Audio, data, and fibre connectors!

Cliff Electronics has announced the FT Digital XLR Feed-Through connector series. The FT Series is a complete range of audio, data, and fibre connectors that can be front or rear mounted into an industry standard 24mm XLR connector mounting hole. The new FT Series are simple to mount into any panel designed to accept XLR connectors including instrument, control and rack panels, wall-plates, etc.

John Hall, General Manager of Cliff Electronics tells us ; “Our new FT series of feed-through digital XDR connectors offer a low cost, highly flexible and customisable solution to adding digital control connectors to standard audio and AV control panels. Using the same, industry standard, XLR connector cut-out already extensively used for audio and control connections greatly simplifies control panel design and manufacture”

The new Cliff FT series is ideal for developing custom I/O solutions used in broadcast, AV installations, systems integration, home theatre, etc. The RJ45 versions are suitable for creating Ethernet hubs and patch points in industrial applications.

The FT Series offers true feed-through connection, allowing standard cabling to be used to connect at both front and rear, eliminating the need to solder or terminate the connections and simplifying and speeding up assembly and servicing.

Current options include both USB 2.0 and 3.0 LC and SC fibre, RJ45 in both Cat6 and Cat5e with and without shielding, connector “gender” change and further options will be introduced throughout 2015.

Cliff Electronics will also be offering 1RU and 2RU 19” rack panels and wall-plates to further allow customised solutions.

For ease of assembly the Cliff FT Series are available with standard or countersunk mounting holes. The connector shells are made of high impact plastic, the same material used on Cliff’s standard plastic XLR connectors, field proven to be rugged and reliable. Bezels are available in 7 colours to identify the function of FT connectors when fitted to a control panel.

Fastest 50 in USA: Sensors and their systems on show!

For the second consecutive year, the leading event in the USA focused exclusively on sensors and sensor-integrated systems, Sensors Expo & Conference has been named to Trade Show Executive's (TSE) Fastest 50 list. Recognised in the category of “Total Attendance,” the 2014 Sensors event welcomed over 5,000 attendees to explore the latest in cutting-edge sensor innovations. The 2015 Conference is expected to continue to grow as the industry’s longest running sensor event moves to the West Coast June 9-11 at the Long Beach Convention Centre in California (USA)

“Sensors Expo & Conference has been providing attendees with the knowledge and access they need to the latest in sensor technologies for the past 30 years, but with the rapid evolution of the market and the introduction of new concepts such as the Internet of Things, the demand for education and early access to innovations has never been higher,” said Mat Dirjish, Executive Editor, Sensors Magazine, official publication of the event. “We are thrilled to be recognized by TSE for our efforts to educate and connect this new generation of sensor evangelists as they seek out new technologies and create new solutions.”

Featuring the largest showcase of sensing technologies on the market today and with more than 65 conference sessions dedicated to topics such as Energy Harvesting, Internet of Things, MEMs, Sensors Fusion, Sensors at Work, Smart Cities, Wireless, and Wearables, the 2015 Sensors Expo & Conference offers engineers and innovators the ideal environment for education, networking, and access to the latest in sensing technologies. Hosted in Long Beach, California, the event also provides attendees with easy access to Silicon Valley and the cutting-edge markets of Aerospace & Defense, Medical, and Entertainment.

For 2015, Sensors will also offer new and expanded exhibit and sponsorship opportunities, including new Technology Pavilions, Product Showcases, Startup Opportunities, Branding Sponsorships, and more. More than 200 companies are already scheduled to exhibit including All Sensors Corp., Analog Devices, B-SCADA, EM Microelectronic, Freescale Semiconductor, Hoffman + Krippner, LORD MicroStrain, PCB Piezotronics, ROHM Semiconductor, Texas Instruments, and ZMDI. 

Non-contact signal transmission for same cost as slip-ring types!

The Kistler Type 4520A sensor for measuring torque on shafts rotating at up to 10,000 rpm uses frequency modulation to transmit the torque signal from the rotating shaft without contact and convert it into an analogue signal.

This system is considerably more reliable than slip-ring signal transmission which can suffer signal loss due to dirt and wear on the slip-rings. In the past, contactless sensors have been more expensive than slip-ring types but this design costs about the same as inferior slip-ring types.

The sensor has a TTL speed signal at 60 pulses/rev. and an external 100% range check input. Ten units cover the range from 1 to 1,000 Nm, all with standard ±10 V signal output, and 150% overload capacity. Suitable for static and dynamic measurement of torque in assembly, for quality control in production and in laboratory applications.

Wearable electronics enabled by sensors!

The wearable devices space is viewed as the next goldmine of opportunity for sensor manufacturers as profits shrink in the smartphone and tablet segments. Further, the sensor landscape for wearable devices will gain a new dimension through the entry of software and hardware giants such as Google, Apple, Samsung  and Intel. 

New analysis from Frost & Sullivan, Wearable Electronics Enabled by Sensors,  finds that the sensors market earned revenues of €70 million   ($108 m)  in 2014 and estimates this to catapult to €710 million ($800 m) in 2020.

“Rising average life expectancy and increasing awareness on health and fitness monitoring have fuelled the adoption of wearable devices,” said Frost & Sullivan Measurement and Instrumentation Senior Industry Analyst Sankara Narayanan. “In addition to clinical healthcare, medical, fitness & wellness applications the wearables market is witnessing a series of new product launches, such as Heads-up Displays, smart watches, smart fabrics, wrist bands, and glasses that are used across various consumer, industrial and other verticals. As the need to collect various physiological data and quantified self-movement surges, wearables will incorporate more complex electronics and sensors.”

Since the wearable electronics ecosystem is complex, a combination of both hardware and software knowledge is required for companies to make it big in the industry. Many firms do not have the skill to design products from scratch. Further, the need to integrate a large number of sensors inside a wearable device poses serious problems in terms of battery life and time to market.

Sensor platforms, rather than sensor components, will play a critical role in wearable device innovation and shortening time to market. Sensor platform companies, with expertise in sensors, low-power processing, and wireless connectivity, can design solutions with the desired number of sensors while ensuring robust battery life and reduced power consumption.

“Sensor platforms fill the software-hardware knowledge gap, enabling rapid prototyping of wearables and helping wearable designers do their own hardware design,” added Narayanan.

• Complimentary access to more information on this research

Connector distributor of the year announced!

MH Connectors, manufacturer and supplier of  I/O interconnect products has awarded its Distributor of the Year 2014 accolade to RS Components.

Damien Croft, Head of European Sales, EDAC Europe; Adrian Robinson, EDAC Group President & CEO; Phil Dock, Global Head of Product & Supplier Management, RS Components.

Presenting the award Damien Croft - newly promoted Head of European Sales at MH Connectors'  parent company EDAC Europe - congratulated RS Components on winning the award for a second time: "RS was MH Connectors' Distributor of the Year in 2012,” said Croft. “Winning it again in 2014 reflects RS's outstanding dedication to our brand and the technical expertise and customer support delivered by the RS team. We hope the Distributor of the Year award will be an inspiring platform on which to extend the partnership between our two companies into 2015 and beyond.”

Receiving the award Phil Dock, Global Head of Product & Supplier Management at RS Components, commented, “MH Connectors’ versatile, high-quality interconnect solutions strengthen our position in the marketplace and complements our broad portfolio of products from highly respected brands. We will strive to achieve even greater success in the future.”

Robust humidity sensor helps keep trains moving in cold weather.

A manufacturer of safety equipment for railways relies on Michell’s Humidity and Temperature sensor, PF72-Series, to monitor and control its range of railway switch-point heating systems. ‘Points’ are the sections of track that move to switch the trains from one track to another. Because of their moving parts and exposed conditions, they are susceptible to freezing in cold weather if not heated. The heating system measures the temperature and humidity around the point so the systems can automatically react to changes in temperature and prevent the point from freezing. As with any railway application, the measurement equipment must not only be robust it also has to be extremely reliable. In addition to its primary safety function the sensor helps the customer to save energy as the heating system is only switched on when necessary and does not over-heat the area. The stainless steel PFMini72 relative humidity probes are based on the I7000 Hygrosmart relative humidity module. This interchangeable module has miniaturized electronics and does not require recalibration, instead the module is simply replaced, which can be done without specialised equipment. Because the I7000 is small, engineers can carry a supply with them and exchange them on the spot to ensure the heating system continues to operate. • Michell products are marketed in Ireland by Instrument Technology.

Measuring vibration on your phone app!

Fluke has introduced the handheld Fluke® 805 FC Vibration Meter, a portable multifunction vibration screening tool that provides quantifiable information on the bearings and overall health of motors and other rotating equipment, and shares that data in real time via Fluke Connect™.

The 805 FC is ideal for frontline mechanical troubleshooting teams that need reliable and repeatable measurements of rotating equipment to make imperative go/no-go maintenance decisions.

Vibration screening is a critical part of motor maintenance, and trending measurement data over time provides invaluable insight into long-term motor health. This instrument automatically saves vibration data wirelessly to Fluke Connect cloud storage so authorised team members can view all of the measurement data for each asset with the Fluke Connect app on their mobile devices before they leave the inspection site.

Using EquipmentLog™, technicians and managers can get all their measurement data in one place to get the complete asset story. EquipmentLog history allows technicians to assign measurements to specific equipment, creating a cloud-based history of all test measurement data (e.g. vibration, electrical, infrared images) for easy access during both troubleshooting and reliability maintenance.

Technicians can also share measurements with other team members in real time with ShareLive™ video calls to get approvals for repairs or get questions answered without leaving the field.

It measures overall vibration from 10Hz to 1,000Hz and provides a four-level severity assessment for overall vibration and bearing condition. It detects peaks in the vibration signal readings of roller bearings from 4,000Hz to 20,000Hz, and uses a proprietary algorithm to interpret severity to determine if the bearing is going bad. And it features an infrared sensor that automatically measures surface temperature and displays it along with the vibration reading for a broader understanding of machine health.

The 805 FC has a unique sensor tip design that minimises measurement variations caused by device angle or contact pressure. This reduces operator error and improves the accuracy and repeatability of quick vibration screening. The meter also provides a severity scale for both overall vibration and bearing condition readings, delivering more information than typical vibration pens.