Industrial Electronics

Design Showcase

Six axis robot
SMS Gateway
Logging Sensors
Medical Scanner
Magnetic Flowmeter
Orbital Shaker
Robot Grippers
Environmental Sensors

	Many Australian industrial companies are familiar with the Magnetic Flowmeters manufactured by Tyco Combined Instruments. In 2007 Microelectronic Systems was engaged to develop a new range of transmitters for mains powered, solar and battery powered applications. The project is a cooperative development with Tyco and we are involved in design of all aspects of the electronics and in particular the microcontroller system, LCD interface and firmware development. Features of the new flowmeter will include capacitive touch keypad, graphic LCD displays with multiple character sets and icons. An in-field verification tool will allow regular confirmation of performance. Improved measurement performance and power consumption and new features such as BlueTooth communications options will be welcomed by users of the current M300 flowmeter. At the conclusion of the project Tyco will have products that compete technically with those from well known giants including ABB and Siemens.
	The WPR transducer is a product manufactured by Sugar Research (SRI) and is used to provide measurement variables for sugar pan boiling control. Our job was to update the electronics by shrinking the electronics and adding microprocessor technology that allowed digital monitoring and configuration. This replaced the former method of using trimpots and a multimeter to set and adjust the calibration and read the output. The new transducer, named DBriX also allows for switchable calibration sets that allow a control system to select one of 4 calibrations depending on the material being processed within the pan. The calibration is now performed in firmware using software algorithms and calibration coefficients which can be entered using a hand-held unit (pictured) which communicates with the DBriX Transducer over RS485. Aside from the two 4-20mA control signals the DBriX transmitter also has the ability to interface with control systems using RS485 communications. As part of the upgrade, the RF measurement section of the transmitter was re-engineered to improve temperature performance and to allow factory adjustment of the RF circuit without the need for trimpots.
	This product measures level of bagasse (shredded sugar cane) in a hopper or bin. The Chute Height Sensor has been installed in many sugar factories around the world and has been a very successful product. It includes a microprocessor based control unit for measurement of the level, based on electrical conductance, 4-20mA outputs, relay interfaces and configurable measurement modes through an LCD interface and keypad.
	The PC230 and RC180 Electrostatic Precipitator controllers are used in power stations, alumina and cement factories to remove dust from flue gas. The PC230 measures and controls high tension in the precipitator by primary side control of a transformer-rectifier set (typically 50 kVa) using phase angle control of 200 Amp Silicon Controlled Rectifiers (SCR). The RC180 controls a large number of high current solenoids which are used to lift hammers on op of the precipitator in a controlled sequence and with controlled current and timing to each hammer. It comprised a microprocessor based controller (pictured), a phase angle current control module and a number of high current multiplexers (up to 96 per RC180).