Electrical/Electronics Application
- thin and lightweight
- weather-tight
Weather Balloon Control Panel
* Tethersonde Meteorological Towers, made by Finland-based
Vaisala, are portable devices used for gathering atmospheric
boundary profile data. Up to six tethersonde sensor systems
are attached at various points along the tether line of a
weather balloon, measuring atmospheric conditions simultaneously
at different heights. The tether line is 1000 meters long,
payed out by an electric winch. Controlling this winch is
a flat panel controller made by AP Industrial, Tempe, AZ.
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* These meteorological devices must be able to withstand
the extreme heat and cold, sun, dust, humidity and occasional
rain and snow. In designing the new control panel, AP Industrial
decided to use a thiNcoder Rotary switch along with PushGate
buttons, made by Duraswitch Industries, Inc, Mesa, AZ.
* thiNcoder Rotary switches operate in a -40 to 85° C
range, and withstand shock up to 200g. They also function
for over two million cycles--as compared to the usual ten
thousand or so cycles displayed by most standard switch lines.
The ultra-thin rotary switch has a panel profile of less than
0.08 inches (total profile only one-quarter of an inch) and
operates by creating a magnetic field that rolls gold-plated
balls over a printed membrane upon actuation. The design is
intrinsically sealed against harsh environments.
* PushGate switches combine the best properties of mechanical
and membrane switches, with sharp, consistent tactile feedback,
low profile and environmental sealing. They last over 450
million actuations and tolerate extreme temperature ranges.
* The panel consists of on thiNcoder Rotary switch with three
PushGate buttons and several imbedded LEDs on a flex circuit.
Using such condensed features, the entire system--weather
balloon, tethersonde sensors, winch assembly and PC--weighs
less than 40 kg and can be transported and installed at remote
sites by an individual operator. These systems are used by
the US Department of Defense as well as the US National Weather
Service.
For more information:
Circle 760 - AP Industrial, or connect directly
to their website via the Online Reader Service Program
at http://www.OneRS.net/105df-760
Circle 761 - Duraswitch Industries Inc, or
connect directly at http://www.OneRS.net/105df-761
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