Marktech Introduces Photo Sensor Devices

Marktech Optoelectronics has added a complete line of photo sensor devices to its optoelectronic components. Specialising in metal can and precision epoxy packages, Marktech has added package styles, materials and custom capabilities to its LED line. Marktech also offers many standard configurations and lens options as well as custom designs and assemblies.

Marktech said its engineering group can provide solutions for some of the most difficult sensor applications. The company added that its range of photo sensors feature: 3mm, 5mm, metal can and ceramic packages; wide range of power output; visible emitters available in red (660nm), amber (590nm), green (520nm), blue (465nm) and white (x=0.31, y=0.32); water clear glass and plastic lens; high efficiency and reliability; plus precise optical and mechanical accuracy.

Tofino Argon Devices Protect Industrial Networks

Byres Security (BSI) has introduced the Tofino Argon series, five rugged plug-n-protect security appliances with varying connectivity, temperature and power-supply capabilities. The series also includes a selection of firmware modules that customise the functionality of each appliance.

The result is a practical and effective cyber-security system that is suitable for protecting industrial facilities with a variety of Scada, process control and networking systems. The release of these new products lets companies select the exact mix of security features, fibre/twisted-pair network support and environmental hardening their plants require in a security solution.

For example, detailed filtering of Modbus TCP messages over fibre-optic cable (by combining the Tofino Argon Modbus Enforcer LSM with the Tofino 220 MM/MM appliance) may be ideal for securing an onsite tank farm, while secure remote maintenance support over a DSL modem would take advantage of the Tofino Argon VPN LSM and the Tofino 220 TX/TX appliance combination.

The Tofino Argon Product Series is part of the Tofino Industrial Security Solution, which includes Tofino technology, sold by Belden / Hirschmann, Honeywell and MTL Instruments. All Tofino products are simple to implement and do not require shutdowns to deploy, providing increased safety, network security and performance of control systems.

Michell Sensor Speeds Up Maintenance Of RH Devices

Michell Instruments has introduced the I7000 Hygrosmart humidity sensor, which is claimed to make the maintenance of the company's relative-humidity (RH) instruments quick and simple with no downtime. The interchangeable module incorporates all calibration data and is delivered together with a calibration certificate.

To ensure continued measurement accuracy over time, the user can recalibrate an instrument by replacing the old sensor with a new one. No specialist training is required for this process, according to the company. The I7000 Hygrosmart interchangeable module forms the base of a range of temperature and humidity instruments, suitable for applications from precision manufacturing to controlled environments and heating, ventilation and air conditioning.

Latest Wordsworth Devices Use Intel Atoms

The Wordsworth division of Steatite, a Microsoft Gold Partner, has enhanced its range of embedded systems with the introduction of new products that utilise the latest Intel Atom processors. The new products include single-board computers (SBCs), embedded systems and panel PCs. The Intel Atom N270 processor brings a range of user benefits to the latest generation of Steatite Wordsworth's products for industrial-computing applications.

The devices offer 1.6GHz CPU power but with low power consumption. High efficiency gives good thermal performance and allows fanless operation. This absence of moving parts helps improve overall system reliability and means that customers do not need to make provision in their design for vents. It also allows equipment to be used safely and reliably in dusty environments. Atom N270 processors are mass-produced devices for the embedded market, which helps make them cost-effective.

A long product life-cycle road-mapped for between three and five years underlines the long-term availability of the processors, giving reassurance to customers that incorporate Wordsworth embedded products in their equipment. Steatite's Wordsworth division has strong in-house technical capabilities that enable specific customer requirements to be accurately met in a short leadtime. If required, customers can buy directly from an online store.

Protection Devices Housed In Ultra-Small Package

ON Semiconductor has introduced two electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection devices housed in its ultra-small 0201 dual silicon no-lead (DSN-2) package. The DSN-style package, which measures 0.6mm x 0.3mm x 0.3mm, enables 100 per cent utilisation of the package area for active silicon. The company's first offerings in the package are the ESD11N5.0ST5G and ESD11B5.0ST5G, which are an expansion of its high-performance off-chip ESD protection portfolio.

By expanding its ESD protection portfolio into an ultra-small package, ON Semiconductor can offer devices that are suitable for safeguarding data lines in portable applications where board space is often extremely limited, such as mobile phones, MP3 players, PDAs and digital cameras. The ESD11N and ESD11B are the next generation of ESD protection technology from ON Semiconductor, which provides best in class clamping voltage. The reduced size and bidirectional single line designs provide ultimate flexibility and ease of routing to fit the products into a variety of space constrained applications.

The ESD11N is a 0.6pF device that utilises integrated ESD technology from ON Semiconductor to enhance clamping performance while maintaining low capacitance. The low capacitance value ensures that this device has negligible impact on the signal integrity of high-speed data lines making it suitable for applications such as USB 2.0 and HDMI. In addition, the ESD11N maintains less than 0.5dB insertion loss up to 3GHz and excellent capacitance linearity over voltage and frequency, making it suitable for protecting high-frequency antenna lines with minimal effects.

The ESD11B is a 15pF device that expands ON Semiconductor low clamping ESD protection technology into the 0201 DSN-2 package to provide a protection option for general purpose and low-speed data lines that have tight board designs with limited space. Both ESD products clamp an input ESD waveform of 8kV per the IEC61000-4-2 contact standard, to less than 10V in a matter of nanoseconds. This clamping voltage performance ensures protection for the most sensitive integrated circuits. ON Semiconductor is also developing Schottky diodes in the 0201 DSN-2 package that are scheduled to be released later this month.

Rexroth Offers Devices For Handling Delicate Items

Rexroth offers a number of solutions for handling delicate items during the manufacture and packing of a range of products, including food items and electronic devices. Stuart Cheyne, industry segment manager for automation with the pneumatics division of Rexroth, looks at some of the options now available for handling delicate items. Many conventional product handling systems make use of mechanical grippers that are usually operated pneumatically, although solenoid driven versions are also available, he said.

According to Cheyne, it is often assumed that gripper-based systems are unsuitable for handling delicate products, but this is not necessarily so. Modern gripper products, such as those in the Rexroth GSP Series, are precision engineered, which means that the closing of the gripping fingers is very accurately controlled. Repeat accuracies of 0.05mm or better can be achieved, so, for regularly shaped products, the risk of crushing in a properly designed system is minimal.

In addition, the grippers can be supplied in versions with two, three or four fingers, as required by the application and, if necessary, the gripper fingers can be faced with resilient material to minimise the shock loading when a product is picked up. Cheyne claims that, considering these features, conventional grippers may be suitable for gentle handling, especially as they are available in a variety of shapes and sizes and are very cost effective.

Nevertheless, there are many applications, especially those involving the transport of items that are not only delicate but also irregularly shaped, where no form of gripper system is likely to prove satisfactory. An example is a machine that is being used to transport toothbrushes that were in transparent bubble packs with a card backing. The shape is very irregular, making it difficult to decide on a point where a gripper could be used reliably, and the packs are susceptible to crushing and creasing.

In instances such as this, a different approach is needed and this is often provided by vacuum pick-ups. These devices, which are available in a range of sizes and formats, effectively use suction to pick up and support the product. This does, however, mean that they can usually only be used with non-porous products where a reasonable degree of sealing can be achieved between the product and the pick-up. It might be assumed that the need for a vacuum generator would make these devices expensive and possibly unattractive to use. A solution is available in the form of a Venturi-based vacuum generator, according to Cheyne.

These devices, which have no moving parts, produce a vacuum by passing a fast-moving stream of compressed air over an orifice. In effect, the airflow draws air in from the orifice, creating a vacuum. Since most manufacturing plants of any size have an existing compressed-air supply, this is said to be a very convenient solution. Venturi-based vacuum generators of this type are available in the Rexroth EBS range, for example. Examples of ultra-delicate items that cannot be touched, let alone gripped, are solar cells, which are just a few millimetres thick and are very susceptible to contamination and handling damage.

Another application would be potato snacks or biscuits being placed into small, individual packs - here, the same problems occur, as well as issues with placement accuracy and repeatability. These products can be picked up and transported reliably using a recently developed non-contact lifting and transport device from Rexroth. Designated the NCT (non-contact transfer), Rexroth's lift is based on the so-called Bernoulli principle and, like the vacuum generator, it operates from a compressed-air supply. As a result of the geometry of the Rexroth NCT, airflow under the device generates a differential pressure that creates a lifting force.

With the NCT, the lifting force generated is sufficient to be useful without a seal between the device and the item that is to be transported. This feature means that the lift can transport porous items, such as biscuits, and items with rough surfaces that would prevent a conventional vacuum pick-up from functioning reliably. The Rexroth NCT can even transport items through liquids - a benefit that is being exploited for transporting solar cells through baths of cleaning solutions. Since none of the surfaces of the cell are in contact with the pick-up, all of the surfaces can be cleaned simultaneously and efficiently.

The largest version currently available from Rexroth produces a lifting force of 0.9kg. As the Rexroth NCT devices do not require vacuum generators, they can be easily retrofitted to existing machines in place of conventional mechanical grippers. The company also develops custom lift subassemblies, ready to install as single components, helping machine builders to lower costs, streamline their supply chain and reduce engineering expenses.

AL-3 Monitor Optimises Analogue Signalling Devices

IFM Electronic has introduced the AL-3 monitor, which complements analogue signalling devices by allowing the user to set switchpoints and compare or combine values and scaling ranges. The AL-3 monitor is a programmable, two-channel analogue threshold relay with two inputs for analogue standard signals (0/4...20 mA).

It picks up the current signals on separate inputs, compares them with the set limit values and switches the outputs according to the set switching functions. The input signals can be scaled to the measuring range of the sensor or transmitter so the measured values are indicated on the front display corresponding to their physical unit.

The AL-3 features an output relay with changeover contact and a transistor output for each channel. The user can monitor values that exceed or fall below the limit values and window function. In the comparator operating mode, a differential pressure can, for example, be determined from the two input signals, monitored and provided as an analogue value.