Sensors

By fusing driving dynamics sensor information with GPS data, Continental, the international automotive supplier, will make it possible in future to determine the precise position of a vehicle within its lane. The new M2XPro (Motion information 2 X Provider) sensor uses an intelligent fusion algorithm to provide other control units with a vehicle's motion information together with a precise time base. The ability to determine the vehicle's positio...

Omron Electronics Components Business B.V. has launched what it believes is the smallest photomicrosensor on the market, a device that nevertheless offers exceptional sensing performance. Despite its ultra-compact size of just 3.2mm x 1.9mm x 1.1mm, the new Omron EE-SY1200 reflective photomicrosensor can reliably detect objects between 1mm and 4mm away. It is ideal for a whole range of demanding applications including paper pass and edge detectio...

Plessey Semiconductors has announced that it has released the latest version of the Electric Potential Integrated Circuit (EPIC) sensor specifically tailored to detect movement. This version of the EPIC has been optimised for security, switching and gaming applications. By detecting changes in the electric field the EPIC sensor provides an output to a relay to act as a simple non-touch electric switch. The EPIC sensor can be used in both proximit...

Murata has announced the availability of the PRF15 series of miniature positive temperature coefficient (PTC) thermistor designed specifically for overheating detection applications in a broad range of consumer electronics devices. Believed to have the industry’s tightest temperature tolerance of +/- 3 degrees C, the series lineup comprises devices with detection temperatures in the range of +80 degrees C to +150 degrees C in 10 degree C steps.

Sensirion recently launched new differential pressure sensors in the SDP600 se-ries. The new SDP6x6 sensor line features especially low energy consumption, making it suitable for long-term battery operation. The SDP606 and SDP616 sen-sors are designed to enter sleep mode after performing each measurement. They wake up when a “measure” command is received and enter sleep mode again af-ter completing the measurement. The operation currents of a...

Analog Devices released for general availability the ADIS16136 tactical grade isensor digital MEMS gyroscope, which provides 3.5o/hr typical bias stability in a matchbox-sized module consuming less than 1 watt and weighing only 25 grams. The new tactical grade (below 10o/hr bias stability) iSensor MEMS gyroscope operates autonomously and requires no user configuration before producing precise and accurate rate sensing data, quickly enabling preci...

ON Semiconductor has introduced a new CMOS image sensor that offers the speed, resolution and signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) performance required to address the needs of the growing number of high-end biometric applications such as fingerprint detection as well as several medical device designs. The MANO 9600 is a rolling shutter 9.6 megapixel (MP) (3840 x 2500 pixel) device that runs at 20 frames per second (fps) at full resolution.

Freescale Semiconductor is offering a family of automotive acceleration sensors designed to expedite development of advanced airbag systems that help save lives and protect against injuries caused by vehicle collisions. Freescale's new Xtrinsic MMA65xxKW family of accelerometers employs intelligent sensing technologies designed for front and side crash detection that can be easily and efficiently integrated into vehicle airbag systems.

Following the long-awaited release of Dainese’s D-air Racing suit earlier this year, the Italian brand is now ready to release the road-going version of the system, D-air Street, which is set to go on sale in the Spring of 2012.

Each year in the USA, accidents when reversing vehicles claim the lives of more than 225 individuals – mostly small children – and cause approximately 17,000 injuries. A new study reveals that in order to minimise these tragedies, vehicles should be equipped with a backup camera system with the related display located in the interior rearview mirror.