck. Â In addition to the strain gauge the lens contains an antenna, a tiny dedicated processing circuit and an RF transmitter to communicate the measurements to the receiver. The lens is powered via the received radio waves and does not need to be connected to a battery. The embedded components are positioned in the lens in such a way that they do not interfere with the patient’s vision. The lens is fitted by the ophthalmologist and when the patient returns the next day the ophthalmologist removes the lens and receiver, obtaining a complete record of IOP changes over the preceding 24 hours.
The SENSIMED Triggerfish® has obtained the CE mark(4), is currently running numerous application trials, and is commercially available in selected centers.  ”The device is easy to use and has facilitated and improved patient care substantially,” said Dr.Kaweh Mansouri who has been using the Triggerfish at the University Hospital, Geneva, Switzerland.
ST engineers are now working with Sensimed to translate this breakthrough technology into a reliable commercial MEMS product ready for mass production. ST expects the development of the MEMS sensor to be completed in Q2 2010 and manufacturing to start in Q3 2010, with availability outside trials to doctors and patients subject to regulatory approvals. Sensimed and ST anticipate progressively rolling out the product country-by-country across Europe beginning in Q3 and entering the US market by the end of 2011.
Digital Light Sensor Works Behind Darkened Glass
Texas Advanced Optoelectronic Solutions®, Inc., announced the first members of its next generation digital ambient light sensor (ALS) and proximity detection family that is designed to provide consumer electronics manufacturers with greater freedom to produce sleeker, more appealing and innovative product designs. These latest TAOS devices eliminate the need to use clear glass/plastic in front of the sensor or drill holes/slots into the display, bezel or frame in order for light to reach the sensor.
Specifically designed to operate behind darkened glass or other translucent materials, the TSL2771 device family provides both ambient light sensing and proximity detection in a single device that consumes far less power than currently available comparable solutions. Proximity detection is ideally suited for touch screen smart phones to automatically turn off the display or control other user functions and can also be used in laptops, desktop computers and monitors to conserve energy or maintain information privacy when the user is not present. Other emerging applications for proximity sensing technology include touchless display controls activation and management as well as human gesture detection.
Level Sensor Switches From Clean Liquids to Dry Solid Materials
March 19, 2010 by admin
Filed under Level, Liquid Level
BlueLevel Technologies, Inc. announces the availability of its latest level sensor, the Model CPH Capacitive Proximity Switch for clean liquids and dry bulk solid materials.
Managing Director, Joe Lewis, comments that “this level sensor is a great addition for our customer base. It provides them with a compact level sensor offering reliable performance and a low cost”. It provides level control, level detection and level monitoring capability.
The Model CPH is a capacitive proximity switch consisting of units available to operate with either AC or DC loads. They are compact level sensors, being 30mm in diameter and approximately 80mm deep. They are low in cost, well under $100, and provide a very high performance-to-cost value ratio.
The Model CPH 2-wire AC proximity switch operates with voltages from 20-250VAC, switching loads as high as 300ma. These AC capacitive proximity level switches include built-in ESD protection and operate over a wide temperature range from -25°C to +70°C (-13°F to +158°F).
The Model CPH 4-wire DC proximity switch units are capable of interfacing with a wide variety of PLC’s, operating on voltage from 10-30VDC, and come in either NPN or PNP styles with both NO and NC wiring connectivity.
BlueLevel Technologies brings 35 years of process measurement and control experience and knowledge to its “Just Level” service strategy. “Just Level” is designed to anticipate, meet and exceed the needs of BlueLevel Technologies customers and their industries by bringing decades of process measurement and control expertise directly to the user. Level measurement and monitoring is our single focus and our passion.
AccuStar® Electronic Clinometer from Sherborne Sensors
March 18, 2010 by admin
Filed under Inclinometer, Industry News, Level
Sherborne Sensors has announced the AccuStar® electronic clinometer, designed to provide precision angular measurements within applications where a high degree of accuracy is required.
The unique design of the AccuStar® incorporates a capacitance-based sensor without moving parts. When rotated about its sensitive axis, this sensor provides a fundamentally linear variation in capacitance, which is electronically converted into high-precision angular data. Available in choice of analog, ratiometric, digital or serial models, the AccuStar® electric clinometer offers a ±60° measurement range, outputting a signal that corresponds to the direction and magnitude of angular displacement. The highly compact AccuStar® measures just two inches (50 mm) in diameter and weighs just two ounces (60 grams) for easy installation, with units designed to reliably operate in temperatures of -30 to +65°C. The sensor and its associated low-power CMOS electronics are encased in a rugged plastic housing.
With its durable, high-performance design, the AccuStar® is ideal for a multitude of applications, including off-highway vehicles, wheel alignment, construction equipment, antenna positioning and robotics applications, as well as other portable or mobile applications where space constraints or environmental concerns preclude the use of other types of precision angle measurement devices.
Sherborne Sensors
www.sherbornesensors.com
MTS Sensors Improves Linear-Position Sensor Vibration Tolerance
CARY, N.C. – MTS Systems Corp., Sensors Division has further improved the design of its Temposonics linear-position sensors to increase the sensors’ longevity in high-vibration applications like those in the wood industry. The High Vibration Resistance option (HVR) increases the vibration tolerance from 15g to 30g (10-2000 Hz) in MTS’ R-Series Analog, R-Series SSI, and G-Series sensors, and further increases the longevity of the sensors. These developments, in addition to the rugged durability of their non-contact magnetostrictive technology, make MTS’ Temposonics linear-position sensors ideal for wood industry applications including all types of sawmill machinery, plywood and veneer equipment, portable mills and tree harvesting and processing attachments.
The wood industry requires a wide range of machinery that must operate under harsh conditions while providing accurate performance. Downtime and lost productivity are expensive, and linear-position sensors are critical components in maintaining an efficient operation.
The robustness and reliability of MTS Temposonics R-Series and G-Series linear-position sensors can greatly reduce maintenance costs, and quite often, can be used to extend the life of older machines. R-Series and G-Series linear position sensors provide a cost-effective solution for applications that demand tough, low-maintenance position sensors that ensure accuracy and production efficiency.
MTS’ Temposonics linear-position sensors employ non-contact, magnetostrictive sensing technology, which, by eliminating wear, provide users with much higher durability and output reliability than other technologies such as potentiometers or optical encoders.
The changes made to MTS’ Temposonics R- and G-Series linear-position sensors are designed to increase the longevity of the sensors’ High Vibration Resistance (HVR) option, which doubles the prior vibration resistance of 15g. The improved linear-position sensors can survive impact forces of 100g and continuous vibration of up to 30g (from 10-2000 Hz), which significantly increases their longevity, especially in harsh environments and high-vibration applications.
MTS’ R-Series sensors are rugged, industrial sensors that provide absolute, linear-position measurement with high-performance output protocols. With linearity down to +/- 20 microns or better, resolution of 1 micron, and repeatability within 0.001%, these sensors are ideal for applications that require accuracy, reliability, and consistency.
G-Series sensors are rugged, industrial sensors that provide highly accurate measurements in either analog or digital outputs, offer enhanced diagnostics and programming capabilities, and are designed for backwards compatibility with legacy Temposonics products.
Both series are easy to install and are preset with individual parameters according to order specifications to avoid time-consuming on-site calibration.
MTS Systems Corp
www.mtssensors.com
Laser Sensor Can Measure Displacement 2 Meters From Sensor
Measurement technology company Micro-Epsilon has launched a new laser sensor with a 1m measuring range. The optoNCDT 1710-1000 sensor has a measuring range that starts from a distance of one metre from the sensor, so displacement can be measured at a distance of 2m from the sensor. The sensor comes with an integrated controller in a compact 200mm x 83mm x 48mm housing. The diameter of the light spot is constant across the complete beam path. With a measuring rate of 2.5kHz, the sensor is technically superior to existing alternative sensors on the market, providing 100µm resolution without averaging. 4-20 mA, 0-10V, RS422 or USB outputs are available.
The optoNCDT 1710-1000 is used for measurement objects that have a high degree of freedom or movement. Other potential applications are in harsh ambient conditions, where the sensor has to measure onto the object from a safe distance or if the target is in a vacuum. The sensor also performs very well in high target temperatures or when it is not possible to mount the sensor close to the target. Like all other models in the 1700 series, the optoNCDT 1710-1000 also benefits from a unique RTSC circuit for the real-time compensation of surface influences. This means that a high quality signal is obtained even when changing reflections occur from the target surface.
