Despite wide use of “soft” on/off switching, the traditional electromechanical switch is still often required or preferred and is available in countless versions. Switches are an integral, very necessary part of most electronic products. They have two broad roles: As power switches which, as their name indicates, cut the flow of power from the source, […]
The automotive Tire Pressure Monitoring System, Part 4: Issues
Sensor-based monitoring systems for tire pressure can warn of potential problems, but there’s much more to the story than just a pressure-measurement system. The TPMS adds a highly specific safety-related feature to cars. However, as with many presumably good ideas, the “devil is in the details”, and that’s especially true for the TPMS. There are […]
The automotive Tire Pressure Monitoring System, Part 3: Implementation
Sensor-based monitoring systems for tire pressure can warn of potential problems, but there’s much more to the story than just a pressure-measurement system. Once the decision was made to use the direct measurement technique, IC vendors developed the needed components and equally important packaging. A TMPS requires a significant amount of analog, digital, and RF […]
The automotive Tire Pressure Monitoring System, Part 2: Perspectives
Sensor-based monitoring systems for tire pressure can warn of potential problems, but there’s much more to the story than just a pressure-measurement system. During the comments phase before the formal safety mandate was published per the legislative direction, the automotive-related communities had differing views on the need or wisdom of the electronic TPMS: The auto […]
The automotive Tire Pressure Monitoring System, Part 1: The situation
Sensor-based monitoring systems for tire pressure can warn of potential problems, but there’s much more to the story than just a pressure-measurement system. You may have had the misfortune to have the “Check Engine” light come on in your car. This single illuminated indicator encompasses a wide range of possible problems ranging from trivial where […]
The challenge of temperature measurement and sensor calibration, Part 3
Temperature is a widely measured real-world physical variable, but achieving credible results is harder than it seems, even for a simple device such as a kitchen oven. While many temperature-related measurements require high accuracy, precision, and repeatability – let’s say, to better than 1⁰C – many others do not, yet still bring challenges. Consider the […]
The challenge of temperature measurement and sensor calibration, Part 2
Temperature is a widely measured real-world physical variable, but achieving credible results is harder than it seems, even for a simple device such as a kitchen oven. What is temperature, anyway? While we all “know” intuitively what temperature is, actually defining and calibrating its readings is a complicated discussion. A fundamentalist approach is to go […]
The challenge of temperature measurement and sensor calibration, Part 1
Temperature is a widely measured real-world physical variable, but achieving credible results is harder than it seems, even for a simple device such as a kitchen oven. Calibration of a sensor and its associated electronics channel before making critical measurements or monitoring system performance is a common requirement in many situations. In some cases, it’s […]
Graphene-based flowmeter sensor measures nano-rate fluid flows, Part 3: The sensor
The first part of this article looked at the challenges of sensing nano-level flow rates such as found in the blood vessels. In contrast, the second part looked at graphene, an allotrope of elemental carbon at the heart of a new sensor used to measure those flows. This third and final part looks at the […]
Graphene-based flowmeter sensor measures nano-rate fluid flows, Part 2: The graphene context
The previous part of this article looked at the challenges of nanoflow sensors, especially with respect to blood flow. This part looks at graphene, which is the basis for the new sensor. Graphene is a material structure which did not exist until relatively recently. However, its constituent element of graphite – the crystalline form of […]
