MEMS Technology Summit Will Bring Together Several Industry Pioneers

Using the 25^th Anniversary of the founding of NovaSensor as a celebration backdrop, the MEMS Technology Summit will be held at Stanford University on October 19-20, 2010. The event will celebrate the25th anniversary of the company founded by MEMS industry pioneers Dr. Kurt Petersen, Dr. Janusz Bryzek and Mr. Joseph R. Mallon Jr. (shown in the picture).

Other industry pioneers who will present their views on the future of MEMS technology at the conference include Professor Kensal (Ken) Wise of the University of Michigan, Professor Tom Kenny of Stanford University, Dr. Ken Gabriel of DARPA, Professor Emeritus Stephen Senturia of MIT, Professor Emeritus Richard Muller of the University of California Berkeley and Dr. Jiri Marek of Bosch (Germany). 

MEMS technology provides the basis for many of today’s pressure sensors, accelerometers, gyroscopes and other sensors, actuators and more.

For more information on attending this unique event, click here.

Humidity and Temperature Sensor Qualified to Automotive AEC-Q100 Requirements

Many environments require special qualification testing to prove that the product can withstand more than usual application requirements. This can include Underwriters Laboratories (UL), International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) or in the case of automotive, the Automotive Electronics Council (AEC).

Sensirion’s SHT21 humidity and temperature sensor has passed rigorous AEC Q100 qualification testing. The capacitive type humidity sensor and an improved band gap temperature sensor are Implemented in a standard semiconductor fabrication process.  Sensirion’s CMOSens technology enables the sensor component to be combined with the analog and digital signal processing circuitry. As a result, the output of the SHT21 can be either digital I2C, analog pulse width modulated (PWM) or analog Sigma Delta Modulated (SDM) format.

An evaluation Kit EK-H4 is available for the SHT21.

 For more information on Sensirion’s SHT21 humidity and temperature sensor, click here.

Kistler Single-Axis IEPE Accelerometer Weighs in at Just 3.5 Grams

Kistler’s recently announced Type 8640A accelerometer is an Integral Electronics Piezoelectric (IEPE) unit that has an IEEE TEDS (Transducer Electronic Data Sheet) option. Besides weighing only 3.5 grams, the 0.394 x 0.394-inch sensor has an integral 10-32 connector and a 5-40 UNC-2B stud mount as part of its hermetically-sealed, welded titanium housing. The internal ceramic cantilever beam sensing element is thermally compensated with a temperature coefficient of sensitivity of 0.1302 %/°F.

Designed for the multi-channel modal and structural analysis of small or thin-walled structures and components, the accelerometers are offered in ranges of ±5 g, ±10 g and ±50 g, with sensitivities from 100 to 1000 mV/g.

 For more information about Kistler 8640A accelerometers click here.

KEYENCE Laser Displacement Sensor Provides Fast Sensing

KEYENCE LK-G5000 Laser Displacement Sensor uses a newly developed RS-CMOS sensor to provide a sampling rate of 392 kHz – eight times faster than previous models. With ±0.02% Full Scale Linearity and 0.01µm repeatability, the sensor also has several additional capabilities. ABLE (Active Balanced Laser Control Engine) II balances laser emission time, laser power and gain for optimum performance. The sensor has three selectable built-in algorithms:

1-Real Peak Detect (RPD) algorithm avoids pattern distortion of translucent object

2-Multi-Able Control optimizes the laser intensity for transparent targets

3-Center and Peak Composition (CPC) algorithm attains more stable high-definition measurements for high luster resins

 The LK-G5000 can also measure speed and acceleration while measuring displacement. 

 For more information about KEYENCE LK-G5000 Laser Displacement Sensor, click here.

Meggitt Sensing Systems Ultra-small Triaxial Accelerometer

Measuring acceleration in a very small form factor can pose significant challenges. In addition to the right performance capability, the packaging and connectivity as well as the weight of the accelerometer must not interfere with the measurement. Designed for these types of measurements, Meggitt Sensing Systems’ Endevco model 35A ISOTRON triaxial accelerometer with its integral electronics offers a solution. Weighing 1.1 grams without its cable, the 35A avoids the undesirable effects of mass loading on small test structures.  The tri-axial accelerometer has a range of ±1000g with a typical voltage sensitivity of 5 mV/g. It comes with field repairable and factory replaceable fine gage wires (34 AWG) as output leads.

For more information about Meggitt Sensing Systems 35A triaxial accelerometer, click here.

Sensors Expo 2010 Exhibitors: MicroStrain Energy Harvesting

If you missed Sensors Expo or did not get a chance to check out all the exhibits, here is another of the interesting booths that I visited. Steve Arms from MicroStrain explains energy harvesting powered wireless sensing and the Sensors Expo 2010 Silver Award winning EH-Link. To see the video, click the arrow link below.

For more information about MicroStrain wireless energy harvesting solutions, click here.

Sensors Expo 2010 Exhibitors: Henkel Electronics

If you missed Sensors Expo or did not get a chance to check out all the exhibits, here is another of the interesting booths that I visited. Steve Saito from Henkel Electronics explains the company’s low pressure molding materials for sensors. To see the video, click the arrow link below.

For more information about Henkel Electronics materials for sensors, click here.

Sensors Expo 2010 Exhibitors: ASM Sensors

If you missed Sensors Expo or did not get a chance to check out all the exhibits, here is another of the interesting booths that I visited. Fred Fiedler from ASM Sensors explains the company’s newest approach to angular magnetic sensors. To see the video click the arrow link below.

For more information about ASM Sensors magnetic angle sensors, click here.

High Temperature LVDT Position Sensor for Military/Defense Applications

The usual 150C maximum operating temperature won’t cut it in many military and defense applications. For those who need to make position measurements in ranges of ±0.05″ to ±10″ [±1.25 mm to ±250 mm] at operating temperatures up to 400°F (200°C), Macro Sensors HSTAR 750 Series Hermetically Sealed Position Sensors could provide the solution.

 In addition to their maximum operating temperature of 200C, the 3/4 inch (19 mm) diameter AC-operated LVDTs are environmentally sealed to IEC IP-68, so they can handle rugged application requirements.

 The design targets the harsh environments found in military and defense applications such as fuel / oil level monitoring, load leveling of artillery platforms and controlling flight surfaces of airplanes and rudder positions of aircraft carriers, tankers, ships as well as submarines.

For more information about Macro Sensors HSTAR 750 Series Hermetically Sealed Position Sensors, click here.

Ease Temperature Concerns: We’ll Call You

Adding to its USB, and Wi-Fi editions, Temperature@lert Cellular Edition monitors the ambient temperature in a server room or other critical area and alerts the user via email, telephone and text message when the temperature rises or falls outside of an acceptable range. The pre-calibrated digital temperature sensor is accurate to within ±0.5°C with a range of -40°F to +200°F. Plugging the Temperature@lert Cellular Edition into a power outlet initiates transmission of temperature readings over the AT&T and T-Mobile cellular phone networks to the company’s 24/7 monitoring system and dashboard website.

For more information on Temperature@lert Cellular Edition go to: http://www.temperaturealert.com/Remote-Temperature/Temperature-Alert-Cellular-Sensor.aspx

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