Fascinating! Steering wheel that keeps you awake!

The innovative SensoFoil sensing technology now can measure sensitivity in addition to position according to a release from Hoffmann-Krippner Inc., in cooperation with Guttersberg Consulting. 

By using enhanced SensoFoil to measure pressure, car and vehicle manufacturers can add an extra level of safety to their steering wheels. During normal driving, the operator is constantly moving their hands on the steering wheel, changing pressure as the fingers grip the wheel. However, by using Hoffmann-Krippner’s SensoFoil inside the steering wheel, the vehicle can now sense if the driver’s hands are now longer moving  – if the operator has fallen asleep with their hands on the wheel or if their hands are no longer on the wheel. This can trigger the correct safety protocol to either wake up the driver or to implement corrective measures.
(See fascinating video below!)

Traffic experts claim that about 25% of all accidents are caused by extreme fatigue while driving. This makes nodding-off, also referred to as “micro-sleep“, in combination with heart attacks, as  the leading cause of accidents, exceeding the number of accidents caused by alcohol and drugs.

Once alerted by the Smart Steering Wheel, the car can try to wake the driver or take over control and steer the vehicle to a safe stop along the road. In case of medical emergency, the car could even drive itself to the closest medical emergency center while sending out an alert to the appropriate authorities.

The sensor can also be programmed for pressure in certain locations. This can be used in a vehicle to control various location, emergency, entertainment or communication systems. This same feature can be used in game controllers, aircraft, etc., as an economical way to add additional programmable capabilities to a controller or joystick device without the need for extra buttons or dials.

“Pressure Sensing SensoFoil cost effectively provides extra features and capabilities to a diverse range of products,” says Jens Kautzor, CEO of Hoffman + Krippner, Inc. “In addition, this sensing technology requires very little external energy since power consumption is very low. The sensor system is insensitive to electromagnetic radiation and therefore ideal for the automotive, aerospace and medical sectors.”

HOD-Sensor Produktvideo from Guttersberg Consulting GmbH on Vimeo.

In-Chassis PROFIBUS® Interface at the price of a Gateway.

ProSoft Technology’s new PROFIBUS DPV1 Master and Slave modules for CompactLogix™ gives the convenience and functionality of an in-chassis PROFIBUS® interface at the cost of a gateway

The Master module integrates with RSLogix™ 5000 using a sample Add-On Instruction, which reduces its configuration time.

The Master module’s Autoscan feature helps reduce configuration and startup times by scanning the PROFIBUS network and uploading the slave devices’ addresses and configuration information so the user doesn’t have to manually input the information. The Master module also enables asset-management software to remotely configure, commission, maintain and diagnose your fieldbus devices over their entire lifecycle.

The Master module’s SD card allows the user to store configuration files, which can be used for disaster recovery.

Event for petroleum & environment!

PEFTEC 2015, the international petroleum, refining and environmental event (Antwerp 18th-19th November), is set to become a major date in the diaries of anyone involved in the testing, analysis and monitoring of downstream oil products and petrochemicals.

PEFTEC organiser Marcus Pattison says: “The response to our Call for Papers has been overwhelming and the Exhibition is rapidly filling with this sector’s major instrumentation and laboratory equipment manufacturers, so we are looking forward to an extremely busy show.”

PEFTEC 2015 is a new Conference and Exhibition created specifically for chemists, scientists, laboratory staff, academics, researchers, process engineers and environmental managers working in petrochemicals and in refineries. Taking place at the Antwerp Expo, PEFTEC will be situated at the centre of one the world’s largest cluster of petrochemical companies.

New CO2 detector added to range!

The OLCT 10N is a digital detector from Oldham, designed for commercial or industrial use in ATEX zone 2 environments or areas without explosion hazard classifications.

Designed to detect explosive gases (CH4, H2, C3H8 and C4H10), toxic gases (CO, NO, NO2, H2S and NH3) or oxygen, the OLCT 10N now includes an infrared sensor for detecting CO2 in three different ranges: 0-5000 ppm, 0-5% vol. and 0-100% vol.

Associated with the MX43 controller, the OLCT 10N makes electrical installation easier with a fieldbus network that allows for up to 30 detectors to be connected on the same line!

High efficiency PSU distribution in Britain!

Astute Electronics is to join the distribution network of Excelsys. Astute will distribute solutions from Excelsys Technologies to customers in the Military, Security, Communication and Defence Industries throughout Britain.

“Astute’s successful engineering driven demand-creation coupled with their preferred supplier status at the UK’s leading Tier 1 OEM’s will help Excelsys generate significant new opportunities, particularly for our Hi-Rel COT’s products” said Conor Duffy, European Sales Manager at Excelsys.

“Astute has a proven track record in developing and maintaining excellent partner-based relationships with both their customers and suppliers. The expert Sales and Applications Engineering Teams at Excelsys will work together with Astute to provide additional power options, rapid design-in and applications support, easing system integration and helping customers meet their business needs”.

Astute will particularly focus on our range of High-Rel COTS power supplies including Xgen, UltiMod and Xsolo, all of which are all field proven. They deliver best in class efficiencies and power densities with industry leading reliability and their unique levels of flexibility allows our customer to release better products faster. These platforms are all designed for use in harsh operating environments common in the Military, Security, Communication and Defence Markets; typical applications from 200W to 2KW include: Radar Systems, Simulators, Diagnostics, Test & Measurement and Data Processing and Communications.

As a world-class power supply manufacturer, Excelsys has a global applications team to support and assist customers with their specific system needs.

Energy harvesting switches.

CHERRY Energy Harvesting Switch Modules meet the increasing demand for simple and flexible wireless data transmission of switch signals with maintenance-free low energy consumption. 

Cherry's innovative wireless and battery-less Energy Harvesting Technology provides effective control solutions for countless applications in almost every market sector including industrial and building automation, smart home and medical.  Designed for global use this innovative technology enables CHERRY to offer an excellent alternative to wired or battery-powered solutions. Compatible with multiple wireless protocols and with no need to change or dispose of batteries the solution is flexible, environmentally friendly and maintenance-free.

The key to this new product range is the Energy Harvesting Generator which uses a patented mechanism to convert mechanical force into electrical energy in the form of an RF output signal.  IP40 protected, offering a lifetime of 1,000,000 switching cycles and an operating temperature range of -40 to + 85°C, versions are available with momentary and latching switch actions and can offer a range of up to 300m in open space.

For communicating with host systems CHERRY offers a ZF proprietary protocol, and is happy to work with customer-specific requirements. To ensure worldwide wireless compatibility the system may be specified to operate at 868 MHz and 915 MHz, or 2.4 GHz for lighting applications.

Two standard packaged switches are available to actuate the Energy Harvesting Generator, a momentary rocker switch and a snap switch. When a switch is operated it will provide data transfer via RF technology. Offering minimum 100,000 switching operations IP40 protection and an operating temperature range of -20 to +60°C these high reliability switches can transmit up to 30m inside buildings

Flexible pairing allows the operation of several switches with one receiver and vice-versa, and a switch “Unique ID” provides clear identification while operating several switches at once. Up to three telegrams are sent per actuation, with pseudo-random timing to assure robust data transmission.

• Cherry’s standard energy harvesting switch modules are available to buy now from RS Components.

Stand alone data loggers.

With its Expert Logger, Delphin Technology  has introduced a new generation of data loggers that combine the latest communication technology with advanced measurement technology. The device is being launched in three versions, capable of processing 16, 32 or 46 analog input channels. Up to 8 digital inputs/outputs and one SDI12 interface are also available depending on the version. The main areas of application include product testing, environmental measurement technology, laboratory data acquisition, research and development, and trials and testing.

All analog inputs are galvanically isolated from each other. A 24-bit A/D converter ensures fast, precision sampling rates of up to 50 measurements per second per channel. The devices are maintenance and noise free due to the absence of electromechanical components (such as relays) that are prone to wear and tear.

All Expert Loggers are equipped with internal 4 GB memories that can independently store up to 100 million measurement values with date and time stamps. Storage capacity can be extended as required via external USB or LAN storage (NAS). Online measurement data or the contents of the data memory can be transmitted to the internet via an integrated WLAN or UMTS module.

The Expert Logger is also equipped with an energy-saving “sleep function“ for automated switching off during breaks in measuring. Independent operation is possible using batteries, rechargeables or solar panels. The Expert Logger can communicate as standard via CanBus, ModBus and ProfiBus.

Internal software channels such as calculation channels, limit values and integrators enable online evaluation of measurements and the logging of meaningful data.

Users can quickly and effectively operate the Expert Logger using the powerful ProfiSignal Go
software that is included free in delivery. ProfiSignal Go can be used to portray measurement data in trends and to carry out detailed analyses. The software also enables fast ASCII exporting of measurement data for MS Excel™ or for conversion into TDM format.