ScioSense introduces ultrasonic flow sensors for gas meters

     ScioSense has announced the introduction of its new low-power ultrasonic flow sensor, the AS6040. The device is optimized for gas meters, easily integrated into system designs, and compatible with virtually all host microcontrollers. The sensor is also suitable for water flow measurement applications. The introduction of the AS6040 provides users with a new and easier way to take full advantage of the advantages of ultrasonic flow measurement in metrology applications.

     The AS6040 ultrasonic flow sensor with an integrated 32-bit CPU core contains all the features needed to drive an external ultrasonic transducer and is capable of converting two-way time-of-flight measurements into gas flow in a known size pipe segment.

     The AS6040 is based on ScioSense's proven ultrasonic flow sensor technology and includes a new high voltage charge pump that delivers up to 17.8V output and is generated from battery power to drive external transducers. An integrated programmable gain amplifier is also included, bringing gain Settings from 2V/V to 132V/V. These features enable the AS6040 to reliably detect ultrasonic signals in any gas flow measurement application.

     ScioSense provides sample code that can run in the AS6040's CPU and will eventually support full traffic calculations, helping to speed up the development of the system. The device can also be configured to provide raw time-of-flight measurements for computational conversion in the host controller.

     The AS6040 is designed for instrumentation with a service life of more than 15 years. Ultra-low power consumption means it can run on battery power; The operating current is extremely low - for a 178µs time-of-flight measurement, the typical operating current at 5.6V is only 15µA when sampled at 8Hz.

     Zorro Zhu, Director of Technical Support at ScioSense, said: "Design flexibility is the signature feature of the AS6040 ultrasonic flow sensor - it allows instrument designers to use the MCU of their choice to design the tube segment in a way that suits their design; You can also choose the transducer that best meets your application and budget requirements. Whatever choice they make, the AS6040 can be easily integrated into the system design while providing precise measurement output in any meter setup."