Sm3+ doped TiO2 as optical oxygen sensor material

The luminescence properties of Sm³⁺ in sol–gel-made nanostructural TiO₂ were shown to depend on surrounding gas environment.

Both the intensity and lifetime of the luminescence increased with increasing oxygen content varied between 0% and 100% in the O₂/N₂ mixture at normal pressure. The luminescence decay kinetics after pulsed excitation at 355 nm followed the stretched exponential function with the value of stretching exponent equal to 0.4–0.5.

The mechanism of oxygen sensitivity was interpreted as resonant excitation energy transfer from Sm³⁺ to the acceptor defects, the latter being switched on and off the resonance by electron exchange with surface-adsorbed oxygen. Oxygen vacancy related defects were proposed as most likely candidates of energy acceptors. The studied material can be used for luminescence lifetime based optical oxygen sensor.

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LG Innotek unveils flexible textile pressure sensors

LG Innotek today announced a development of new concept textile flexible pressuresensors. This sensor senses pressure from the entire surface of the sensor and it is even bendable.
Pressure sensors can measure the level of the external force. Being installed in medical ap-pliances and automobiles to gauge and analyze the pressure, it is used for individual cus-tomized service.

Former commercialized sensors are coin shape and made of PCB substrates or PET films, making them difficult to bend or deform. And it was difficult to measure the pressure uniform-ly from the large area because of its point sensing way. Even it gives feeling of irritation when the sensor touches your body.

LG Innotek's sensors have highly elastic polyurethane material to fit your body comfortably. And its measurement of face pressure distribution by sensing capacitance change caused by pressure. The company has filed thirteen patents regarding the related technologies in South Korea and secured the product quality for mass production in this year.

The company's development of the textile flexible pressure sensors are flexible, making them suitable for products such as gloves and chairs that come in direct contact with the human body.

This new pressure sensor makes it possible to implement new features by utilizing the pres-sure information in various areas such as health care and automotive.

In Health-care areas, the sensor helps to improve accuracy of Telemedicine. When the pa-tients wear the device or walk on the carpet, the sensor can detect body balance and acting patterns. The information from the device will automatically be sent to the medical centre

If you apply this sensor to your sports gear, you can be served more detailed and improved training service for yourself. For example, the sensor detects the pressure of your hands on the golf club as well as the position of your hands. Then, it sends the information to your smartphone to help you find the perfect grip.

You can attach these sensors to automotive for safety and convenience. The sensor under-stands your posture, body type and weight to automatically correct height of car-seat or pressure of airbag.

If you apply the sensor to a chair, it measures the pressure on the seat and sends the data to you. You can use this information to correct your posture or analyze your study patterns.

The company developed special polyurethane material that is sensitive to the pressure and has great elasticity, and inserted the material between the electronic fibers. When an external force is applied to the sensor, electric poles inside the fiber detect the deformation to de-termine the pressure. 

This product is very durable in various environments. It works normally over 240 hours from 40 degrees below zero to 80 above zero. A sensor remains functional even after the average 70-kg man sit on the sensor 100,000 times.

Changhwan Kim, Head of the LG Innotek's R&D Center said, "We tried to break away from the previous method and attempt new methods to develop innovative products." He also said, "We will continue to develop materials and components in various fields to provide new experiences to our customers." 

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Portable optical oxygen sensor based on time-resolved fluorescence

A new, simple signal processing, low-cost technique for the fabrication of a portable oxygen sensor based on time-resolved fluorescence is described. The sensing film uses the oxygen sensing dye platinum meso-tetra (pentfluorophenyl) porphyrin (PtTFPP) embedded in a polymer matrix.

The ratio measures sensitivity of the sensing film, where 0 and 100 represent the detected fluorescence lifetimes from the sensing film exposed to 100% nitrogen and 100% oxygen, respectively. The experimental results reveal that the PtTFPP-doped oxygen sensor has a sensitivity of 2.2 in the 0%–100% range.

A preparation procedure for coating the photodiodes with the oxygen sensor film that produces repetitive and reliable sensing devices is proposed. The developed time-resolved optical oxygen sensor is portable, low-cost, has simple signal processing, and lacks optical filter elements. It is a cost-effective alternative to traditional electrochemical-based oxygen sensors and provides a platform for other optical based sensors.

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CO2 transmitter/sensor installs in ventilation channels

The CO2 Transmitter Series EE85 for HVAC from E+E Elektronik has been designed for accurate measurement of CO2 levels in heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) applications.

It is available for measuring ranges of 0 to 2000ppm and 0 to 5000ppm. Its compact design allows easy installation in ventilation channels. CO2 detection is based on the accurate, non-dispersive infrared technology (NDIR).

Aging effects are compensated by a patented auto-calibration procedure, which is the basis for the outstanding long-term stability of the series. Due to a small differential pressure created by a special construction of the sampling head, a small stream of air from the duct is led to the CO2 sensing cell and back into the duct.

The air diffuses into the CO2 sensing cell through a diaphragm. The closed loop air stream and the diaphragm protect the CO2 sensing cell from pollution and by this avoid pollution related errors. Demand controlled ventilation based on CO2 minimizes fresh air to re-circulated air ratio which has a relevant impact on energy saving.

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Platinum–aluminum nitride–silicon carbide diodes as combustible gas sensors

In this article we report on the novel use of a Pt/AlN/SiC structure as a combustible gas sensor. This device structure was fabricated by depositing a 2000 Å thick layer of AlN on the SiC substrate at 900 °C by laser ablation.Catalytic Pt gates were deposited onto the AlN at room temperature either by laser ablation or by rf sputtering.

The electrical characteristic of the resultant devices from room temperature to 650 °C revealed current rectifying behavior. Most importantly, their electrical characteristic changed in response to propane, propylene, and CO introduced into their ambient at temperatures as low as 250 °C.

They responded to changing gas composition over a wide range of combustible and oxygen concentrations from lean to fuel rich conditions. The response was a function of the ratio of combustible/oxygen concentration rather than to the absolute combustible concentration. However, this relationship exhibited some degree of combustible specificity.

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Ultra-sensitive, vibration-tolerant gas sensor makes field applications more practical

A research team from Adelphi University, Garden City, New York, USA, has now developed a new device-gas sensor that can detect ultra-low concentrations of gases like nitrogen dioxide accurately and nearly instantaneously. The device works even when experiencing small vibrations, which is important if the instrument, is deployed in the field, where it could be shaken by passing cars, near-by machinery or by thermal changes or air currents. The researchers describe the new detector in a paper in The Optical Society's journal Applied Optics.

"Our sensor is much faster and has the potential for much higher sensitivity -- if employing better matched optical mirrors -- than the previously reported results. It opens the door to interesting, real-time investigation of trace gas concentrations," said Gottipaty Rao, a physicist at Adelphi University, Garden City, New York, USA.

The detector uses a tried-and-true measurement technique called cavity ring-down spectroscopy (CRDS). With CRDS, a laser shoots a pulse of light into a precisely aligned cavity formed by mirrors. When the pulse ends, the light bounces around in the cavity and slowly leaks out. The time it takes for the light to escape is called the ring-down time. If the cavity contains a small amount of gas that absorbs the wavelength of the laser, the ring-down time will decrease since some light is lost to the absorption. Measuring the change in ring-down time indicates the concentration of the trace gas.

In order for the sensors to work, the laser must be resonant with the cavity, meaning that the wavelength of the light "matches" the cavity length in such a way that the light bounces around for a long time. Standard CRDS sensors are susceptible to vibration-induced errors, since small shifts in the length of the cavity can dramatically reduce the sensitivity. As a result, special vibration-isolation equipment must be employed to use CRDS in the field.

One proposed fix for the vibration sensitivity involves shifting the alignment of the laser and the cavity so that the laser will be resonant with the cavity in many different ways. If one resonance is eliminated by a length change (due to vibration), other resonances act as back-up. However, this fix reduces the sensitivity of the detector.

Rao and his colleagues tried a different approach. They used a high-power broadband laser, which contains a wider range of wavelengths than typical for CRDS lasers. Any slight shift of the cavity length due to vibrations simply shifts the cavity resonances to other wavelengths that the laser is already emitting.

The researchers tested the device by measuring trace concentrations of nitrogen dioxide. "If the wavelength of the laser is changed, the technique could also readily be applied to monitor other gases such as methane (a powerful greenhouse gas), ammonia (an air pollutant) and sulfur dioxide (a pollutant from fossil fuel burning power plants)," Rao explained.

Currently, monitoring of nitrogen dioxide in the atmosphere is done using chemiluminenscence, a chemical reaction that generates light, Rao said. It is not capable of real-time measurements and requires an elaborate calibration procedure to get the absolute concentration of the gas. CRDS has unique advantages over chemiluminenscence and Rao believes the new detector will make it a more practical tool for the field.

In addition, measuring trace concentrations of specific gases in a person's exhaled breath may be used to diagnose certain diseases or conditions, thus the device may eventually aid doctors in non-invasive breath analysis. "More importantly, our approach may also prove useful in developing a highly sensitive explosive detector -- especially applicable to security and air travel -- that targets nitro group (NO2) based explosives such as TNT, GN, RDX, HMX, PETN and TATB," Rao said.

"Even though the CRDS technique is powerful for trace gas detection, it has found limited use for field based monitoring applications primarily because of its sensitivity to vibrations. We demonstrate a simplified approach that makes the CRDS technique insensitive to vibrations and can be employed for field-based applications by an appropriate choice of a high power multimode laser and the species of interest," Rao explained.

The team says the device's sensitivity and response time could be even further improved by using higher reflectivity mirrors and optimizing the design of the cavity. "This would open up new possibilities in atmospheric monitoring, chemical reaction studies and explosive detection," Rao said.

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Microwave Sensor: A Painless Way to Manage Diabetes?

Patients with diabetes struggle daily with painful finger pricks to monitor their blood sugar levels. Now, a new device developed by researchers the UK's Cardiff University delivers the same function as traditional glucose sensors but without the pain. The new wearable glucose monitor attaches to the body via sticky adhesives and records the blood sugar levels using microwave technology. Researchers say this device could reach the market in five years time, and has the potential to dramatically change how patients manage diabetes.

Diabetes is characterized by the body’s inability to regulate blood glucose levels. In type 1 diabetes, insulin is not made in enough quantities because the insulin producing cells (islet cells) are attacked and destroyed by the body’s own immune system. As a result, the body is unable to regulate blood sugar levels normally, and diabetics must take great care in monitoring their activity, diet, and glucose levels. This involves as many as six daily finger pricks to check for blood glucose levels.

To remove the stress of this process for the patients, the UK researchers developed a wearable device that measures glucose without the need for blood samples. Led by Adrian Porch and Heungjae Choi, the team’s device is small and attaches simply to a patient’s arm or side of the body with ordinary adhesives. The monitor works by sending microwaves into the skin, and transmitting the readings to a computer or smart phone for analysis.

“Conventional methods of monitoring blood glucose require the extraction of blood,” said Adrian Porch. “Our device is non-invasive — it does not require the extraction of blood apart from the initial calibration.”

And they say the microwave-based device is completely safe to attach to a human body. "It uses microwaves, but the levels are very, very low. Nowhere near the levels used in domestic cooking,” said Porch. He further clarified that the glucose sensor emits about 1000 times less microwaves than a cell phone.

In research studies, the device performed as well as commercially available glucose microwave sensors that rely on blood samples. The team plans to test this device in larger clinical trials this summer at the Swansea University’s College of Medicine in collaboration with Stephen Luzio.

“Patients are very keen on this,” said Luzio. “One of the big problems with patients measuring their glucose is they don’t like pricking their finger, so there’s a lot of interest.”

The incidence of diabetes is increasing at an alarming rate worldwide. In 2014, the World Health Organization (WHO) estimated 422 million people were diagnosed with diabetes. Furthermore, WHO projects that this chronic condition will rise to become the 7th leading cause of death in 2030. Because of this, a needle-free device for diabetes management is hugely attractive to health providers and patients. The team hopes to bring their device to the market within five years. 

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Global (Us, EU, Japan & China) Alcohol Tester Industry Supply and Consumption 2016 to 2021 Market Research Report

Wiseguyreports.Com Adds “Global (Us, EU, Japan & China) Alcohol Tester Industry Supply and Consumption 2016 To 2021 Market Research Report” To Its Research Database.
 

The 'Global And Chinese Alcohol Tester Industry, 2011-2021 Market Research Report' Is A Professional And In-Depth Study On The Current State Of The Global Alcohol Tester Industry With A Focus On The Chinese Market. The Report Provides Key Statistics On The Market Status Of The Alcohol Tester Manufacturers And Is A Valuable Source Of Guidance And Direction For Companies And Individuals Interested In The Industry.

Firstly, The Report Provides A Basic Overview Of The Industry Including Its Definition, Applications And Manufacturing Technolgy. Then, The Report Explores The International And Chinese Major Industry Players In Detail. In This Part, The Report Presents The Company Profile, Product Specifications, Capacity, Production Value, And 2011-2016 Market Shares For Each Company. Through The Statistical Analysis, The Report Depicts The Global And Chinese Total Market Of Alcohol Tester Industry Including Capacity, Production, Production Value, Cost/Profit, Supply/Demand And Chinese Import/Export.

 The Total Market Is Further Divided By Company, By Country, And By Application/Type For The Competitive Landscape Analysis. The Report Then Estimates 2016-2021 Market Development Trends Of Alcohol Tester Industry. Analysis Of Upstream Raw Materials, Downstream Demand, And Current Market Dynamics Is Also Carried Out. In The End, The Report Makes Some Important Proposals For A New Project Of Alcohol Tester Industry Before Evaluating Its Feasibility. Overall, The Report Provides An In-Depth Insight Of 2011-2021 Global And Chinese Alcohol Tester Industry Covering All Important Parameters.

Table Of Content       

Chapter One Introduction of Alcohol Tester Industry
    1.1 Brief Introduction of Alcohol Tester
    1.2 Development of Alcohol Tester Industry
    1.3 Status of Alcohol Tester Industry

Chapter Two Manufacturing Technology of Alcohol Tester
    2.1 Development Of Alcohol Tester Manufacturing Technology
    2.2 Analysis Of Alcohol Tester Manufacturing Technology
    2.3 Trends Of Alcohol Tester Manufacturing Technology

Chapter Three Analysis Of Global Key Manufacturers
    3.1 Company A
      3.1.1 Company Profile
      3.1.2 Product Information
      3.1.3 2011-2016 Production Information
      3.1.4 Contact Information
    3.2 Company B
      3.2.1 Company Profile
      3.2.2 Product Information
      3.2.3 2011-2016 Production Information
      3.2.4 Contact Information
    3.3 Company C
      3.2.1 Company Profile
      3.3.2 Product Information
      3.3.3 2011-2016 Production Information
      3.3.4 Contact Information
    3.4 Company D
      3.4.1 Company Profile
      3.4.2 Product Information
      3.4.3 2011-2016 Production Information
      3.4.4 Contact Information
    3.5 Company E
      3.5.1 Company Profile
      3.5.2 Product Information
      3.5.3 2011-2016 Production Information
      3.5.4 Contact Information
    3.6 Company F
      3.6.1 Company Profile
      3.6.2 Product Information
      3.5.3 2011-2016 Production Information
      3.6.4 Contact Information
    3.7 Company G
      3.7.1 Company Profile
      3.7.2 Product Information
      3.7.3 2011-2016 Production Information
      3.7.4 Contact Information
    3.8 Company H
      3.8.1 Company Profile
      3.8.2 Product Information
      3.8.3 2011-2016 Production Information
      3.8.4 Contact Information
...... 

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Development of an energy-harvesting toxic and combustible gas sensor for oil and gas industries

Wireless gas leakage detection systems are necessary in the oil and gas industry (OGI). This is because they are more flexible in terms of installation and maintenance.

However, wireless combustible gas sensors have an average life span of 2 years. This is because of the huge energy consumption of the gas sensors.

In this paper, a wireless gas sensor network (WGSN) combining adaptive sleep cycle and energy harvesting is developed. The system is able to reach a life span of 5.5 years with the help of solar panels.

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Position Sensor Market Growing at 6.1% CAGR to 2022

Rotary position sensor segment is forecast to lead the worldwide position sensors market with the propelling factors such as widened the use of position sensors in a vehicle, high demand for position sensor from the aerospace industry, and growing trends of industrial automation.

The position sensor market is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 6.1% between 2016 and 2022 to reach USD 5.85 billion by 2022. The market for rotary position sensors is estimated to contribute the highest growth rate during the forecast period. Rotary position sensors measure the rotational or angular movement of an object. These sensors are widely used in applications wherein the variable output such as frequency, speed, or volume needs to be controlled. Some of the typical applications include robotics, test & measurement equipment, machine tools as well as small engines. The growth in these applications is attributing to the high growth rate of the market. The position sensor is also estimated to witness a high growth in the automotive, packaging, manufacturing, and aerospace industries during the forecast period. 

Europe held the largest size of the European position sensor market, in terms of value, compared to other regions. This is due to the rapid adoption of linear and rotary in various applications such as machine tools, material handling, robotics, and others in major counties of this region. Also, the presence of major automotive manufacturers such as the BMW Group (Germany), Daimler AG (Germany), Volkswagen AG (Germany), and Fiat Automobiles S.p.A. (Italy) among others have their manufacturing facility based in this region; the demand for position sensors is accelerated. 

Emerging advancements in consumer electronics are likely to act as an significant application for position sensors in the further. Position sensors are considered as one of the new trend in smart devices. They are typically used to detect the position of the device and to determine the landscape or portrait mode of the screen, and also detect the presence of nearby object and take necessary actions accordingly. In addition to this, growth of industrial robotics is a great opportunity for various types of position sensors market in the coming years 

In the process of determining and verifying, the market size for several segments and sub segments gathered through secondary research, extensive primary interviews were conducted with key people. In Tier 1 (48%), Tier 2 (28%) and Tier 3 (24%) companies were contacted for primary interviews. The interviews were conducted with various key people such as C-level Executives (53%), Director Level (26%) and others (21%) from various key organizations operating in the global position sensor market. The primary interviews were conducted worldwide covering regions such as North America (35%), Europe (20%), APAC (37%) and RoW (8%). 

On a related note, another research on Smart Sensor Market Global Trends and Forecast to 2022 says, the global market for smart sensor is expected to grow from USD 18.58 billion in 2015 to USD 57.77 billion by 2022, at a CAGR of 18.1% between 2016 and 2022. The increasing demand for smart sensor in consumer electronics would drive the smart sensor market. 

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Modularer CO2 Transmitter

The modular CO2 Transmitter EE870 from E + E Elektronik now measures CO2 concentrations up to 5% CO2 (50,000 ppm). The extended range is the EE870, consisting of CO2 sensor, converter board and connecting cable, now even more versatile.

The replaceable CO2 sensor EE871 with autocalibration uses an infrared measuring principle (NDIR two-beam method) that is particularly insensitive to contamination. Aging effects are compensated automatically, resulting in excellent long-term stability. The CO2 transmitter is ideal for demanding applications.

The multipoint CO2 and temperature adjustment ensures excellent accuracy over the entire temperature range of -40 ... 60 ° C. In addition offers the IP65 sensor housing with replaceable PTFE filter excellent protection against contaminants. This allows the CO2 sensors are used in harsh environments such as in agriculture (stables, brooders, incubators).

The compact design, the electric connection with M12 connectors and the optional mounting flange allow a rapid installation and replacement of the CO2 sensor. For outdoor use, an optional radiation shield is available.

When EE870 the metrics as a voltage or current signal at the analog output and on the Modbus RTU interface converter board are available to 5% CO2 (50,000 ppm). An optional kit allows the configuration and adjustment of the sensor EE871.

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Quick and simple integration of optical oxygen sensors into glass-based microfluidic devices

This work presents a novel simple and inexpensive technique for integration of optical oxygen sensors into microfluidic chips made of glass. The channels of chips are coated with conjugated polymeric nanoparticles containing a covalently grafted oxygen indicator. The resulting layer of physically adsorbed nanoparticles shows excellent stability in buffers of various pH and in presence of a surfactant without noticeable leaching.

                                                      

The integrated sensors feature ultrafast response (less than 0.2 seconds) and repeatable quenching behavior when exposed to different concentrations of oxygen present in air or aqueous solutions. They can be read-out either in lifetime or in ratiometric intensity modalities using unsophisticated, compact and low-cost fluorescence detection systems such as a dual RGB/NIR camera or a phase fluorometer.

We also present a new technique for modification of smooth glass surfaces based on in situ generation and deposition of dense silica microparticles, which act as an adsorbent for the oxygen-sensitive nanoparticles. This modification dramatically improves the loading with the nanoparticles due to increased surface roughness and maximized contact surface area.

Finally, packed-bed micro reactors with integrated oxygen-sensing layers and filled with silica beads containing the enzyme immobilized on its surface are demonstrated to have high potential for investigation of enzymatic activity.

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Alcohol sensor based on membrane-bound alcohol dehydrogenase

Ethanol is determined by a sensor system using purified, immobilized mernbrane-bound alcohol dehydrogenase frorn Gluconobacter suboxydans, attached to a platinum disk electrode (3 mm diameter), and covered with a dialysis membrane.

Hexacyanoferrate (III) is used as the redox acceptor. To correct for the influence of interfering substances, this alcohol sensor is compensated by a control electrode which has no immobilized enzyme. The potential of these platinum electrodes was set at + 350 mV vs. Ag/AgCl. Linearity was observed in the range 0.1–5 mM ethanol, the response time was less than 5 min, the maximum sensitivity was obtained at 45°C and the optimum pH was in the range 4.5–5.5.

The sensitivity decreased to 80% of the initial value after 1 month at 30°C. When the alcohol sensor system was applied to the determination of ethanol in alcoholic beverages, a good correlation was obtained between the results and those obtained by gas chromatography.

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Optical Oxygen Sensors for Applications in Microfluidic Cell Culture

The presence and concentration of oxygen in biological systems has a large impact on the behavior and viability of many types of cells, including the differentiation of stem cells or the growth of tumor cells.

As a result, the integration of oxygen sensors within cell culture environments presents a powerful tool for quantifying the effects of oxygen concentrations on cell behavior, cell viability, and drug effectiveness. Because microfluidic cell culture environments are a promising alternative to traditional cell culture platforms, there is recent interest in integrating oxygen-sensing mechanisms with microfluidics for cell culture applications.

Optical, luminescence-based oxygen sensors, in particular, show great promise in their ability to be integrated with microfluidics and cell culture systems. These sensors can be highly sensitive and do not consume oxygen or generate toxic byproducts in their sensing process. This paper presents a review of previously proposed optical oxygen sensor types, materials and formats most applicable to microfluidic cell culture, and analyzes their suitability for this and other in vitro applications.

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A contactless conductivity sensor based on capacitively coupled principle

The existing capacitively coupled contactless conductivity detection (C4D) sensors are mainly used to detect the conductivity/ion concentration in capillary tube.

A new sensor for conductivity measurement in large-scale pipes is developed based on the C4D technique. A quartz crystal is introduced to eliminate the influence of the coupling capacitances. Meanwhile, a quartz crystal oscillator is designed to simplify the sensor structure and provide the excitation signal with highly stable and accurate frequency.

Experimental results indicate that this sensor obtains satisfactory accuracy when measuring conductivity in large-scale pipe (5.5 mm i.d. and 7.5 mm o.d.). In the range of 1-200 mS/cm, the maximum relative measurement error is less than 2%. The developed conductivity sensor provides useful reference for contactless conductivity measurement in industrial field.

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Position Sensors

In this tutorial we will look at a variety of devices which are classed as Input Devices and are therefore called “Sensors” and in particular those sensors which are Positional in nature. As their name implies, Position Sensors detect the position of something which means that they are referenced either to or from some fixed point or position. These types of sensors provide a “positional” feedback.

One method of determining a position, is to use either “distance”, which could be the distance between two points such as the distance travelled or moved away from some fixed point, or by “rotation” (angular movement). For example, the rotation of a robots wheel to determine its distance travelled along the ground. Either way, Position Sensors can detect the movement of an object in a straight line using Linear Sensors or by its angular movement using Rotational Sensors.

The Potentiometer

The most commonly used of all the “Position Sensors”, is the potentiometer because it is an inexpensive and easy to use position sensor. It has a wiper contact linked to a mechanical shaft that can be either angular (rotational) or linear (slider type) in its movement, and which causes the resistance value between the wiper/slider and the two end connections to change giving an electrical signal output that has a proportional relationship between the actual wiper position on the resistive track and its resistance value. In other words, resistance is proportional to position.

Potentiometer
Potentiometers come in a wide range of designs and sizes such as the commonly available round rotational type or the longer and flat linear slider types. When used as a position sensor the moveable object is connected directly to the rotational shaft or slider of the potentiometer.

A DC reference voltage is applied across the two outer fixed connections forming the resistive element. The output voltage signal is taken from the wiper terminal of the sliding contact as shown below.

This configuration produces a potential or voltage divider type circuit output which is proportional to the shaft position. Then for example, if you apply a voltage of say 10v across the resistive element of the potentiometer the maximum output voltage would be equal to the supply voltage at 10 volts, with the minimum output voltage equal to 0 volts. Then the potentiometer wiper will vary the output signal from 0 to 10 volts, with 5 volts indicating that the wiper or slider is at its half-way or centre position.

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In-car alcohol sensors aim to stop drunken drivers in their tracks

A Waltham company is working on high-tech solutions it believes could save many of those lives.
Preventable deaths steered researchers to developing the driver alcohol-detection system for safety.
"We hope to reduce fatalities by 7,000 every year," said Bud Zaouck, director of transportation solutions at Qinetiq.
Researchers have narrowed down their focus to two technologies. One is breath-based, and the other is touch-based.
Zaouck said the breath-based system is different from ignition locks already used to stop repeat drunken drivers.
"The devices that we are looking at are non-invasive. They're not obtrusive. You get into vehicles, and in less than half a second it can detect the amount of alcohol and whether you are above or below the legal limit," said Zaouck.
If you are above the limit, you will not be able to drive the car. Another part of the $10 million project focuses on testing blood alcohol content when the driver touches the car's ignition button.
"In that button itself there's an infrared light that will shine into the finger. And the reflection contains an optical signature of the alcohol. That's how we figure out how much alcohol there is," said Zaouck.
The American Beverage Institute, a trade group representing thousands of chain restaurants, opposes the technology. They say "targeting all Americans with alcohol sensor technology...could eliminate many people's ability to have a glass of wine with dinner, a beer at a ballgame, or a champagne toast at a wedding, and drive home."
Quinetiq says the sensors will only stop the car if the driver is above the legal limit of 0.08.
 "I call it the seat belt of our generation because it's the single biggest opportunity to save lives today on the roads," said Zaouck.
The project is funded by the major car manufacturers and the federal government. The technology could become optional, or standard equipment in the next decade.

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Cops get advanced alcohol sensors

The traffic police are now better equipped to deal with people driving under the influence of alcohol, after a batch of new Alco sensors was handed over to them. These alcohol sensors do not necessarily need the driver to breath into the device, since it can analyse slightest exhaled breath. The new sensors are also touted to last longer, with more reliable data storage.

Sources said the new devices can store data entry of up to 50,000 challans and breath analysis tests, while the older ones could handle the record of only a few recent tests. Most importantly, the new sensors can accept breath samples even if a person doesn't blow air into it.

Sources said there have been instances when some drivers have refused to blow into device or was so injured in an accident that analyzing his breath was difficult. However, with the new machines, the sample can be collected from any breath exhaled from the person's mouth. The heightened sensitivity makes sample collection far more feasible.

"It has two modes, active and passive. The active mode is when the person blows into the sensor, while, in the passive mode the sample is collected from the air exhaled from the mouth while speaking or breathing," said a source from the traffic department.

The new sensors can issue challans much faster and can store much higher data. After taking the data, the new sensors display the alcohol content in milligrams per 100 millilitre. If the alcohol content is high, the challan can be printed using the wireless printer.

There are 20 units of new Alco Sensors purchased by the department. Each unit costs around Rs 40,000. The sensors were brought in on Monday, and the traffic cops were trained for two days before launching the sensors. The sensors will be stationed at the hubs where there are more pubs like Cyber City, MG Road, Golf Course Road, Sector 29 Market and Galleria.

"The old sensors would take longer to issue challans as a result drunken drivers were even let go. But these sensors are far more effective," said Bharti Arora, JCP (traffic).

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Samsung’s Galaxy Note 4 will use UV sensor to offer advice to protect against sunburn

Between our smartphones, apps like MyFitness Pal, and the various fitness trackers available today, our phones are already doing a lot to help us monitor our health. However, it looks like Samsung is going to take things one step further with the as-yet-unconfirmed Galaxy Note 4. Samsung has yet to officially announce its flagship Galaxy Note for 2014, but has confirmed that a new version of the phablet is coming in the second half of this year.

Just last month there was talk that the Note 4 would have a UV sensor. Now, Sammobile is reporting that the sensor will be baked into Samsung’s S Health application and will measure the sun’s UV radiation. It will offer guidance based on the current measurements, hopefully protecting Note 4 users from painful sunburn, skin damage, and melanoma. 

S Health will offer advice based on five different levels of UV reading, low, moderate, high, very high, and extreme. It’ll then offer advice like “wear sunglasses,” “stay int he shade,” “avoid sun exposure between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.,” and more. This is all information we all know but frequently forget. The will also supply a list of true and false statements about spending time in the sun in an attempt to educated Note 4 users on the dangers of not covering up or applying enough sunscreen.

Really, it’s hard to believe the Note 4 will be the first smartphone to ever offer this kind of information via its own sensor. Sure, you can just as easily get a reading from your local weather service, but it’s not going to be as accurate as the reading on your phone. The only issue is that you, obviously, need to be outside for this reading to be measured.

According to Sammobile, you’ll need to maintain a 60+ degree angle of elevation towards the sun against the back of the sensor for S Health to be able to report the UV index. In other words, unless you’re already carrying sun screen, a big hat, and a pair of sunglasses, everywhere you go, you should still check the UV index online before you leave the house.

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