Sensors

An ISA100 Wireless-based field wireless vibration sensor from Yokogawa has the ability to quickly update data as well as a long battery life. ISA100 Wireless is a technology that is based on the ISA100.11a standard. It includes ISA100.11a-2011 communications, an application layer with process control industry standard objects, device descriptions and capabilities, a gateway interface, infrared provisioning, and a backbone router.

When most people think of winter they think of Christmas time, mistletoe and wine. However it also means burst pipes and ensuing chaos. The latter of that sentence is closer to home than you might think and in a process plant it is about as welcome as a pair of socks for Christmas. Fortunately steps can be taken to minimise its likelihood.

A high-precision programmable Hall-effect linear sensor Integrated Circuit (IC) has been announced by Allegro MicroSystems, with an open-drain output for both automotive and non-automotive applications.The signal path of Allegro’s A1342 provides flexibility through external programming that allows the generation of an accurate and customised output from an input magnetic signal.

A global distribution agreement signed by Digi-Key and SPEC Sensors covers a range of ultra-low-power sensors. SPEC Sensors specialises in low profile, ultra-low-power gas sensors that enable the integration of high performance gas sensing.

Linearised calibration curves and very low standard dispersion rates are the reason that the distance-measuring inductive sensors IR08, IR12 and IR18 from the Baumer AlphaProx family offer easy and reasonably priced analysis of the measurement results without any additional cost or effort for programming.

 Tyco Gas & Flame Detection has announced that the Meridian Hydrogen (H2) Sensor is now available.

The release of the new family has been announced by Allegro MicroSystems Europe, as a fully integrated current sensor linear ICs in a new core-less package designed to sense AC and DC currents up to 100A. Allegro’s ACS780/ACS781 are provided in this new automotive-grade, low-profile (1.5mm thick) sensor IC package that represents the highest current density of any Allegro current sensor IC package to date. 

Featuring eight ports for 16”/outputs is the new IO-Link actuator/sensor hubs from Balluff. They allow for example, signals from up to 16 switching sensors to be collected from a distance of up to 20m so that they can be made available to the machine controller via IO-Link and an IO-Link master using a simple 3-conductor cable.

  Being able to measure AC or DC circuit voltages up to 1,200V with a single sensor is now possible with the new the VTU Voltage Transducer from NK Technologies.

While bridge collapses are rare, there have been enough of them to raise concerns in some parts of the world that their condition is not sufficiently monitored. Sweden is taking a hi-tech approach to its aging infrastructure. Researchers from KTH Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm are rigging up the country’s bridges with multiple sensors that allow early detection of wear and tear. The bridges can even tweet throughout the course of a day.