Today’s home appliances are increasingly connected for remote monitoring and control and smarter due, in part, to numerous sensors. The sensors help even lower end appliances implement their basic functions and, more importantly, enable smarter, top end appliances. While sensors provide these capabilities for several home appliances, this two-part series will describe sensing functions for […]
Capacitive
How can sensors save energy and improve sensor node battery life?
In a battery-powered, wireless sensing node, the biggest energy consumer typically is the RF transmitter. The transceiver should have extremely low power in active, wait and even sleep modes. A one-second snapshot of the current consumption in the various portions of the transmission cycle shows the current draw of 15 mA for the 7.5-ms receive […]
Schurter wins coveted 2022 LEAP Awards
Schurter took home the bronze medal in the recently completed 2022 Leap Awards for product innovation. The LEAP Awards celebrates the most innovative and forward-thinking products serving the design engineering space. Schurter won in the Sensors and Switches category covering equipment feedback devices such as mechanical switches and photoelectric, proximity, reel, and hall-effect sensors. Submissions […]
How can you sense ripening fruit?
A diet high in fruit (and vegetables) can reduce the risk of developing heart disease, cancer, inflammation and diabetes. But the fruit needs to be fresh for a sustainable, healthy diet. Several techniques are being used to detect ripening fruit. One company, smartGAS in Germany, has two different sensors to detect the ethylene (C2H4) that […]
How can you see through walls?
It depends on what you want to “see” and how much you want to pay. To locate a stud, the old school technique of tapping a tool on the wall for acoustic differences used hearing rather than sight and it was free. Initially, battery-operated stud finders used magnets to find screws and nails and provided […]
Switches: The complete guide
From DIP, rotary DIP, and slide switches to tactile, rocker, push button, and toggle switches, there is a nearly limitless range of mechanical switches differing in size, shape, interfaces, and features. Although a relatively basic component in electronic design, each switch type has its benefits, drawbacks, and ideal use cases. Because all switches serve a […]
What are the different types of fingerprint scanners?
Fingerprint scanners, which were once reserved for biometric logging systems and attendance systems, are now part of regular smartphones and much more. Fingerprints have been a trusted method of personal identity. Combined with face id or other biometric identification systems like retina scanning, fingerprints offer an impeccable way to recognize any person. With a blast […]
What sensors are in a modern washing machine? Pt 1
The number and different types of sensors in cars and smartphones are cited frequently and certainly are impressive. However, sensor usage in many other areas is increasing as well. Appliances, which are not replaced as frequently as vehicles and smartphones, could surprise many people with the different sensing functions and types of sensors used in […]
Illuminated keyswitch series integrates LED
C&K has developed an illuminated keyswitch series that offers smooth, positive tactile feedback with a clear tactile sound for superior ergonomics and ease of use. The D6 Series illuminated keyswitch features an integrated LED, reducing costs and simplifying the design of the illumination path. As a result, the D6 Series is used in a wide […]
IO-Link adds flexibility and control to capacitive smart sensor
Balluff designed its new block-style capacitive smart level sensor with IO-Link for applications with highly conductive fluids like acids and bases, using smart level 50 technology to compensate for foam and deposit build-up. And thanks to its IO-Link interface, it delivers expanded application and setting options. IO-Link’s automatic parameter setting allow the user to see […]
