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The Telecontrolli capacitive rain sensor detects precipitation rate, current precipitation intensity and its end with precision and effectiveness, avoiding false positives which can cause inappropriate operations (objects such as dirt or other particles that in preexisting optical sensors cause a reflection mimicking the one of rain and limit its effectiveness in rapidly responding to light rain).Capacitive sensing is a technology based on the change in capacity determined by the change of the dielectric constant of the material separating the electrical conductors (plates) of the capacitor following the action of external agents.Capacitive sensing is becoming a popular technology to replace optical detection methods and mechanical designs for applications like proximity/gesture detection, material analysis and rain/humidity detection, because it offers more reliable and accurate measurements than optical ones.The sensor has IDT electrodes on one side of the alumina substrate, while a resistive heater and a temperature sensor are placed on the opposite side. The rain sensitive area, which in dry conditions assumes the nominal value of 100pF. Moreover in presence of the rain, the capacitance goes to high values compared to dry conditions and the ratio changing is over 300%.The integral and configurable heater is provided to ensure that the detection surface dries quickly, protecting the surface from fog, condensed moisture and frost. It also can be disabled when power consumption is critical.The alumina substrate and the glass sensitive layer makes the sensor immune to water and moisture absorption, ensuring high resistance and long duration.Moreover, thanks to the thermal conductivity of the ceramic, the heat emitted by the heater on the back of the sensor is immediately transferred to the upper surface, making the sensor more sensitive than other technologies.Furthermore, while resistive rain sensors are sensible to corrosion and contamination, the Telecontrolli capacitive rain sensor doesn't suffer from these disadvantages, making it suitable for any type of application - including irrigation systems for agriculture, automotive wiper systems, weather stations, and applications for home and building automation.  

A team of MIT engineers has described a novel way of controlling the flow of water in flexible tubes, a finding with implications for agricultural systems worldwide. Their research, published in the Journal of Mechanical Design, could reduce the energy demands of pulsating sprinklers used for irrigation."Food and its relationship to water is one of the biggest problems in the world," says Ruo-Qian Wang, a former postdoc at the MIT Tata Center for Technology and Design who is now a postdoc at the University of California at Berkeley. "There is a clear need for efficient irrigation technologies that save money and conserve resources."Wang co-authored the paper with three researchers in MIT's Department of Mechanical Engineering: graduate student Teresa Lin, PhD candidate and Tata Fellow Pulkit Shamshery, and Assistant Professor Amos Winter.The model they propose could be especially useful in developing countries, where many farmers cultivate small plots of land without reliable access to the electricity grid. These farmers rely on solar or diesel power to draw water for irrigation."If you bring down the energy requirements of the irrigation system, that means a farmer can buy a smaller solar panel, or use less diesel," Wang says. "Everything gets cheaper and more accessible."Compensating for pressureThe researchers focused on a device called a Starling resistor, which is a flexible tube that collapses as pressure is applied. This device is noted for its similarities to human respiration, and has been used to model flow in the lungs and airways."But," Wang says, "it has never been applied to a pressure-compensated flow control system for agriculture."The team created an experimental Starling resistor architecture that introduces a needle valve, which allows for independent control of two key variables: activation pressure and flow rate. The goal is a phenomenon called pressure compensation, in which a steady flow rate can be maintained no matter the pressure differential."Activation pressure is key to energy consumption," Wang says. "A traditional resistor has to achieve a high level of activation pressure, about 1 bar, to activate the pressure compensation mechanism. That takes a lot of pumping power."The team's experiment showed that using a rubber tube to replace the diaphragm of the existing Starling resistor design can reduce the needed activation pressure by 90 percent."As a result, Wang says, "farmers can use smaller pumps and smaller solar panels to provide the activation pressure."They placed the needle valve at a critical juncture in the system, where, together with the rubber tube, it acted as part of a series of resistors to water flow. Using different tube lengths and thicknesses, they discovered that adjusting the needle valve changed the flow rate, but did not change the minimum pressure needed to "activate" the system. Their paper describes the first mathematical model that quantitatively predicts this decoupling of the two variables.This means their device could make it easier to optimize irrigation systems for a variety of settings."We can design the activation pressure using a given tube material and geometry, and by adjusting the needle valve, water can be applied to different crops at different flow rates," Wang says.This new Starling resistor can be optimized for a high flow rate—necessary for pulsating sprinklers—while the pressure compensation phenomenon also causes the tube to oscillate, which gives it a natural pulsating quality.Wang explains that "a traditional sprinkler uses a spring-loaded arm to impact the flow rate. That wastes energy, and energy has a cost. This device provides pulsation by itself."Leveraging global expertiseThe project has grown out of the team's partnership with Jain Irrigation Systems, a multinational company headquartered in Jalgaon, India, that provided funding, technical knowledge, and market expertise. Researchers in Winter's GEAR Lab have collaborated with Jain on a number of projects related to water and agriculture."Jain is a $1 billion revenue company with small-scale farmers comprising 80-90 percent of their clients," says Wang. "They can commercialize agriculture projects in that space better than any other company."He notes that Jain's guidance and ability to field-test prototypes helped keep the Starling resistor project on the right track."Being able to test this architecture with Jain helped us determine that it had potential in sprinkler systems. Now we have a great opportunity for our work to make an impact."Reference:KY83-TFH85M51R0JEKY83-PF2472-100RF1KY83-P8212 

Induction cooking appliances commonly make use of resonant topologies which allow bidirectional current flow. Additionally they demand a discrete IGBT that performs best at switching frequencies from 18 to 40kHz and has low losses. Infineon has launched a family of discrete IGBTs to address these needs. The RC-E devices are cost optimised and specifically meet the demands of low- to mid-price range induction cookers and induction rice cookers.Monolithically integrated reverse conduction diodeThe RC-E family features an IGBT with monolithically integrated reverse conduction diode for resonant switching. The technology used in RC-E IGBTs is also optimised for low switching and conduction losses. Lower losses allow designers to achieve efficiency and power targets for induction cooking applications more easily. Thus, less energy is consumed for cooking, leading to lower operating costs for consumers. With low E off, V F, R th and V ce(sat) this device sets a new industry benchmark in price/performance and ease-of-use.The new devices offer Infineon’s proven quality in discrete RC IGBTs and fulfill all the requirements for soft switching applications and efficiency as well as EMI standards. The RC-E delivers the well-established high-performance of its predecessors with a more attractive price for lower BoM cost. The RC-E is offered in a standard TO-247 package allowing a drop-in replacement for existing designs.Samples are available now and the devices are in production. The family will be launched with two devices: 15 A and 25 A, both with the most commonly used blocking voltage of 1200V.Reference:KY56-MN3306KY0-SE40PJ-M3/86A

Housed in a compact 2.5x3.0x0.95mm3 package, the BMX160 has been announced by Bosch Sensortec as the world’s smallest 9-axis motion sensor. The device is suited for space- and power-constrained applications such as smartphones, smart watches, fitness trackers, smart jewelry (e.g. rings, necklaces) as well as AR/VR devices.By combining Bosch Sensortec’s advanced accelerometer, gyroscope and geomagnetic sensor technologies, the BMX160 is able to meet the increasingly more stringent low-power requirements demanded by wearable devices. Bosch's low-power sensor technology makes this the standout 9­-axis inertial sensor on the market, reducing power consumption below 1.5mA.Jeanne Forget, Vice President Marketing, Bosch Sensortec, commented: “By combining Bosch Sensortec’s advanced sensor technologies into a single compact package, the BMX160 sets new industry benchmarks for high performance, tiny footprint and low power consumption. This device finally overcomes today’s placement constraints in smartphones and directly addresses the demands of wearable devices, where PCB space and low power consumption are at an even greater premium.”Enabling wearable applicationsThe BMX160 sensor enables Android wearable applications relying on sensor data such as device orientation, magnetic heading or the gravity vector. Moreover, the sensor supports applications such as 3D indoor mapping and smartphone optimised VR applications (e.g. cardboard VR). The sensor can be used in conjunction with the Bosch Sensortec BSX sensor data fusion software library to further optimise performance.The single-package BMX160 effectively replaces the present mainstream two-component workaround solution, i.e. combination of a 6-axis IMU with a 3-axis geomagnetic sensor. This innovative 9-axis motion sensor provides the placement flexibility necessary for overcoming current limitations on positioning of the magnetic sensor. Pin- and register-compatibility with Bosch Sensortec’s industry-standard 6-axis BMI160 IMU simplifies the task of upgrading designs.Built-in power management unitThe BMX160 has a built-in power management unit and ultra-low power background application features. This enables the power-hungry application processor to remain in sleep mode much longer, for example when counting steps, which further contributes to extending battery recharge intervals. The integrated step counter function and the Android compatible significant motion detector only consume 30µA each.The accelerometer, gyroscope and magnetic technology in the BMX160 have been optimised for low offset, low noise and best temperature stability. Bosch Sensortec gyroscope technology offers an extremely low drift, which is a key requirement for an accurate real-time user experience, especially in AR & VR applications.Reference:KY45-EKMB1203111KY45-AMN41122KY45-EKMB1101112

The new generation linear and angular position sensors from ZF pursue new ways in terms of efficiency. Based on a modular system, the sensor is available as an ANG version for angular position measurements or as a LIN-version for linear position measurements. Whereas the ANG-series adds to the existing range of angular position sensors, the linear position sensor opens a new scope for ZF customers. Possible for these sensors are applications such as hydraulic valves, hydraulic controls, electric drives, pneumatic controls, gear selection / shifting position, ride height and level position detection, throttle valve and pedal position, steering wheel position or as a zero-contact encoder alternative. IP68 classification makes these sensors universal also for use in rough environmental conditions. They comply with industrial / automotive EMC/EMI directives and come with a 12 Bit resolution. Due to the compact size the ANG- and LIN-series require less space than other sensors with a similar performance. The mounting Height is only 6.5 mm which is an extremely flat design for linear and angular position sensing. The LIN-series can measure a range of up to 45 mm, while the ANG series provide a programmable measuring range from 0° to 360° degrees. Due to the quality of the components used, both sensors come with an overall accuracy of ±2% full scale and a linearity of the output signal with ±1% full scale. Custom programming is available for: range, slope and PWM output thus allowing an excellent modification to individual requirements. No mechanical interface means no parts to wear out or jam. The LIN- and ANG-series sensors are non-contact linear position sensors with one or two independent outputs. The sensors operate through the use of Hall Effect technology with magnetic fields generated by permanent magnets. They provide a linear change in voltage output (ratiometric to the input voltage) corresponding to a linear displacement of the actuator magnet. The LIN-sensor includes an actuator magnet which specifically paired to the sensor and is required to assure proper operation. Both sensors are RoHS Compliant and suitable for wide air gap applications. Reference: KY45-34THEB1ATA2S22 KY45-AMS22S5A1BHAFL334 KY45-F56101114 KY45-6015-1002-030  

For people with celiac disease or gluten intolerances, dining out can be stressful. Even trace amounts of the protein—found in wheat, barley, and rye—in a whole plate of food can cause adverse reactions.Now MIT spinout Nima—co-founded by CEO Shireen Yates MBA '13 and Chief Product Officer Scott Sundvor '12—has developed a portable, highly sensitive gluten sensor that lets diners know if their food is, indeed, safe to eat.According to the National Institutes of Health, celiac disease, an autoimmune disorder that leads to intestinal damage when gluten is eaten, affects around 1 percent of the U.S. population, or roughly 3 million people. According to the National Foundation for Celiac Awareness, millions more may suffer from nonceliac gluten intolerances.Nima's sensor, also called Nima, is a 3-inch-tall triangular device with disposable capsules. Diners put a sample of food—about the size of a pea—or liquid into the capsule, screw on the top, and insert the capsule into the device, which mixes the food into a solution that detects gluten. In two to three minutes, a digital display appears on the sensor, indicating if the food sample does or doesn't contain gluten.Every time someone runs a test, the result is automatically sent to an app Nima has developed. The diner can enter information about where and what they ate, and whether the food contained gluten. Any Nima user can log in to see the results.The aim is to create "a peace of mind at mealtime," Sundvor says. By amassing data on food, he adds, the startup hopes to provide people with better information about what they eat. "Right now, we don't know what's in our food, whether it is allergens, pesticides, or other harmful chemicals," he says. "There's not a good way to get that data. We want to give people the ability to understand their food better and how it affects their health."Sensitive sensorNima can sense gluten at 20 parts per million (ppm) or more, the maximum concentration for "gluten-free" foods as determined by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.Nima's high sensitivity comes from the immunoassay inside the sensor, developed primarily by MIT chemical engineering alumnus Jingqing Zhang SM '12, PhD '13, who is now the lead scientist at Nima. The immunoassay contains custom antibodies that are highly sensitive to gluten molecules. When gluten is present, the antibody bonds to the gluten molecules, causing a color change in the immunoassay, which is captured by an optical reader. If any gluten is detected, the sensor will display an icon with a "gluten found" message. If the sample has less than 20 ppm of gluten, the sensor will display a smiley face.Nima can detect gluten in foods that are labeled as "gluten-free" but may have picked up microscopic amounts of the protein during the production or cooking process. A steak may have been fried on the same grill as gluten-based foods, for example, or a salad dressing may contain trace amounts of wheat flour. The device can even detect if someone touched a piece of bread that contained gluten, before handling the food in question. "It's the equivalent to finding a breadcrumb in an entire plate of food," Sundvor says.Moreover, Sundvor says, the device seamlessly integrates that chemistry with electronics and mechanics. "We've created this grinding, mixing, and extracting system, and together it works really well," he says.Filling the consumer gapNima was founded in 2013 as GlutenTech, when Yates, then an MIT Sloan School of Management student, dreamt up an idea for a portable gluten sensor. Seeking an engineer to bring the device to life, she met Sundvor, a recent MIT graduate who had studied mechanical engineering and product design.Together, they set up shop at the now-defunct MIT Beehive, a startup incubator on MIT's campus, with aims of filling "a huge consumer gap" in food-allergen testing, Sundvor says. Conventional at-home tests, he says, require equipment such as test tubes, pipettes, a mortar and pestle, and microscale. "You can't bring test tubes to a restaurant," he says.Sundvor began working long hours in an MIT machine shop building a prototype, while Yates brought the idea around to her MIT Sloan classes. Of note was a particular pricing class, where students sketched out pricing and demand models for the product. "The result of that was that I found there's a real opportunity here: There's a need and a willingness to pay," Yates says.In spring 2013, GlutenTech entered the MIT $100K Entrepreneurship Competition with a proof-of-concept model, and they earned the Audience Choice Award in the Accelerate contest. That summer, the team entered the Global Founders Skills Accelerator (GFSA), a 12-week startup program held at the Martin Trust Center for MIT Entrepreneurship.Participating in the $100K forced the team develop a business plan they could pitch to investors, Yates says. "It was a testing period to see, if we position ourselves in a certain way, will it resonate with investors?" she says."The GFSA was incredible," Sundvor adds, "It gave us the opportunity to have a safe space to go full-out on this for three months, have mentors, and have just enough money to squeak by."By the time the GFSA Demo Day rolled around in September, GlutenTech had its first working prototypes—"which were so ugly," Sundvor says, laughing.The 9-inch-long aluminum tubes "looked like lightsaber handles," Sundvor says. Inside the tubes were chemicals used in conventional food tests, and the system took about 10 minutes to detect gluten. When it did, a bright light flashed and a loud alarm went off. "We got many looks at restaurants," Sundvor says. "But they worked and got us our first investors."Three years ago, GlutenTech moved headquarters from Boston to San Francisco, and changed its name to 6SensorLabs. This year, they renamed the startup as Nima. In three years, the startup has gained more than $14 million in capital venture funding.New opportunitiesConsumers are the startup's first market. But as more individuals start using Nima, restaurants will have more data on their food to better serve patrons, Sundvor says. A couple of restaurants in San Francisco, in fact, are working with Nima on validating their gluten-free menu items.Next year, Nima plans to release two new sensors, one for peanuts and one for dairy, which is "surprisingly sneaky," Sundvor says. Bread at a restaurant, for instance, could have been fried in a pan with remnants of butter. "A lot of people are getting sick from dairy allergies, so that will be a big market," Sundvor says.Reference:LM50BIM3/NOPBDS18B20-PAR+T&RAD592BNZ