Eco-Friendly Sensors: Good for the Environment and Applications

Recycled corn by-product – it’s not the first design aspect I look for in a sensor. However, Carlo Gavazzi’s engineers used a potting material made of a recycled corn by-product to obtain higher resistance to mechanical stress and increase the reliability, improve the stability and provide a longer sensor lifetime for its ICB Series inductive proximity sensors.

The Eco-Friendly Inductive Proximity Sensors have air-core sensing coils that replace traditional ferrites and coils. This design provides two application advantages. For one, it has a higher immunity to magnetic fields than traditional coils. Secondly, because the sensor has no ferrite coil that could crack, it can withstand higher vibration levels and impacts than older inductive proximity sensors.

Additional information on the ICB Series includes a brochure and data sheet.

Limited Space? Not a Problem for Short Proximity Sensor

With its 6-mm package, Balluff claims to deliver the shortest self-contained inductive proximity sensors in the world. The fully integrated SuperShorty sensors do not require additional amplification and include reverse polarity and short circuit protection.

The sensors have a 1.5 mm sensing range with PNP and NPN and normally open and normally closed versions. 

 Three housing styles in metal, stainless steel and plastic, smooth or knurled plastic housings that can be press fit or glued into place and 90º cable add to sensor ability to mount in extremely small spaces.

For more information about Balluff’s SupertShorty proximity sensors, 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.

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.

RFID Sensing Accesses Door Lock

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

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