Measure Relative Humidity and Temperature Without Wires

Wireless is the must-have attribute for many of today’s consumer and industrial products. When you get two for one, so much the better. With Omega’s UWRH-2 wireless relative humidity transmitter users get both relative humidity and temperature measurements. The battery-powered unit transmits these readings as well as signal strength and battery status back to a host receiver up to 120 m (400’) away.

The unit’s temperature range is -17 to 49°C (2 to 120°F) with an accuracy of ±1°C (±1.8°F). The relative humidity range is 2 to 98% RH with accuracy from ±2.5 to ±3.5 % max depending on the temperature range

For more information about Omega’s UWRH-2 wireless relative humidity transmitter, click here.

Pressure Indicating Sensor Film

Typical measurement systems average or provide a point measurement. So how can you quickly observe the pressure distribution across an entire surface in applications such as the interface pressure of gaskets, clamps, heat sealing elements, composite layups, LCD panels, and heat sinks?  One answer is Fuji Prescale, a Mylar tactile pressure indicating sensor film. Simply placing the 4 to 8-mil thick film between two surfaces and then applying the normal or other desired measurement criteria (max, min, overstress, etc.) pressure produces a permanent color change directly proportionate to the pressure. Since the color change is permanent, it can be archived for future reference. A range of pressure sensitive films are available from 7.2 to 43,200 psi.

For more information about Fuji Prescale sensor film from Sensor Products Inc., click here.

Sense Temperature, Use Less Power in Less Space

Performing a function that you have previously done and consuming considerably less power is a goal for many system designers today. If the solution is crammed into even less space – so much the better. For temperature sensing that is the one-two punch that Texas Instruments delivers with its TMP103 digital temperature sensor.

The TMP103 draws a maximum of 1 µA while in shutdown mode and 3 µA while in active mode to extend battery life. Its active state power consumption is approximately half the power of the next closest competitor in shutdown state.

The two-wire IC is packaged in a four-ball wafer chip-scale package (WCSP) that measures only 0.76 mm x 0.76 mm. Capable of reading temperatures to a resolution of 1°C, the sensor’s two-wire interface is compatible with both I2C and SMBus interfaces and can support up to eight daisy-chained sensors.

For more information on TI’s TMP103 digital temperature sensor, click here.

Wireless Temperature Sensing Using SAW Technology

Vent Technology Helps Oxygen Sensor Eliminate False Alarms

False alarms and premature device failures are issues for some sensors but if the application is detecting safe oxygen levels, the situation is even worse. To address those problems, City Technology developed the 4OXV, an oxygen sensor that incorporates unique vented technology.

 Mechanically and electrically compatible with previous generations of City Technology’s 4OX family, the 4OXV’s vented technology and other design improvements reduce lead exhaustion, electrolyte leakage and inappropriate response to environmental variability. These are the three main causes of premature failure of oxygen sensors.

The sensors target industries where reduced or elevated atmospheric oxygen is a potential hazard, such as oil and gas, confined space entry or chemical manufacturing. In these applications, people must be warned instantly if the oxygen level changes.

For more information about City Technology’s 4OXV oxygen sensor click, here.

Sensor Signal Conditioner Integrates Lin Transceiver

Resistive bridge sensors are common in automotive systems and frequently they connect using the vehicle’s LIN bus. For those applications, ZMDI’s ZSSC3170 IC could be an ideal solution. The single chip combines a fast and precise sensor conditioning IC with a robust LIN transceiver.

Designed for powering directly from the vehicle’s 12V supply, the ZSSC3170 has maximum analog gain of 420, as well as extended offset compensation capabilities. The unit conforms to LIN specifications 1.3 / 2.0 / 2.1.  The circuitry is packaged in a SSOP-20 but is also available in die format

The IC targets air-conditioning, level measurement and seat adjustment applications in vehicles with an integrated LIN interface.

For more information about ZMDI’s ZSSC3170 sensor signal conditioner IC, click here.

Vision Sensor Reads Linear and Data Matrix Codes

With its Sharpshooter ID vision sensor, Balluff now has an ID version designed to read a large range of linear bar codes and 2D Data Matrix codes, as well as optical character verification (OCV).

The vision sensor can read more than 10 types of linear bar codes, including PDF417 and 2D Data Matrix codes. The Data Matrix code reader reads both printed and direct part mark (DPM) based marks. Since alphanumeric characters like date codes or expiration codes can typically coexist with barcodes, the ID version also has an OCV tool to verify these values.

For more information about Balluff’s Sharpshooter ID vision sensor, click here.

STMicroelectronics’ Three MEMS Sensors Provide 10 DoF

If a single MEMS sensor is good, a system that provides 10 degrees of freedom (DoF) should be an order of magnitude better.

The three ST MEMS sensors include a geo-magnetic module, a gyroscope, and a pressure sensor. With these sensors, a consumer device can provide a complete indication of its linear acceleration, angular velocity, earth gravity, heading and altitude. The sensors provide three axes of linear motion, three axes of angular motion, three axes of magnetic motion and an altitude axis resulting in ten degrees of freedom (DoF).

In a 3 x 5 x 1mm package, the LSM303DLHC geo-magnetic module integrates three-axis sensing of linear and magnetic motion.

In a 4 x 4 x 1-mm package, the L3G4200D three-axis digital gyroscope provides output accuracy and stability over temperature and time.

While it is only available now in the 10-DoF sensor solution for evaluation, the pressure sensor provides the altimeter portion of the system. In a 3 x 3 x 1-mm package, the device has an operating pressure range of 260 – 1260 millibars. This corresponds to the atmospheric pressures between -700 and +10000m relative to sea level.

Energy Harvesting for Sensing Applications Update

If you are interested in the possibility of using energy harvesting
technology to power a wireless sensor network, there are few tools that you should consider to determine if this can make a difference in your next system design.

The 308-page book, Energy Harvesting for Autonomous Systems written by Stephen Beeby and Neil White of the University of Southampton and published by Artech House within the last year and provides chapters on RFID, photovoltaic, kinetic, and thermoelectric
energy harvesting as well as power management, energy storage and a a case study.

At Sensors Expo 2011 in Chicago, the Energy Harvesting
Track on Tuesday and Wednesday provide attendees special insight into the products and their applications from eleven companies.

For those seeking a focused in-depth look at energy
harvesting, the Power Management: Energy Harvesting & Storage Symposium on Monday provides information
from a dozen of the leading energy harvesting companies.

Using LIDAR for Transmission Power Lines

Dave Brown of Terra Remote Sensing explains the use of LIDAR (Light Detection And Ranging) technology to Randy Frank at the IEEE 2011 Power Systems Conference & Expo (PSCE) held March 20-23, 2011, in Phoenix, AZ. LIDAR is being widely used by utility companies to map transmission lines for adverse conditions and vegetation.

For more information on Terra Remote Sensing’s LIDAR technology, click here.

To watch the video, click here.

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