Massa produces M-300 ultrasonic sensors

April 1, 2009
Manufactured by Massa Products Corporation; the M-300 ultrasonic sensor design incorporates ultrasonic technology to provide low-cost precision non-contact

Manufactured by Massa Products Corporation; the M-300 ultrasonic sensor design incorporates ultrasonic technology to provide low-cost precision non-contact distance measurement. Applications for this sensor include liquid level control, remote monitoring, obstacle detection, asset tracking, mechanical positioning, roll diameter measurement, and web loop monitoring.

The M-300 ultrasonic sensors provide ease of operation, user-friendly software, versatility in user-controlled outputs, and the ability to be set up without using a target. The sensor transmits narrow-beam sound pulses, processes return echoes, and produces several outputs dependent on the position of the target.

Operating from 12 to 24 volts DC, the M-300 family of sensors has a detection range of 4 inches foot to 13 feet. A linear output of 0 to 10 volts DC is provided, which is proportional to the measured distance to the target.

This output voltage range, however, can be easily reprogrammed to start and end anywhere between 0 and 10 volts DC. The corresponding target distance span can also be set to start and stop at any two target ranges. This output voltage can also be programmed to operate as a digital switch at a specified target setpoint distance.

The system parameters and outputs are programmable via an RS-485 data link, thereby eliminating problems associated with adjustment potentiometers or pushbuttons. Some additional programmable adjustments include: analog output slope, sampling rate, averaging of multiple distance measurements, loss-of-echo time-out, setpoint hysteresis when operating in the digital switch mode, and a software sensor transmit trigger.

The M-300 ultrasonic sensors user-friendly software operates with Windows operating systems using an RS-232/RS-485 or USB/RS-485 converter. This data link allows up to 32 sensors to be on the same multi-drop communications network using the supplied protocol.

Visit www.massa.com for further details.