Application Overview:
Pranalytica, based in Santa Monica, California, makes ultra-sensitive gas sensors for parts-per-trillion (ppt) level detection of several industrially and environmentally important trace gases including ammonia, benzene, ethylene, hydrogen chloride, nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide, ozone, freons and many toxic industrial chemicals. Pranalyticas ammonia and sulfur dioxide sensors are being used in semiconductor clean rooms, environmental monitoring and noninvasive medical diagnostics. Extensions of Pranalyticas gas sensing technology at parts-per-trillion (ppt) level allow the sensors to detect, at very low levels, the presence of chemical warfare agents important for homeland security and battlefront applications.
The Nitrolux, Pranalyticas flagship amonia sensor, detects ammonia at less than 100 ppt levels. It uses a patented laser tuning technology for zero interference from common laboratory solvents. Nitroluxs sensors provide simultaneous multistream capability for up to 8 gas streams. They can be monitored and controlled remotely over the Internet. The sensors can be deployed in remote locations where there is no easy access to wired networks, or land lines. They work on solar cells and come with an optional cellular modem that communicates to the Internet via a cellular network.
Customers Requirements:
The Nitrolux amonia sensor called for a powerful, rugged, embedded CPU with on-board digital ports, analog inputs and outputs, and fast analog scan using FPGS, external trigger. The CPU also had to support a wide range of input voltages to power up the board. Support for Linux was essential, and cost for the CPU needed to reasonable.
Diamond Systems Solution:
Diamond Systems Hercules-EBX CPU was selected for the Nitrolux. Hercules-EBX met all of Pranalyticas requirements and then some. The boards support for Linux (and driver examples) made development easy and the low noise levels on Hercules-EBXs analog ports was an added bonus. Hecules-EBXs cost was also lower than other solutions considered, while still providing the functionality and performance that was required for the project.
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