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Drawing only microamps (other than load current), this circuit switches in accordance with ambient light levels. Raju Baddi writes:
You can use an LED as a photoelectric sensor. A previous Design Idea shows that such a switch is highly power-efficient, consuming almost no power (Reference 1). However, you cannot adjust that configuration to switch at the desired light intensity. You can adjust the circuit in this Design Idea to any threshold level of light intensity necessary to maintain the on state of the photoelectric switch while retaining almost the same power efficiency of the original circuit
Adjust power-efficient LED switch to any light intensity – [Link]
This tiny little breakout board has Microchip’s 24LC512 EEPROM and MCP9802 temperature sensor devices, both of which support I2C protocol. This board can be used for both sensing the ambient temperature and storing it. The MCP9802 is a digital temperature sensor with an user-selectable resolution from 9 to 12 bit. It can measure temperature ranging from -55°C to +125°C and notifies the host microcontroller when the ambient temperature exceeds a user programmed set point through its ALERT output pin. This board allows you to store up to 32000 temperature samples when you use the sensor in high resolution mode (12-bit, 0.0625°C) with each sample stored as two bytes. Raj (from embedded-lab.com) is selling this board for $9.00 on Tindie.
I2C EEPROM plus Temperature Sensor breakout board - [Link]
MSC now offers the E520.32 programmable smoke detector IC from Elmos Semiconductor, a device that includes all active electronic components of a network capable smoke detector.
The E520.32 combines a configurable 200 mA driver for the transmitter LED, a high impedance input for the voltage conversion to the receiver diode and a 2-wire bus interface. It is equipped with 4 KByte of flash ROM and 32 Byte of EEPROM. In addition to a wide photo input current range of 1.5nA to 45nA, the device also features a low current consumption of only 88 µA.
Fully programmable smoke detector IC with integrated bus interface - [Link]
Development in CERN never stops. Scientists from all over the world are working to improve every aspect of this giant experiment. That’s what happens on ALICE project in an effort to improve the current Inner Tracking System (ITS) and overcome difficulties encountered on the current detector technologies.
ITS Upgrade Project is responsible for the development of new detectors that will upgrade the ALICE project. Two new technologies are discussed to move the detectors on a new level. “Hybrid silicon pixel detectors” and ” monolithic silicon pixel detectors” are the basic concepts. There are already prototypes evaluated for the new silicon detectors.
Within the WG3 prototypes for both pixel technologies have been realized in the course of the past year. One of the main challenges is clearly the limitation in allowed material budget. This is necessary in order to improve the impact parameter resolution at low pT by about a factor of 3. A total of 0.3% X0 per layer is about a factor 3 less than used in the present ALICE silicon pixel detector, which is already the pixel detector with the lowest material budget of all LHC detectors. The thickness requirements for each component are therefore stringent. Silicon thicknesses of 50 µm in case of monolithic detectors or 100+50 µm in case of hybrid pixel detectors require special developments, which have been pursued within the WG3 community.
For latest NEWS follow ALICE Facebook page
ALICE Inner Tracking System (ITS) is upgrating to new detector technologies - [Link]
The APDuino project is for those want to use an Arduino to run a custom sensor monitoring and automation projects (such as aquaponics, greenhouse, gardening DIY automation) without having to program any code. [via]
Main features and characteristics:
- free, ready-to-flash software for Arduino Mega 2560 + W5100 EtherShield hardware combo
- supports a number of analog and digital Sensor and Control components in any custom (electronically valid) layout on the Arduino pins, allowing building Your Own Automation System
- custom Rules for automation, allowing Sensor and Control data access, scheduler, timers and more, allowing Your Custom Program to be created, without programming
- data logging on SD card and online sinks (cosm, thingspeak, apduino online), allowing to Hook Your Automation System to the Internet-Of-Things and Web 2.0 services, eg. Twitter via 3rd party services
- JSON data acces to device status, allowing to Build Your Custom Device Web Interface
- customizable default web gui for interacting with the device & remote management, allowing to Start Using APDuino Right Immediately, once built and installed
- no programming required - just flash-and-go (if using supported components)
- an online configuration and management service for managing device(s) running APDuinOS
Arduino Sensor Monitoring Without Coding - [Link]
Pittsford, NY: imPulse(tm) is a personal, iPhone-compatible, handheld ECG Touch Monitor that will be introduced at this year’s Electronica Show in Munich, Germany, designed using unique EPIC touch sensors. Created by the sensorʼs manufacturer Plessey Semiconductors, imPulse(tm) is aimed at the home health market, and will allow the routine, quick and accurate recording of ECG signals outside of the medical environment – without the need for conductive gel or skin preparation. Read the rest of this entry »
The MAX31855 performs cold-junction compensation and digitizes the signal from a K-, J-, N-, T-, S-, R-, or E-type thermocouple. The data is output in a signed 14-bit, SPI-compatible, read-only format. This converter resolves temperatures to 0.25°C, allows readings as high as +1800°C and as low as -270°C, and exhibits thermocouple accuracy of ±2°C for temperatures ranging from -200°C to +700°C for K-type thermocouples. For full range accuracies and other thermocouple types, see the Thermal Characteristics specifications in the full data sheet.
MAX31855 – Cold-Junction Compensated Thermocouple-to-Digital Converter - [Link]
lucadentella.it writes:
I was looking for a way to show in a graphic form data coming from a feed on Pachube: I needed to create a dashboard available via web and without proprietary technologies (Flash…). I found this blogpost by Andrew Hazelden where he describes how you can dynamically change an SVG file. The same trick is used by another opensource data collector software, Nimbits.
Display data dynamically using SVG format - [Link]
Ultra-Accurate Temperature Sensor Offers ±0.5°C (max) Accuracy Over a Wide -40°C to +105°C Range
The MAX31725 temperature sensor accurately measures temperature and provides an overtemperature alarm/interrupt/shutdown output. This device converts the temperature measurements to digital form using a high-resolution, sigma-delta, analog-to-digital converter (ADC). Accuracy is ±0.5°C from -40°C to +105°C. Communication is through an I²C-compatible 2-wire serial interface.
The I²C serial interface accepts standard write byte, read byte, send byte, and receive byte commands to read the temperature data and configure the behavior of the open-drain overtemperature shutdown output.
MAX31725 – ±0.5°C Local Temperature Sensor - [Link]
MIT researchers have designed a new type of pencil lead in which graphite is replaced with a compressed powder of carbon nanotubes. The lead, which can be used with a regular mechanical pencil, can inscribe sensors on any paper surface. Carbon nanotubes offer a powerful new way to detect harmful gases in the environment. However, the methods typically used to build carbon nanotube sensors are hazardous and not suited for large-scale production. A new fabrication method as simple as drawing a line on a sheet of paper may overcome that obstacle.
The sensor detects minute amounts of ammonia gas, an industrial hazard but it could be adapted to detect nearly any type of gas. To create sensors using their pencil, the researchers draw a line of carbon nanotubes on a sheet of paper imprinted with small electrodes made of gold. They then apply an electrical current and measure the current as it flows through the carbon nanotube strip, which acts as a resistor. If the current is altered, it means gas has bound to the carbon nanotubes. [via]
Draw Sensors with Carbon Nanotubes - [Link]
