Mesh Sensor Networking
Accsense Inc., Santa Barbara, CA, offers a line of wireless sensor Pods that measure ambient temperature, humidity, light, noise, and vibration and automatically form a secure, self-healing mesh network with a wireless range of up to 4000 ft. Pods accept 4–20 mA, 0–5 V, contact closure, and pulse counter inputs and can measure up to 9 different properties simultaneously. A Pod Gateway lets you connect the sensor network to the Internet and an online account for monitoring, delivering alarms, storing, and analyzing data. (866-670-3500, [email protected], www.accsense.com)
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Mini Unshielded Proxes
Balluff Inc., Florence, KY, has expanded its line of long-range mini inductive proximity sensors with 4 mm and 5 mm unshielded versions with a sensing distance to 5 mm. The sensors allow you to use smaller sensors without sacrificing sensing range. Applications include small-part detection where a high level of miniaturization is needed for installation in a constrained space, such as robotic tooling and automated assembly systems for the semiconductor, medical, and electronics industries. (800-543-8390, [email protected], www.balluff.com)
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Air Velocity Transmitter
Designed to measure air speeds and gas flows from 0–40 m/s, the EE75 air velocity transmitter from E+E Elektronik GmbH, Engerwitzdorf, Austria, uses a hot-film sensor element for high sensitivity even at very low mass flows. Working ranges for air velocity are 0–2 m/s, 0–10 m/s, and 0–40 m/s. You can configure the transmitter to output gas velocity, temperature, and corresponding volume flow as an analog output. (+43-7235-605-0, [email protected], www.epluse.com)
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Bridge/Strain Gauge Logger
The OM-CP-BRIDGE110 from Omega Engineering Inc., Stamford, CT, is a portable data logger for use with strain gauges, load cells, pressure and position transducers, torque sensors, and load bolts. The device records up to 32,767 measurements and its real-time clock module allows high-speed downloads and extends battery life to >10 yr. You can retrieve data by plugging the logger into a computer's COM port. Data are stored in nonvolatile memory. (888-826-6342, [email protected], www.omega.com)
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Contactless Rotary Sensor
The SRH880 from Penny + Giles Controls Ltd., Christchurch, U.K., is a contactless rotary Hall effect position sensor in a rugged aluminum or corrosion-resistant SS housing. The sensor has a 12 mm dia. shaft, an 88 mm housing, and an IP68M rating and is fully submersible and capable of operating at depths of up to 2 m. The sensor provides an electrical output over 90°, 180°, 270°, or 360°. Output is 0.5–4.5 VDC or PWM. (+44 (0)1202-409409, [email protected], www.pennyandgiles.com)
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Industrial Wireless Radios
FreeWave Technologies Inc., Boulder, CO, offers the FGR-HTplus, a 900 MHz Ethernet radio for high-throughput, long-range wireless communication. Range is >60 miles and can be extended farther by using repeaters. Frequency-hopping provides interference rejection, making the device suitable for mission-critical applications in challenging RF environments. (303-444-3862, [email protected], www.freewave.com)
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8051 Microcontroller
The VRS51L2070 from Ramtron Intl. Corp., Colorado Springs, CO, is an 8051-based microcontroller that delivers the power and speed of a 16-bit MCU without migrating from an 8-bit device. The microcontroller incorporates a 40 MIPS, single-cycle 8051 core; 64 KB of Flash memory with in-system/in-application programming; 4 KB of SRAM; a JTAG program/debug interface; DSP extensions; and a robust digital peripheral set. (514-871-2447, www.ramtron.com)
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USB DA System
CompactDAQ from National Instruments, Austin, TX, is a USB-based modular DA system for sensor and electrical measurements on the bench top, in the field, or on the production line. The 8-slot chassis accepts I/O modules capable of measuring up to 256 channels of electrical, physical, mechanical, and acoustic signals. All modules are hot-swappable and autodetectable and offer up to 2300 Vrms of isolation. Four dedicated USB signal streams provide synchronous analog and digital I/O. (800-813-3693, [email protected], www.ni.com/contact)
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Chemical Warfare Agent Detector
The ChemRAE from RAE Systems Inc., San Jose, CA, is a portable chemical warfare agent detector, available as a stand-alone portable instrument or as a wireless component of the AreaRAE rapid deployment hazardous environment detection platform. ChemRAE is based on open-loop ion mobility spectroscopy which lets you identify CWA threats in 30 s or less. It differentiates between nerve, blister, blood, and toxic chemicals and stores a historical log of events. (408-952-8200, www.raesystems.com)
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Embedded Device Server
The Nemo10 embedded device server from Sena Technologies Inc., Milpitas, CA, is designed for OEM users who want to embed Ethernet connectivity directly onto circuit boards of equipment such as security systems, factory machinery, and medical devices. Serial interfacing is via a TTL interface that includes serial transmit, receive, DTR, and DTR lines and supports data transfer speeds up to 115.2 Kbps. (866-887-7362, [email protected], www.sena.com)
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Accelerometer
The LCF-2530 from Jewell Instruments LLC, Manchester, NH, is a rugged, servo, flexure-suspension, fluid-damped, dual-axis accelerometer with better than 1 µg resolution. Designed for applications where EMI is of concern, the device is optimized to provide high accuracy and repeatability for low-g acceleration measurement. (800-638-3771, [email protected], www.jewellinstruments.com)
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Time-to-Digital Converter
The TDC-GPX chip from Acam-Messelectronic GmbH and distributed in the U.S. by Transducers Direct LLC, Miamiville, OH, is a time-to-digital converter suited for use in navigation systems, missile defense systems, rangefinders, and medical imaging scanners. The GPX has 4 selectable operating modes. I-mode (81 ps resolution and infinite measurement range), G-mode (40 ps resolution and 65 µs measurement range), R-mode (27 ps resolution and 40 µs measurement range), and M-mode (10 ps rms resolution and 10 µs measurement range). (513-583-9491, www.transducersdirect.com)
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Electronic Compass
The Revolution GS from True North Technologies LLC, Maynard, MA, is a strap-down electronic compass for users who need high accuracy, repeatability, and low power consumption in dynamic environments. The compass combines a precision 3-axis solid-state magnetometer, 2 angular rate gyros, and a dual-axis electrolytic tilt sensor. Two sets of independent filters, one for pitch and one for roll, combine the gyro and sensor measurements to achieve the best results. (978-897-5400, www.tntc.com)
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Capacitive Sensor
Schurter Inc., Santa Rosa, CA, offers the CLS 16 capacitive sensor for controlling liquid levels in nonmetal and metal tubs and tanks. The unobtrusive and flat design is suited for use in sinks, bathtubs, hot tubs, spas, and other containers of nonaggressive liquids. The sensor features a 16 mm mounting dia., 8 mm mounting depth, an NPN output, and is fitted with a sealing O-ring and hex nut. (800-848-2600, [email protected], www.schurter.com)
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