Suppakit Promwikorn, a graduate student at the Suranaree University of Technology (Master of Electrical Engineering program), had successfully constructed the first testing apparatus for acceleration sensors and switches in Thailand on Friday January 29th, 2010. The set up is a balanced rotating bar that generates equal centrifugal acceleration at both ends. The level of acceleration generated is a function of speed of rotation which is driven by a DC motor and a pulse-width-modulation (PWM) based controller. A commercial acceleration sensor is installed at one end of the rotating bar and a device under test (sensor or switch) is installed at another end. The commercial sensor sends its output in a form of DC voltage to a micro controller board located at the hub. The acceleration data is converted into RS-232 text message and sent out to a computer through a special designed rotating contacts (similar to carbon brush mechanism in DC motors). If the device under test is an acceleration switch, its "ON" or "OFF" switching status is reported to the same micro controller and converted into RS-232 text message along with acceleration data from the commercial sensor. In addition, when the acceleration switch turns its status to "ON", an alarm is set.
The apparatus will be used in testing and calibration of micro acceleration sensors and switches fabricated by synchrotron x-ray lithography techniques at the Synchrotron Light Research Institute, Nakhonratchasima, Thailand.
Web site: http://sites.google.com/site/sutmems
Email: sut.mems@gmail.com
Key words:
Acceleration sensor, acceleration switch, acceleration generator, MEMS, LIGA, Synchrotron, X-Ray Lithography, SUT MEMS, SUT Electrical Engineering, SLRI
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