Motion Detector Sends Alerts to Your Phone

The S-PIR is a self-contained motion detector with a built in GSM modem for sending a SMS text message to you when a zone is breached.

Instillation is simple as SeNd Technoolgy states that you just register the pay-as-you-go SIM card with some credit and insert into the S-PIR, plug in the mains transformer and you are ready to configure. Then by SMS change the security passcode and add your mobile number – and it’s ready.

To “arm” just “ring” the S-PIR for a few seconds and it will give you a 15 second window to leave the secure area.

When the PIR sensor next detects motion you will receive a SMS informing you.  The S-PIR will then call you so you can hear (via the units built-in microphone) and activity at the remote location.

www.sendtech.co.uk

Motion Sensor Meets Tough Automotive Safety Requirements

The latest dual die, 12-bit magnetic rotary encoder targets challenging applications

Austriamicrosystems  today expanded its extensive magnetic rotary encoder portfolio with the AS5245, a fail-safe magnetic rotary encoder IC specifically designed to address stringent automotive requirements like reliability, accuracy and safety.

Austriamicrosystems’ new AS5245 targets safety critical automotive applications such as pedals, transmission and steering wheels where a failure can be lethal and is completely unacceptable. The AS5245 motion sensing IC is based on austriamicrosystems’ industry leading expertise in proven stacked-die technology. This technology fulfills the requirement of true redundancy in safety applications. AS5245 covers the trend towards more active safety with built-in redundancy and on-chip diagnostic features.

Based on austriamicrosystems´ stacked-die technology, the AS5245 provides best phase matching capabilities. No additional temperature compensation, calibration or shielding against external magnetic stray fields is needed.

Customers benefit from the most cost optimized solution for safety critical systems.

To give system designers more flexibility during evaluation, the digital angle data of the AS5245 is provided either as a simple serial interface or as a PWM signal. In addition, an incremental quadrature output mode with an improved interpolation algorithm can be enabled and permanently programmed with a resolution of 10 or 12 bit.

The standard features of austriamicrosystems’ extensive encoder portfolio include user-specific zero programming, Chip-ID and diagnostic functions for the correct positioning of the magnet. An internal voltage regulator allows the AS5245 to operate at either 3.3 V or 5 V supply within a wide ambient temperature range of up to 150°C. The AS5245 is available in a lead-free QFN 32 package.

www.austriamicrosystems.com

Ultrasonic Distance Measurement Sensor

Minneapolis, MN – SICK launches the UM30-2 Ultrasonic Distance Measurement Sensors, featuring a new EasyTouch display and keypad that enables easier setup, configuration, and access to advanced problem solving features. The UM30-2 line offers increased measurement performance and is 25% shorter, providing more installation options. These sensors are ideal for detection and distance measurement applications, such as roll diameter control, level control, clear bottle detection, and collision avoidance.

The sensors’ increased performance includes actual measurement enhancements and valuable advanced features that can be activated to solve common application problems. The sensors’ resolution has been improved and now offers 0.18 mm resolution throughout the entire measurement range of the UM30-2 family. The new EasyTouch display and keypad allow for easy setup and quick commissioning and provide access to 14 advanced features without using any external PC or programming module.

Advanced features enable users to connect multiple sensors together to act as one large sensor, which increases the sensing area for more robust collision avoidance or for monitoring difficult target surfaces. They can also be connected together and programmed to multiplex to avoid cross talk and mutual interference. Another common problem solved by using the sensors’ advanced features is to ignore foreground or background targets, making it ideal for level detection to ignore signal reflections from the rim of the vial/bin/hopper/bottle/tube and only output the distance to the material inside. These solutions were previously not available in standard ultrasonic sensors and now provide more opportunities for you and your customer.

SICK
www.sickusa.com

TLM Military Grade Lithium Batteries

Port Washington, NY – Tadiran introduces TLM Military Grade Batteries, a family of rugged, high energy lithium metal oxide batteries developed specifically for military and aerospace applications.

TLM Military Grade cylindrical batteries feature an open circuit voltage of 4V, with a discharge capacity of 500 mAh (20 mA at 2.8V RT), capable of handling 5A continuous pulses and 15A maximum high current pulses. These batteries are constructed with a carbon-based anode, multi metal oxide cathode, organic electrolyte, and shut-down separator for enhanced safety. TLM Military Grade batteries also feature low self-discharge and a wide operating temperature range of -40°C to 85°C. These batteries comply with MIL-STD 810G specs for vibration, shock, temperature shock, salt fog, altitude, acceleration (50,000 gn) and spinning (30,000 rpm) and conform to UN 1642 and IEC 60086 standards for crush, impact, nail penetration, heat, over-charge and short circuit, and can be shipped as non-hazardous goods.

TLM Military Grade batteries meet the demanding requirements of single use applications such as avionics, navigation systems, ordinance fuses, missile systems, telemetry, electronic warfare systems, GPS tracking and emergency/safety devices, shipboard and oceanographic devices. These batteries come in a variety cylindrical configurations and can easily be assembled into custom battery packs to meet virtually any requirement.

Tadiran
www.tadiranbat.com

Energy West LLC Announces Representation of Janitza electronics GmbH in North America

Huntington Beach, CA – Energy West LLC announces that they have reached an agreement with Janitza electronics GmbH to represent their line of products, specializing in the measurement and management of energy.

Janitza electronics GmbH concentrates on the development and production of efficient systems for energy measurement, power quality, and cost savings. As a leader in the European market, Janitza has grown internationally as a producer of universal measuring devices, energy management systems, and power quality solutions.

With this partnership, Energy West LLC will be able to offer additional value added solutions to provide to the end user. This partnership allows Janitza to enter the North American market, while Energy West LLC enables their continued growth and international presence.

“We are extremely pleased with this latest agreement,” explained Dan Lent, Vice President of Energy West LLC. “This addition to our solutions portfolio, along with Janitza’s experience and German technology, opens additional markets for us. I truly believe that Janitza will become one of Energy West LLC anchor lines of application solutions in addition to contributing to Janitza’s successes.”

Energy West LLC, can immediately provide sales and service solutions for the Janitza line of products in the US and Mexico. For additional information on Energy West LLC or Janitza electronics GmbH, please contact Chris Sheetz, Director of Operations, Energy West LLC.

Energy West LLC
www.nrgwest.com

Battery Free Operation of Sensor Nodes

One factor that is holding back the widespread use of wireless sensor networks is the hundreds of thousands of batteries potential users must maintain. Micropelt GmbH, specialists in thin film thermoelectrics, may have solved this problem. The TE-Power NODE, a thermo-powered wireless sensor system has a built-in chip thermogenerator that takes a few degrees of temperature differential and harvests that thermal energy to operate the wireless sensor node, enabling unlimited battery-free operation.

The TE-Power NODE consists of a 60 by 27 mm footprint aluminum base plate that carries up to two MPG-D751 thermogenerators, allowing the energy supply to be scaled for the amount needed by the application. An aluminum heat spreader is mounted on top of the thermogenerators and is stabilized and insulated by a PCB that also holds the receptacles for various plug-on modules. The heat spreader has threaded holes for access to various heat sinks, allowing for detailed exploration of the device’s thermal path and easy repair. To convert the variable incoming thermo-voltage into a battery-like constant voltage, the original TE-Power PLUS DC/DC converter was modified to supply a constant 2.4 V and to charge a 100 µF capacitor to feed the duty cycle of the accompanying pluggable wireless system.

The TE-Power NODE evaluation kit transmits multiple channels of digital sensor data helping users and integrators of thermoharvesters better understand many aspects of their implementation in terms of application scenarios and energy budgets.

The kit uses accepted ultra-low-power technology from Texas Instruments (TI), supporting both IEEE 802.15.4 compliant and custom systems. 

To operate the wireless sensor node, it must be attached to a suitable heat source. After a few seconds the node begins transmitting information to a PC through TI’s standard eZ430-RF2500 USB receiver module. In about 2 msec, a stack protocol transmits the temperature of the thermogenerator’s hot and cold sides once every second along with the respective operating voltage. An additional I2C standard based digital sensor interface supplies a channel for optional transmission of data such as vibration or pressure values. 

Micropelt’s battery-free thermal energy harvesting technology can power ultra-low-power microcontrollers and RF transceivers, enabling many possibilities in the wireless sensor market. 

Said Dr. Nurnus, “Our measurements prove that an effective 3.5° C across the thermogenerator can drive applications. This can even be achieved through harvesting body heat.”

Burkhard Habbe, VP business development added, “Thermoharvesters right now represent a viable energy supply for many applications including most IEEE 802.15.4 based systems. Even a few hundred microwatts supplied continuously can easily outperform a good set of batteries. Mass production of devices is scheduled to start in 2010.

Micropelt GmbH
www.micropelt.com

Top 25 most searched for terms for March 2009

Top 25 most searched for terms on Sensor Tips.com for March 2009 Read more

“Enlightened” Atoms Defy Uniformity

When atoms in a crystal are struck by laser light, their electrons, excited by the light, typically move back and forth together in a regular pattern, resembling nanoscale soldiers marching in a lockstep formation. But according to a new theory developed by Johns Hopkins researchers, under the right conditions these atoms will rebel against uniformity. Their electrons will begin moving apart and then join together again repeatedly like lively swing partners on a dance floor.

Moreover, the researchers say, this atomic free-style dancing can be controlled, paving the way for tiny computer components that emit less heat and new sensors to detect bio-hazards and medical conditions.
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