Sensors Magazine articles from February 2005

Sensors Magazine archives from February 2005

MEMS report card doubles as vendor selection guide.(GUEST EDITORIAL)(Microelectromechanical systems)
February 1, 2005... How do you select a product or service supplier? When you're looking to establish a long-term affiliation that's critical to your products and customer relationships, you need to do some homework. This is true in all areas, but perhaps...

Consolidations promise end-user benefit.(Business Sense)(MSI Sensors )
February 1, 2005... A few years back, Measurement Specialties, a pioneer in pressure sensing, gained recognition for an aggressive schedule of acquisitions. More recently, the company established MSI Sensors (www.msisensors.com) as a separate division and echoed...

China expansion: GE, SCS, Endevco.(Business Sense)(GE Infrastructure launches new products)(Specialty Coating Systems, Endevco Corp. opens new facilities)
February 1, 2005... GE Infrastructure (www.geinfrastructure.com), which GE calls one of its "newest growth engines," has introduced four new technology solutions to the Chinese market. Company officials made the announcement during an event held in Shanghai called...

CANopen growth strongest in sensing.(Business Sense)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2005... The international users' and manufacturers' group, CAN in Automation (CiA, www.can-cia.org), has published figures showing the number of CANopen devices sold in the years 2003 and 2004, and estimating sales for 2005. The study is based on a...

Calendar.(Calendar)
February 1, 2005... Applied Measurements Engineering Training March 7-9, Bohemia, NY www.equipment-reliability.com/course4.htm Optimizing Electronics Vibration Course--HALT, HASS, ALT, and ESS March 14-16, Santa Barbara, CA ...

Ammonia sensor works by diffusion.(Research & Developments)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2005... That chip on the bee's back is a 1 X 1 X 0.38 mm hydrogen sensor. It detects hydrogen from 0% to 100% lower explosive limit, is not cross-sensitive to methane and other flammable gases, and has a power consumption of <25 mW. Here's how it...

Photonic crystal fiber sensors on the way?(Research & Developments)
February 1, 2005... A research team led by Henry Du of the Stevens Institute of Technology is investigating ways to enhance photonic crystal fiber (PCF) sensors, sensor arrays, and sensor networks for applications including remote and dynamic environmental...

Short takes.(Brief Article)
February 1, 2005... We have been annoyed by what various religious figures had to say about the moral cause and significance of the recent tsunami. The catastrophe was entirely neutral--tectonic plate activity caused an earthquake that raised the tsunami and sent...

[O.sub.2] sensors keep your brew bubbly.(AppSnaps)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2005... The ancient Egyptians drank flat beer because they had to. Could be they invented that beverage, but they never figured out how to put fizz into it. Today's beer-drinkers expect a decent head of foam on their brews and want what's underneath it...

RF monitor snitches on container tampering.(AppSnaps)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2005... In these nervous times, those who watch over our borders and ports want to keep an eye not only on who but also on what is trying to enter the country. Containerized cargo is of particular concern; these huge crates could conceal dangerous...

How to measure a ball mill.(AppSnaps)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2005... The gold that lies in the Carlin Trend of Nevada consists of tiny particles trapped in complex ores. The ratio of ore to gold is 200 tons to 1 oz., and the first step toward extracting that ounce is to pulverize the ore in a ball mill. The...

Flexible ammonia detection with voltammetric microsensors: gas sensors, produced by applying voltammetry to solid electrochemical cells, have demonstrated excellent sensitivity and selectivity for a wide range of gaseous chemicals.(SENSOR TECHNOLOGY AND DESIGN)
February 1, 2005... Ammonia (N[H.sub.3]) is a common reagent for and byproduct of numerous processes. Nearly 80% of all ammonia produced in the U.S. is used for agricultural applications including liquid fertilizer, protein for livestock feeds, and antifungal...

Wireless for ... whatever!(EDITORIAL)(Editorial)
February 1, 2005... "The scary scenario for wireless is when everything works great as installed, but then a subsequent installation of air ducting, motors, wires, or an endless variety of other things knocks out the wireless links," explains Brian Mork, principal...

Freescale offers cash prizes in design competition.(SIGNALS)(MC1391/92/93 ZigBee transceivers and ICs)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2005... Use any combination of Freescale's new MC1391/92/93 ZigBee transceivers and ICs (XY-axis and Z-axis acceleration sensors, electric field imaging ICs, compensated pressure sensors, etc.) in an innovative design, and you could win the grand prize...

Developers partner on ZigBee products and sevices.(SIGNALS)
February 1, 2005... While the ZigBee specification has been ratified, the product certification process is yet being developed. Still, vendors continue to fill the pipeline with products that are "ZigBee ready"--i.e., conform to the IEEE's 802.15.4 standard--and...

Security for WiFi.(SIGNALS)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2005... 3e Technologies International (3eTI, www.3eti.com) is teaming with OMNEX Control Systems Inc. (www.omnexcontrols.com) and Phoenix Contact (www.phoenixcon.com) to develop highly secure wireless products for industry using DoD-proven technology....

Calendar.(Calendar)
February 1, 2005... ZigBee Alliance Open House February 28-March 4, San Francisco, CA www.zigbee.org/en/events Embedded Systems Conference 2005 March 6-10, San Francisco, CA www.esconline.com/sf/ 11th IEEE Real-Time and Embedded...

Electronic neighbor.(SIGNALS)(Electronic Concerned Neighbor)(Red Wing Technologies, Inc.)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2005... The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has awarded Red Wing Technologies, Inc. (www.redwingtechnologies.com), a $750,000 Phase II Small Business Technology Transfer grant to fund development of a low-cost, nonintrusive home monitoring system...

Freight fright reduction.(SIGNALS)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2005... GE's security business (www.ge.com) has completed the first commercial field test of the Tamper Evident Secure Container (TESC), a freight container developed jointly with the world's leading manufacturer of maritime shipping containers, China...

ZigBee ratification: here we grow.
February 1, 2005... In compliance with the time schedule established many months ago, the ZigBee Alliance (www.zigbee.org) has ratified the first ZigBee specification for wireless data communications. ZigBee is the only standards-based data communications protocol...

Silicon carbide microsensors for demanding applications: as MEMS sensors move into more extreme environments, the search for an alternative to silicon is on. Recent advances in processing make silicon carbide (SiC) a viable and attractive choice for harsh environment microsystems.(SENSOR TECHNOLOGY AND DESIGN)(microelectromechanical systems )(Cover Story)
February 1, 2005... Over the past decade, microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) have experienced significant growth and market acceptance, driven largely by their reliability, manufacturability, and potential for low unit cost. In the coming decade, microsystems...

How to save your inductive prox sensor from a hostile world: will your inductive proximity sensor be working in a crash-bang manufacturing environment? Learn how to protect it from impact, abrasion, weld slag, and other shop floor assaults.(PUTTING SENSORS TO WORK)
February 1, 2005... Inductive proximity sensors are inexpensive, durable, and resistant to industrial contaminants. But if your sensor will be exposed to target impacts, abrasion, corrosive cutting compounds, and other abuse, you need to pay very close attention...

Mesh for success: selecting the right data model for your wireless sensor network; The term "data model" refers to the way in which information flows through a network. Here are five major data models, each appropriate for a particular type of application.(INTELLIGENT SYSTEMS)
February 1, 2005... Sensor networks based on wireless mesh networking architectures have evolved into a power- and cost-efficient way to manage sensors remotely. These architectures, which make it possible for devices to self-organize without human intervention,...

Leak test system.(Product News)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2005... The Falcon from Cincinnati Test Systems, Inc., Cleves, OH, simultaneously determines leak location and total leak rate. The system interfaces with a matrix of Intelense sensors; in-probe microprocessors initiate data processing. The software...

1 W OEM radio modem.(Product News)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2005... The 9XTend 900 MHz OEM RF modem from MaxStream, Inc., Lindon, UT, has power output selectable from 1 mW to 1 W (30 dBm) conducted while consuming 780 mA at 5 V. The wireless modem modules feature 256-bit AES encryption, hardware/software for...

Network-based control system.(Product News)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2005... Yokogawa Corp. of America, Newnan, GA, has enhanced the configuration and control functions of its STARDOM network-based control system, which consists of function-specific control, operation, and monitoring components that are networked...

Vibration spectrum analyzer.(Product News)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2005... The DAS-1258 from Datastick Systems, Inc., Campbell, CA, attaches to a Palm PDA for vibration spectrum analysis for ICP accelerometers. Using included software, you can view FFT displays on the PDA of up to 13 different frequency ranges from...

Portable weather station.(Product News)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2005... NovaLynx Corp., Grass Valley, CA, offers the Model 110-WS-18 for temporary weather data gathering. The system is housed in a weatherproof case and one person can deploy it in

Temperature/vibration output sensor.(Product News)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2005... IMI Div., PCB Piezotronics, Inc., Depew, NY, offers the TO640B 2-wire, loop-powered current-output sensor, which provides both temperature and vibration outputs. Temperature range is -40[degrees]C to 85[degrees]C, and vibration output is...

Sensor-to-Network interface.(Product News)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2005... Sensor Synergy, Inc., Buffalo Grove, IL, offers the Network-Enabled Equipment Monitor (NEEM) Model 112 that generates live Web views of data from common analog sensors and provides electronic data sheets and Web log information to supplement...

4-mode photoelectric sensor.(Product News)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2005... The Photo Virtu from Hyde Park Electronics, LLC, Dayton, OH, features 4 sensing modes: diffuse, background suppression, polarized retroreflective, and throughbeam. The sensor uses an external, removable pushbutton for teaching. The flat-profile...

Thermocouple converter.(Product News)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2005... The T82000-NK from S-Products Inc., Fairfield, CT, mounts in the connection head of a Nicrosil thermocouple and provides an output equivalent to that of a Type K thermocouple. Features include [+ or -]1.5[degrees]C accuracy, full scalability...

Signal conditioning module.(Product News)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2005... The Intelligent Transmitter from Wilcoxon Research, Inc., Gaithersburg, MD, is a vibration transmitter that converts traditional accelerometer signals to 4-20 mA for use in existing PLC/DCS networks (for condition trending) and also provides a...

Radar level gauge.(Product News)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2005... Designed to measure the distance, level, and volume of liquids, pastes, and solids, the OPTIWAVE 7300 C from KROHNE, Inc., Peabody, MA, has a max. range of 40 m. Higher signal dynamics let the gauge detect small level changes and locate the...

16-bit data converters.(Product News)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2005... Analog Devices, Inc., Norwood, MA, has extended its nanoDAC family of DACs in SOT-23 packages with 9 new offerings, pin-compatible from 12 to 16 bits. The 16-bit AD5060 and AD5660 are suited for space-constrained test and measurement equipment...

Compact signal interfaces.(Product News)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2005... For acquiring avionics bus, video, and PCM data, Heim Data Systems, Inc., Belmar, NJ, offers the UAR40 and UAR80 4- and 8-channel MIL-STD-1553, MRG40 8-channel PCM, and VCR40 4-channel video high-capacity signal interfaces. The plug-in modules...

Tube and hose level sensor.(Product News)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2005... Snapped onto plastic tubes, rubber hoses, and small glass or plastic pipes, the TLS 100 from E-T-A Circuit Protection and Control, Chicago, IL, detects the presence or absence of liquids at a chosen level within the tubes. The capacitive level...

Ultrasonic label sensor.(Product News)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2005... The UltraLRD from Lion Precision, St. Paul, MN, uses a high-frequency signal transmitted from the bottom of the sensor through the label web, to the top of the sensor. Signal strength depends on the amount of material through which it travels,...

Wireless temperature recorder.(Product News)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2005... Capable of recording up to 4095 readings/channel and transmitting data up to 1 mile away using a repeater, the RF TC4000A thermocouple recorder and wireless transmitter from MadgeTech, Inc., Warner, NH, is compatible with all common...

Flow transducer.(Product News)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2005... The F Series flow transducer from Proportion-Air, Inc., McCordsville, IN, can measure gas flows as low as 2 scfh with a real-time output of 0-10 V or 4-20 mA. As the gas passes through a special venturi orifice, the resulting pressure change is...

Leak detection probe.(Product News)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2005... An accessory to its H2000 hydrogen leak detector, the AP-57 counter flow probe from Sensistor Technologies, Inc., North Billerica, MA, lets you locate leaks that are out of sight or in confined spaces. The probe allows you to activate a...

Machine vision appliance.(Product News)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2005... Designed for applications involving multiple inspections based on independent views of the same part, the iNspect from ipd, Intelligent Products Div., Coreco Imaging, Inc., Billerica, MA, ships with all required software, hardware, user...

14-bit simultaneous sampling ADCs.(Product News)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2005... Maxim Integrated Products, Sunnyvale, CA, offers 3 families of 14-bit simultaneous-sampling ADCs: the 0-5 V, MAX1316/MAX1317/MAX1318; the [+ or -]5 V, MAX1320/MAX1321/MAX1322; and the [+ or -]10 V MAX1324/MAX1325/MAX1326. Features include 93...

Quick-locking connectors.(Product News)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2005... SPEEDCON connectors from Phoenix Contact Inc., Harrisburg, PA, provide a secure, watertight, and vibration-proof connection between cord sets and devices and do not require special adapters. Compatible with all standard M12 connectors, SPEEDCON...

Data management software.(Product News)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2005... Arendar 2005 from VI Technology, Inc., Austin, TX, adds a Web portal, SPC analysis, and open architecture to the company's enterprise test data management software. Other improvements include a query browser, DIAdem enhancements, interactive...

Dual-sensor camera.(Product News)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2005... Sensors Unlimited, Inc., Princeton, NJ, offers the Visible-InGaAs SU320Mvis 1.7RT MiniCamera, a tiny dual-wavelength-range camera that simultaneously images in the visible and short-wave IR (SWIR) spectrum. Built around the company's InGaAs...

RH/temperature module.(Product News)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2005... The EE03 from E+E Electronik GmbH, Engerwitzdorf, Austria, is a temperature and humidity measurement and dew-point detection module for OEM applications. Originally designed for automotive applications, the module communicates via 2-wire...

Laser transmitter for bulk solids.(Product News)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2005... The all-digital LaserTrak 2000 from ASI Instruments, Houston, TX, is designed to measure dry bulk solids at distances up to 60 m. The transmitter's laser has a wavelength ~1 [micro]m, resulting in virtually no beam divergence and the ability to...

LVDT smart indicator.(Product News)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2005... Electro Standards Laboratories, Cranston, RI, offers the Model 4215-LVDT for the measurement and control of dual-channel LVDT measurement fixtures. The indicator has 2 LVDT channels, print capabilities, and RS-232/-485 serial communications and...

Temperature, humidity monitoring.(Readers' Choice)
February 1, 2005... Sensicast Systems, Inc., Needham, MA, offers its Environmental Monitoring Solution (EMS), which links temperature and humidity sensors with its flexible wireless mesh sensor networking platform. The sensors conduct real-time environmental...

Mel's picks.
February 1, 2005... While Danny Banks's Introduction to Microengineering is not the most exhaustive discussion of MEMS chemical sensors, it is a clear explanation of how the various types of microengineered chemical sensors work, with excellent explanatory...