ABS Certified Pressure Sensors

Certification to industry standards always enhances the market opportunities for products and, in some cases, is essential for the product’s selection in certain applications. With American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) approvals for several models of pressure sensors, American Sensor Technologies, Inc. (AST) can address  a variety of  marine and offshore applications. 

• AST4000 sensors have applications in engine room pressure monitoring for oil, coolant and fuel, hydraulics, cranes and desalination equipment.
• AST4300, AST4310, AST43LP, AST4400, AST4410, AST44LP, AST4600, and AST46HA hazardous location pressure sensors have applications in fuel storage, boiler room, engine control units, natural gas engines, dual fuel (natural gas/diesel) systems for ships, power generation and energy management.
• AST4500, AST4510, and AST4520 submersible pressure transducers have applications for level measurements for water, fuel, wastewater, desalination systems and ballast.
• AST5400 differential pressure sensor have applications for flow and filtration applications in water, fuel, oil and hydraulics.

Smoke-Detector IC with Programmable Calibration and Operating Modes

Integration is the signature of semiconductor technology. Microchip Technology’s RE46C190 3V photoelectric smoke-detector IC integrates a horn driver and boost regulator. In addition, the IC has programmable calibration and operating modes that can be selected and calibrated during manufacturing. This simplifies smoke-detector design and manufacturing. The integrated photoelectric smoke detector requires minimal external components. The 3V sensor operates from two AA batteries.

For more information about Microchip Technology’s RE46C190 smoke-detector IC, click here.

Triaxial Piezoelectric Accelerometer for General Vibration Testing

A new triaxial accelerometer from Meggitt Sensing Systems addresses a variety of requirements for general vibration testing. Applications from lighting systems and wireless equipment to helicopter engines and combustion turbines can take advantage of the Endevco model 2228C capabilities. These include:

• Sensitivity of 2.8 pC/g
• Ground isolated
• Light weight (15 gm)
• Requires no external power
• Operation over a temperature range of -55˚C to +177˚C (-67˚F to +350˚F)

For more information about Meggitt Sensing Systems Endevco model 2228C, click here.

Motion Sensing Demoed in Visteon Concept Vehicle

The center console (dashboard) could change dramatically in future vehicles with controls located closer to driver. This frees up space for other options. Visteon demonstrates one possibility using motion sensing to Sensor Tips senior editor Randy Frank at CES 2011.

To view the video, click here.

To find out more about instrument panel technologies from Visteon, click here.

Using Texas Instruments BQ24210 in Solar Energy Harvesting

Any energy harvesting system requires some level of power management including battery charging. At CES 2011, Jon Beall, product marketing engineer in the Battery Management Solutions Division of Texas Instruments, explains the functionality that the BQ24210 provides to a solar energy system.

To view the video, click  here.

For more information about the BQ24210 800mA, Single-Input, Single Cell Li-Ion Solar Battery Charger, click here.

Revolutionizing the Design of Sensor Systems

Anti Sleep Pilot Targets Driver Drowsiness

Demonstrated at CES 2011, the Anti Sleep Pilot is an aftermarket automotive device intended to predict and prevent the consequences of driver fatigue. Personalized calculations of the driver’s fatigue level using reaction times established from initial tests allow the Anti Sleep Pilot to determine when to alert the driver to take a break.

To see the video explaining the set up and in-vehicle operation, click here.

To learn more about the Anti Sleep Pilot, click here.

Sensing in the AR.Drone Quadricopter

Controlled by a cell phone (iPhone/iPod, Touch/iPad and others), Parrot’s AR.Drone quadricopter uses pressure sensors (for altitude) and camera sensors for its control. At the 2011 International CES in Las Vegas, Yoni Benatar, project manager for Parrot explains the sensors in the wirelessly-controlled aerial robot to Sensor Tips senior editor Randy Frank. The AR.Drone employs sensor fusion to take advantage of multiple sensors. While the background chatter is high, this video provides a real good example of the environment at CES.

To watch the video, click here.

For more information about the AR.Drone quadricopter, click here.

IR Sensing Used in Instrument Panel Concept

At the 2011 International CES in Las Vegas, an expert in Visteon’s tent demonstrates infrared (IR) technology to sense where a driver points in a concept instrument panel to Sensor Tips senior editor Randy Frank. Occupant interface technology using IR sensing tracks the finger and has advantages over a capacitive proximity sensing.

To see the demonstration, click here.

To find out more about instrument panel technologies from Visteon, click here.

Robotic Floor Cleaner Relies on Sensors

At the Digital Experience at the 2011 International CES in Las Vegas, Evolution Robotics displayed a robotic hardwood floor cleaner that used several different types of sensing technologies. For navigation, the robot uses a NorthStar navigation system that provides a GPS-like beacon using infrared technology to the robot to guide the robot’s path across the floor. Stephan West of Mint explained this and the other sensing capabilities of the robotic floor cleaner to Randy Frank.

To view the video of the Mint in action click here.

For more information about the technologies in the Mint Automatic Floor Cleaner click here.

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