The Kynix Blog

As humans, we sniff out different scents and aromas using chemical receptors in our noses. In technological gas detection, however, there are a whole host of other methods available. One such method is to use infrared lasers, passing a laser beam through the gas to an adjacent separate detector, which measures the degree of light attenuation it causes.TU Wien’s tiny new sensor now brings together both sides within a single component, making it possible to use the same microscopic structure for both the emission and detection of infrared radiation.“The lasers that we produce are a far cry from ordinary laser pointers ,” explains Rolf Szedlak from the Institute of Solid State Electronics at TU Wien. “We make what are known as quantum cascade lasers. They are made up of a sophisticated layered system of different materials and emit light in the infrared range.”When an electrical voltage is applied to this layered system, electrons pass through the laser. With the right selection of materials and layer thicknesses, the electrons always lose some of their energy when passing from one layer into the next. This energy is released in the form of light, creating an infrared laser beam.“Our quantum cascade lasers are circular, with a diameter of less than half a millimetre,” reports Prof. Gottfried Strasser, head of the Center for Micro- and Nanostructures at TU Wien. “Their geometric properties help to ensure that the laser only emits light at a very specific wavelength.”“This is perfect for chemical analysis of gases, as many gases absorb only very specific amounts of infrared light,” explains Prof. Bernhard Lendl from the Institute of Chemical Technologies and Analytics at TU Wien. Gases can thus be reliably detected using their own individual infrared ‘fingerprint’. Doing so requires a laser with the correct wavelength and a detector that measures the amount of infrared radiation swallowed up by the gas.“Our microscopic structure has the major advantage of being a laser and detector in one,” professes Rolf Szedlak. Two concentric quantum cascade rings are fitted for this purpose, which can both (depending on the operating mode) emit and detect light, even doing so at two slightly different wavelengths.One ring emits the laser light which passes through the gas before being reflected back by a mirror. The second ring then receives the reflected light and measures its strength. The two rings then immediately switch their roles, allowing the next measurement to be carried out.In testing this new form of sensor, the TU Wien research team faced a truly daunting challenge: they had to differentiate isobutene and isobutane – two molecules which, in addition to confusingly similar names, also possess very similar chemical properties. The microscopic sensors passed this test with flying colours, reliably identifying both of the gases.“Combining laser and detector brings many advantages,” says Gottfried Strasser. “It allows for the production of extremely compact sensors, and conceivably, even an entire array – i.e. a cluster of microsensors – housed on a single chip and able to operate on several different wavelengths simultaneously.” The application possibilities are virtually endless, ranging from environmental technology to medicine. 

Astute Electronics has strengthened its new memory division portfolio by signing a UK and Ireland deal for Innodisk’s industrial embedded flash and DRAM storage products and technologies. Innodisk focuses on industries such as aerospace, defence, industrial and cloud storage to name a few, and where a commitment to quality service is vitally important. The company manufactures all its products in a purpose-built memory production facility located in Taiwan.Mick Martin, Memory Division Manager at Astute says; “Innodisk’s product range matches our customer base exactly. Its product design features fixed-BOM control to ensure product quality, longevity and stability, and the use of industrial-grade components means that products can withstand temperatures ranging from -40 to 85°C. Sample parts are available very quickly and typical production lead times are only two weeks. The company is also able to customise devices to suit specific applications.”With over 62 patents, Innodisk is a technical innovator, pioneering Pin 7 VCC technology in the SATA interface which eliminates the need for power cables.This led to the development of the SATADOM form factor which is certified by Intel and widely adopted by industrial and embedded system designers worldwide.Innodisk offers a wide selection of flash memory form factors. Flash products are available in single-level-cell (SLC) and multi-layer cell (MLC) styles and a comprehensive range of DRAM modules are also included.Specifically, InnoRobust devices have a hi-rel feature set specially designed for aerospace and defence applications, while ISO/TS 16949 approval guarantees that that the company can deliver reliable storage and memory solutions for in-vehicle computing system applications.Reference:MT16JTF51264AZ-1G6M1SDUS5EB-001GMD2202-D192MD2202-D192-X 

Manufacturer of humidity, temperature and flow sensor solutions, Sensirion, offers an on-package filter membrane option for selected humidity sensors in the SHT3x series. The SHT3x membrane is a PTFE film that protects the sensor opening from water and dust according to IP67.It thus allows sensor use under harsh environmental conditions, where spray water and high exposure to dust is challenging for accurate sensor performance.The membrane cover is attached to the sensor package by a double-faced adhesive tape, which is designed to stay on the package over the lifetime of the sensor. The whole package withstands multiple reflow cycles.Due to minimal package volume and the membrane’s high water vapour permeability, the response time of the relative humidity and temperature signal is identical to the value achieved by the uncovered sensor. Although the membrane option provides perfect protection against water and dust ingress according to IP67, it does not in general prevent contamination from volatile chemicals. All SHT3x sensors can be ordered in tape and reel packaging; the reels are delivered in sealed antistatic ESD bags.All humidity sensors in the SHT3x series feature increased intelligence and reliability. Their functionality includes enhanced signal processing, two distinctive and user-selectable I2C addresses and communication speeds of up to 1MHz. The DFN package can be integrated into a broad variety of applications, thanks to its footprint of 2.5x2.5x0.9mm3 and the wide supply voltage range of 2.4-5.5V. As with all Sensirion sensors, the SHT3x is based on the unique CMOSens Technology, which integrates the sensing element and read-out electronics on a single chip, enabling high production volume at an exceptional price-performance ratio.Reference:HIH-4010-001HIH-5030-001HS1100HIH-4030-001 

Omron Electronic Components Europe is launching a new dust sensor module, offering four times greater sensitivity compared with other LED dust sensors on the market. The higher performance and greater sensitivity of the sensor will allow tighter pollution control as well as the creation of more effective air purifiers and similar systems. Omron’s Dust Sensor is able to detect particles as small as 1 micron, less than half the size of the PM2.5 standard for fine particulate matter in the atmosphere.It also features a high air throughput, of around 6 times that of established alternatives, giving improved sensitivity of response to changes in the environment.Commenting, Gabriele Fulco, European Product Marketing Manager Sensors, Omron said “Controlling air pollution including emissions from vehicles as well as cigarette and other smoke is a major concern for city authorities and building managers alike"."It is only possible to control what can be detected, so Omron believes it is making a major contribution to the environment and public health by launching this new, highly sensitive dust sensor.”The new Omron dust sensor is highly compact, sized just 50mm x 45mm x 20mm – giving it an overall size of 20% less than popular alternative solutions. The sensor is part of a growing range of Omron solutions for HVAC and other environmental systems.They include the D6F-PH MEMS pressure sensor and the velocity sensors D6F-V which incorporate a Dust segregation System (DSS). The design of all Omron sensors guarantees very sensitive and temperature compensated measurement of air for a precise HVAC control.Reference:GP2Y1+GP2Y1010AU0FDN7C3CA006SM-PWM-01C

Developer of force-sensing technology, Peratech, is aiming to give users of smartphones and tablets a more intuitive user experience while unleashing more creative opportunities for product and app developers by adding new ways for consumers to interact with their devices. The most recent forecasts indicate that shipments of smartphones will exceed 1.5bn units in 2016 with tablet shipments expected to reach at least 240m. Peratech is working with several well-known manufacturers of these devices to add QTC force sensors to multiple surfaces on their products. The sensors, which are supplied in the form of a polymer membrane as thin as 50µm, can be applied under displays, along the edges and on the backs of handheld consumer electronic devices. They can be configured to sense X-Y position through touch and applied force in the Z-axis. There are single-touch and multi-touch versions.Sensors used under a display can sense the force applied across the entire screen and compute the touch pressure for individual zones or functions. Alternatively, they can provide discrete pressure buttons in regions that match the graphical user interface layout. Home buttons can be made multi-functional and wear-prone dome switches replaced with a force-sensing button where a light touch of the finger gives a quick wake up to check the time or messages and a firmer press reads the fingerprint and unlocks the phone.QTC sensors work under most surfaces. When applied to the sides and/or back of a smartphone, they sense the user’s grip and the amount of pressure applied, which can be used to control basic functions or apps. In addition, the back of a smartphone or tablet can be configured as a single- or multi-zone touch pad, opening up many more options for gaming input and interaction. On the device edges, QTC sensors may be used as switches and volume or brightness controls. Here, cutting holes in the case is eliminated and it’s easier to make products more robust and waterproof.Peratech CEO, Jon Stark, commented: “Adding a third dimension – force – to the user interface of a smartphone or tablet, and being able to do that anywhere on the surface of the device, offers designers infinitely greater opportunity to differentiate their products. They can become more creative with the interactions they provide, as can app developers, while at the same time making devices more intuitive and responsive”.Reference:FSG15N1AFS20-5-0-0000-1500FC2231-0000-0010-LFC2231-0000-0025-L

Emergency lights assist the vehicles allocated for emergency response services to do better. Emergency lighting units are essential not just as a supplementary light supply, but also as a reliable guide to the normal public. However, LED lights are the most productive emergency lights that can assist emergency vehicles accomplish their responsibilities without inhibitions. Employing diverse colored lights for emergency vehicles boost their competence as guiding lights making them noticeable. Emergency LED lights come in several diverse colors to help the emergency vehicles direct the traffic and employ them as supplementary lighting systems. They're accessible in colors like blue, red, gree, yellow and amber, which can be employed individually or merged into one lightbar. Blue LED lights are most standard lights which can be noticed on police cars, and emergency ambulances.Blue LED lights are also the most productive when merged with other colored lights. Police vehicles employ these in combination with the red light emitting diodes to aware the general public about the emergency circumstance, or execure their patrolling responsibilities without any issues. Different colored LEDs can be assembled to blink in several diverse outlines that make them noticeable from nearly a mile. Though single colored light emitting diodes are noticeable from a distance, blinking manifold colored lightings make superior visual effect and convey the message very clearly. For instance, blue & red blinking ones from the police vehicles demands the right of way when there's a continious chase. Several other emergency cars employ the blue LEDs in numerous diverse forms. As strobe lamps, they're strong portable light supplies when required. As fully-fledged light bars, they could be apparanelty visible in the heavy traffic areas. They also available in the form of elaborated lightbars with built-in traffic advisers, which could direct traffic to take diversion ahead and avoid the emergency area.The blue lights made of LEDs can also be very productive dash lights which are rather essential for each emergency cars. Dash lights not just employed for undercover police cars, but are also essential for the security of emergency cars. They can perform as tail lights while the emergency cars stop at the emergency area, making them noticeable to other automobiles.These days blue LED highbay lights can be easily noticed in many of the pavements of your country due to their powerful lighting features.LED lights can surpass any other type of lamps and use less power than other types of illumination. This makes them the 1st option for emergency vehicles, since they require to maintain the lights burning for many hours. Purchasing them from the appropriate retailer assure the longest life span.Reference:KY59-EB-251KY59-LRW5SM-GZHZ-1KY59-LRW5SM-HYJY-1-Z