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RFID Sensing Accesses Door Lock
May 31, 2010 by Randy Frank
Filed under Proximity
Touch sensing was demonstrated as an alternative to commonly used magnetic key sensing for authorizing access to a locked door in a previous Sensor Tips video. At the Hospitality Design Expo, at the Sands Convention Center in Las Vegas, May 19-21, Jon Nevison demonstrates another option using RFID technology for authorizing access. The implication from these two alternative technologies replacing a well-established approach is rather obvious: designers need to consider new options when updating an older product to expand future sales.
For the video demonstration from the Hospitality Design Expo, click the quick play button below.
Proximity Sensor for Welding Applications
May 7, 2010 by Randy Frank
Filed under Featured, Inductive, Proximity
Rather than frequently replacing a sensor in an abusive welding environment, a new inductive proximity sensor can provide increased impact protection. Balluff’s BunkerProx M18 sensor has a thick housing for withstanding mechanical impact in welding applications. A frontal-impact deflection ring protects the face from repeated welding impacts. In addition, the sensor’s ceramic face resists weld spatter burn-through up to 2200°F. With these and other improvements, the new sensor has demonstrated 10X increased life compared to a previous design. The M18 sensor has a PNP, normally open output and a sensing range of 4 mm.
For more info on Balluff’s BunkerProx M18 proximity sensor go to http://www.balluff.com/Balluff/us/NewsChannel/News/en/Bunkerprox+Inductive+sensors.htm
Position Sensor Measures Without Touching Its Target
The KD-2446 high-precision proximity sensor system from Kaman Precision Products offers lead-free RoHS compliance in a compact DIN package that is simple to install. Featuring a 10 KHz analog output and threshold-adjustable 3.3 KHz switched output, the KD-2446 is a flexible solution for hight speed automated manufacturing and process control applications.
The KD-2446 performs with 0.0008 percent FS resolution and 0.56 percent FS switch point hysteresis. With CE and RoHS compliance, the system is appropriate for OEM applications with worldwide distribution, including displacement, vibration, sorting and event capture.
Using inductive, eddy current technology that measures without touching the target, the sensor system also offers high performance with both ferrous and non-ferrous targets. It consists of two sub-assemblies: the sensor with integral cable and the signal conditioning or electronics module. Input voltage is variable from 12 to 24 volts DC, and gain is adjustable for up to 22 volts output, with 24 volt DC input.
The Kaman KD-2446 system comes standard with one of two production sensor configurations, 9C or 5CM. Both sensors are rated for continuous operation up to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
Proximity Sensor Measures Without Touching Its Target
The KD-2446 high-precision proximity sensor system from Kaman Precision Products offers lead-free RoHS compliance in a compact DIN package that is simple to install. Featuring a 10 KHz analog output and threshold-adjustable 3.3 KHz switched output, the KD-2446 is a flexible solution for high speed automated manufacturing and process control applications.
The KD-2446 performs with 0.0008 percent FS resolution and 0.56 percent FS switch point hysteresis. With CE and RoHS compliance, the system is appropriate for OEM applications with worldwide distribution, including displacement, vibration, sorting and event capture.
Using inductive, eddy current technology that measures without touching the target, the sensor system also offers high performance with both ferrous and non-ferrous targets. It consists of two sub-assemblies: the sensor with integral cable and the signal conditioning or electronics module. Input voltage is variable from 12 to 24 volts DC, and gain is adjustable for up to 22 volts output, with 24 volt DC input.
The Kaman KD-2446 system comes standard with one of two production sensor configurations, 9C or 5CM. Both sensors are rated for continuous operation up to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
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
Sensors Detect Metal Targets In Extreme Heat & Cold
For sensing applications exposed to temperatures from -25 degrees C to +180 degrees C, Baumer has introduced the new IFRH Series of Inductive High Temperature Sensors, a family of two-part proximity switches available in M8, M12 and M18 designs with chromium nickel steel housings.
Intended for flush-face installation, the IP67-rated IFRH sensors are designed to detect the presence of metal targets. With an overall length of just 30 mm, the M8 sensor is specifically designed for use in limited-space applications. Depending upon the housing size, nominal switching distance ranges from 1.5 mm to 5 mm.
An FEP jacketed cable connects the sensor’s temperature-sensitive processing electronics to the sensor head, protecting the electronics from damage. The sensors offer an operating voltage range between 10…30 VDC. These sensors are appropriate for use in aerospace, automotive, marine, PCB fabrication, food and beverage processing, oil processing, laboratory automation, rubber and plastics fabrication, chemical processing, packaging, print/graphics, textile production, and water treatment applications.
Multi-Touch ‘Resistive’ Touchscreen Controller Chip
As the latest high-tech devices such as smartphones, mobile internet devices and netbooks adopt multi-touch touchscreens to support increasingly sophisticated ‘apps’ and games,STMicroelectronics has introduced a multi-touch ‘resistive’ touchscreen controller chip to optimize the Bill of Materials of the electronics supporting this advanced capability. The STM32TS60 is the first member of ST’s new STMTouch family, which offers a broad portfolio of solutions including multi-touch devices and proximity and touch-key sensors.
The new multi-touch controller detects up to ten simultaneous touches with fingers, nails or stylus, enabling application designers to replace complex menu sequences with more direct and natural user controls. Actions made easier with multi-touch capabilities include browsing and selecting options, handwriting and data entry, arranging and sizing windows, picking up and dragging images, and fast and intuitive game play. Other abilities include drawing pictures, using touch pressure to adjust line thickness.
Employing resistive touch-panel technology, the STM32TS60 controller offers customers a real alternative and complements the recent industry trend for using capacitive touch technology. Resistive technology is a cost effective and mature high-volume solution that has seen dramatically improved performance over the past few years in terms of durability and display transparency. In addition, it easily overcomes EMI (electromagnetic interference) noise issues, which can be an inherent limitation with alternative touch technologies. Resistive technology is already widely used in PDAs and similar touch-enabled devices and the screens are readily available in standard LCD sizes and at competitive prices.
The new chip combines the company’s STM32 microcontroller architecture with PMatrixTM Multi-Touch technology from ST‘s partner Stantum to achieve fast response times while minimizing system complexity and component count.
The STM32TS60 single-core microcontroller is an added-value solution compared to other expensive multi-core processor or digital signal processors (DSPs) requiring specialized programming expertise.
The STM32TS60’s high EMI immunity makes it suitable for use in multi-function wireless products such as cellphones, notebook PCs, netbooks and mobile Internet devices. Moreover, its low power consumption helps to maximize operating times and recharge intervals, and is a direct benefit of the STM32’s energy-saving design features and ARM® Cortex™-M3 processor conceived for power-sensitive embedded applications. In addition, very-low-power idle mode with ‘wake-up on touch only’ helps further extend mobile battery life.
The STM32TS60 is housed in a 7 x 7mm 144-pin UFBGA package, and is now sampling to lead customers. Volume production is expected for Q2 2010.
Mini-Photoelectric Sensor Has Many Installation Options
The new W15 from SICK is a special kind of miniature photoelectric sensor. The latest sensor and evaluation technologies from SICK meet a highly installation-friendly housing design that is common in the US market. Small wonder that the “transatlantic sensor concept” goes down well in Europe, too.
Due to its “USA design,” the series is interesting both for machine constructors active on the American market and for end customers that operate facilities “made in the USA” and are, if required, able to switch quickly to the W15, which is compatible with respect to mounting and connecting. However, for “European-oriented” clients, too, the W15 is very interesting, considering the elegant mounting options that offer benefits specifically in warehousing and handling systems.
The BGS photoelectric proximity sensor is the star of the series
The W15 is a complete production series. All of the devices share an IP67 enclosure rating. The remarkable thing is that besides the usual complementary output configuration, a bipolar output configuration, i.e. PNP and NPN function in one device, is possible as well. The WSE15 through-beam photoelectric sensor and the WL15 photoelectric reflex sensor alike offer ranges of up to 5 m. Both devices generate a sharp light spot that facilitates alignment of the sensor considerably. The energetic photoelectric proximity sensor convinces with a scanning distance of 350 mm.
The highlight of the series, however, is the WTB15 BGS photoelectric proximity sensor. The sensor combines PinPoint technology with innovative chip technology that involves more than a dozen receiving elements, allowing not only precise and stable background suppression and suppression of extraneous light but also electronic and drift-free adjustment of the scanning range. Object detection occurs independent of color and surface properties, which means that no sensor readjustments are necessary.
Maximum possibilities for installation
Featuring three different installation options, the W15 series leaves hardly anything to be desired. On the one hand, the sensors can be mounted by means of side mounting using the lateral through holes in the housing. In addition, the sensors’ M18 threads offer the possibility of front mounting by means of plastic nut or – particularly elegant – by means of snap-ring. The latter option permits the sensor to be installed flush and blind zone-free, for example, on the lateral guide rail of a roller conveyor, thus allowing object detection at close range without the sensor impeding the material flow on the conveyor system.
Unobstructed view of the sensor status
Independent of the respective installation situation, the W15 sensors provide an unobstructed view of the power and status display: on the one hand, from above directly on to the indicator LEDs; on the other hand, from behind through the transparent back cover of the device.
iWallet Requires Fingerprint & Has Bluetooth Proximity Sensor
Putting aside the rather hokey promotional video created for the iWallet, the product looks like it will find its place in the pockets of the paranoid and those living in urban environments where pick pockets are never too far.
The iWallet comes in two version: carbon fiber or carbon fiber with Kevlar. This should make it not only durable and virtually indestructible, but incredibly uncomfortable to sit on. But that’s a moot point, seeing as you shouldn’t be sitting on your wallet any way. But what truly makes the iWallet unique is the biometric fingerprint reader. Once your finger print has been associated with the iWallet, only you can open the device by swiping your finger trip across the sensor. But wait there’s more! The iWallet can also pair with your cell phone over Bluetooth. In the event that your iWallet is stolen or travels 10-15 feet beyond its proximity, your cell phone will emit an alarm.
The iWallet will begin shipping December 11th and will start at $299.
Proximity Sensors Differentiate Metal Types
TURCK announces their analog+ proximity sensors have been enhanced to differentiate between varying types of metal during detection—independent of their distance from the sensor. Available in ring and flat housings, these material detection sensors provide sensing ranges up to 11 mm and are well suited for stamping, die cutting and metal sorting applications, where different metal types must be readily and accurately detected.
The analog+ material detection sensors use inductive coils whose RF fields are influenced differently for each metal type. The signal difference is then converted into a 0 to 10 VDC analog signal to signify which type of metal is being detected. Additionally, a wide operating temperature rating of -10 to 70°C makes these sensors particularly useful in cold pilger rolling mills used for drawing seamless pipes.
