Phoenix Contact's new digital ultra-high frequency (UHF) wireless radio modem products now provide protected Federal Communications Commission-licensed wireless communication and an enhanced level of data protection.
According to Phoenix Contact, the UHF radio is the first of its kind to feature collision avoidance, packet-error checking and security with an Advanced Encryption Standard-compliant 128-bit encryption. Each industrial radio is also equipped with:
Full control and management of the system through the network owner. Remote network diagnostics. Intuitive, user-friendly software.The capacity to support multiple protocols and host stations, using the same frequencies.Availability of two versions-one with advanced features and the other with economical standard features. Compatibility between both the advanced and standard versions.
AD Products' Try and Buy Program Lets Customers Experience Wireless Worry-Free
AD Products has announced the addition of the Meriam/ADALET Wireless Integrated Pressure Switch and Receiver to its line of electrical enclosure, instrumentation and accessory products. Combined with the Try and Buy Program, worries about going wireless wither away, according to the company.
AD says the Meriam/ADALET wireless system is beneficial as a result of its:
License-free frequency-hopping spread spectrum technology, which protects data integrity with a secure and accurate signal.
Advanced encryption standard to ensure users feel secure about the wireless system's security.
Rugged, reliable and accurate integrated wireless pressure switch, which houses a transmitter, contained in a transparent polycarbonate antenna dome, providing data transmission for up to 3,000 ft.
Ability to offer 500 megawatts of transmission power-enough energy for applications that require constant monitoring.
Powder-coated cast aluminum body, which maintains a NEMA 4X rating for protection against the elements.
Protective coating of molded Sanoprene®.
Capacity for customization to fit specific application requirements.
Easy installation of the 24-volt DC-powered wireless receiver, without the need for panel hole-punching or retrofitting-simply snap on any industry-standard DIN-rail.
Ability for one receiver to be paired with up to 60 switches with programmable logic controller or distributed control system capabilities.
The Meriam/ADALET wireless system is intended for pressure measurement applications, such as tank levels, power generation, process control, flow monitoring and pipelines.
When used in conjunction with the Try and Buy Program, prospective users can simply request the Meriam/ADALET wireless system demonstration kit, and AD Products will ship it to you. Moreover, representatives are available throughout the country to visit potential users to demonstrate how accurate and effective the wireless system can be.
Using AD Products' part number configuration tool, users can place orders quickly by choosing from a multitude of options for the wireless pressure switch, such as desired pressure range, transmission power and interval timing, and type of power supply, whether by battery or AC power.
APEM's New Switch Series Is All Buttoned Up
APEM Components has expanded its line of IPP Series push-button switches with the addition of a flat-top plunger switch series.
One advantage of the entire series is its allowance for customization to help match the switch to unique applications. Some customization options include: customer-specific markings, backlit legends, custom-molded caps and wire assemblies.
APEM recommends the IPP Series for any application that requires a sealed, ergonomic electrical interface, which can be found in a number of markets, such as marine, off-road, transportation, military, medical equipment and security.
Furthermore, these push-button switches feature:
Availability in momentary and maintained functions.
A black bezel frame.
7 actuator color choices to satisfy coding requirements.
An IP67 elastomeric sealing for reliability, as well as a unique feel.
A rating for 100 mA at 24 volts DC with an expected life of 200,000 cycles, or a rating for 2 A at 125 volts AC with an expected life of 10,000 cycles per UL 1054.
Gold-plated silver contacts.
Availability for pre-wiring or with solder lug terminals.
PCB Piezotronics Sensors and Inflight Warning Systems Fly with British Airways
Inflight Warning Systems (IWS) and the IMI Sensors division of PCB Piezotronics have received an order for predictive maintenance vibration monitors from British Airways. According to PCB, this deal completes a long-term effort to incorporate IWS' monitors into commercial aircraft.
These monitors, which include the use of PCB sensors as a key component, are designed to detect bearing failure in air recirculation fans. Thus far, they have been incorporated into 11 applications aboard major commercial airliners throughout the world.
By installing the product onto fans for cabin air recirculation or electrical equipment cooling exhaust, the vibration monitors can deliver early warnings of wear on fan bearings, thereby detecting and possibly preventing fan failure. While the monitors permit normal fan operation, they also have the ability to automatically terminate the operation of fans when a bearing failure is imminent, for example.
A fan's onboard-aircraft operation capacity varies widely before catastrophic failure, especially depending on the number of hours in flight, the aircraft type and conditions, among other factors. However, failure of these fans often results in the interruption of normal flight operations for repair.
Prior industry solutions to address fan bearing failure consisted of the establishment of a maximum number of operating hours for the fan, then removal and overhaul, which may be unnecessary. With implementation of the IWS vibration monitor, fan performance can be maximized and the cost of operations minimized.
Inflight Warning Systems President Steve Ehrick notes, "With the help of PCB, we have been able to develop a cost-effective product solution that serves the needs of the aircraft aftermarket, and ultimately helps improve aircraft safety and performance. The issue of fan bearing failure has significantly impacted the industry in the past few years. Having approached PCB after referral from another aerospace aftermarket component supplier, we were pleased to find that their high-quality sensors could so significantly contribute to the success of our vibration monitor."
EricYax, IMI Sensors division manager, adds, "We are pleased to contribute to the success of IWS, as well as to provide a predictive maintenance and vibration monitoring solution for a valued customer in the commercial aviation aftermarket and aerospace industries. What is most interesting is the IWS vibration monitor allows the same technology, most common to industrial applications, to be innovatively applied for benefit of the aerospace industry. It is our hope this will lead to additional new incorporations of PCB industrial product technology into this market segment."
Xilinx Ahead of Production Schedule with the Spartan-3A DSP
Xilinx introduces the availability of its Spartan™-3A digital-signal processing field-programmable gate arrays. Shipping in production a month ahead of schedule, the Spartan-3A platform offers 20-gigabit media-access controllers for a wide range of data-intensive applications, such as wireless, video surveillance, personal medical and consumer applications.
According to Xilinx, the Spartan-3A platform gives developers the opportunity to take advantage of:
The flexibility and parallel-processing capabilities of field-programmable gate arrays.
A well-established foundation made up of Spartan-3 generation field-programmable gate arrays.
Enhanced power management and connectivity features.
The ability to implement many independent arithmetic functions with the XtremeDSP DSP48.
"By taking advantage of the proven Spartan-3A field-programmable gate array fabric, Xilinx has demonstrated that it can quickly deliver a new product series in response to its evolving customer needs," said Fu Tai Liou, head of the America Business Group at United Microelectronics Corp. (UMC).
"Moreover, the UMC and Xilinx partnership's ability to move the new series quickly into production supports Xilinx's strategy of enabling customers to extend the use of programmable logic into a wider range of applications," Liou continued.
Zetex and NAD Electronics Sound Off About Digital Audio Amplifiers
Zetex Semiconductors and NAD Electronics have announced the joint development of a line of high-performance digital audio amplifiers incorporating Zetex's Class Z direct digital feedback amplifier (DDFA™) technology-a unique, performance-optimized digital amplifier architecture.
According to NAD's Product Development Director Greg Stidsen, "The high efficiency of Class Z is well-known and advantageous, but this alone does not qualify it for inclusion; with Zetex technology we get the efficiency, but more importantly, the no-compromise audio performance our customers expect."
Zetex believes that abolishing digital-to-analog conversions and implementing the whole amplifier process in the digital domain, can raise audio performance to a new level of performance.
Dr. Franz Riedlberger, Chief Technology Officer for Zetex, said, "All the previous drawbacks of digital amplifiers are simply removed by the use of digital feedback; power supply noise and output stage distortion are rejected, and output impedance is very low. The result is the lowest available distortion and noise, coupled with outstanding linearity, leading to a detailed and natural sound. Zetex is proud to partner with NAD in such an ambitious development."
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