CM RESEARCH 2815 Forest Hill League City, TX 77573 1-800-262-1CMR 713-334-4661 713-334-4860(FAX) ============================================================ DISPLACED TEMPERATURE SENSING SYSTEM X/10 ============================================================ The Displaced Temperature Sensing System (DTSS) model X/10 allows you to add the sensation of temperature to your virtual reality system, telerobotics system or prosthetics research. With the DTSS one can feel the temperature of a remote location (real or unreal) as if you were there. ----------------------------------- Why add temperature to your system? ----------------------------------- The notion of temperature is implied in our language that describes reality... a summer day, a winter storm, a cup of coffee or a drink at the water fountain. Thermal sensation gives other cues to the nature of things in the environment around us; for example, the average person can easily tell the difference between metal and wood because the difference in the thermal conductivities is felt as apparent cold. The comfort zone for humans is from 13C to 46C, with pain below and above these limits. The average human can feel a temperature change of as little as 0.1C over their entire body, however, at the finger tip a sensitivity of 1C is typical. Exact numbers vary from person to person. Reality is not complete without temperature, it fills in our picture of reality with the details that make everything seem correct. ------------------- What is a Thermode? ------------------- A thermode is an assembly consisting of a thermoelectric heat pump, a temperature sensor and a heat sink. The heat pump moves heat into or out of the heat sink to produce a temperature at the surface of the thermode. Using feedback from the sensor, the DTSS regulates the temperature of the thermode. A thermode can also serve as an input; sensing temperature and surface thermal conductivity. The DTSS X/10 has 8 thermode channels, each can be either an input or an output. The standard thermode is designed to fit on the finger tip, however custom thermodes or thermode banks are available to fit your application. ------------ Applications ------------ In a telerobotics application temperature sensors could be placed in the fingers of remote manipulators. Temperature signals would be sent to the DTSS and drive thermodes on the fingers of the operator. The DTSS can accept analog input as well as serial digital input. Prosthetics research application. The DTSS X/10 can be used by researchers to explore application of displaced sensing to prosthetics. Temperature sensors could be placed in the fingers of the prosthetic limb, the displaced sensing system would be used to transmit the temperature felt by the prosthetic fingers to some point on the body, where the temperature could be felt. A virtual reality application would not require a temperature sensor input; the DTSS would take serial digital commands from the computer controlling the simulation. For example, thermodes would be placed on the fingers of the virtual explorer, a temperature value would be assigned to objects or locations in the virtual world, as the hand moved near these objects commands would be sent via RS-232 to the DTSS to change the temperature of the thermodes. -------- Features -------- * 8 thermode channels - each is software programmable as an input or an output * Inputs can be "mapped" to outputs, such that the output temperature tracks the input temperature. Any input can be mapped to any output or group of outputs. * The DTSS can be operated from the front panel or remotely via RS-232. * 0 to 5 volt differential analog inputs/ feedback . * Proportional Integral Derivative (PID) control loop is used for temperature control with software access to loop tuning. * The DTSS X/10 is complete with drive circuits and power supply. * Apple Macintosh or IBM P.C. compatible demo software included. Safety: The DTSS X/10 operating range is 10C to 45C. A non-computer safety circuit plus redundant safety software cuts power to the thermode if the operating range is exceeded. ------------------------------ OEM and Custom Units available ------------------------------ CMR can deliver Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) and custom versions of the DTSS as well as custom thermode assemblies. With your research or product needs in mind, the DTSS can be easily tailored to fit your exact needs. Our staff will work closely with you to provide a system with one thermode or twenty, custom enclosures, or special thermodes or thermode banks. ------------------------------ CM RESEARCH ------------------------------ CM Research is a specialized instrument manufacturing company designing and building instruments to meet the unique needs of industrial and academic research. With primary areas of expertise including nuclear instrumentation, motion control, biomedical instrumentation, and microcomputer data acquisition systems. With CMR on your team you have at your disposal a complete staff of highly qualified, creative engineers. Which allows you to get to the business of your research or product development without being overwhelmed with complicated details. Apple Macintosh is a registered trademark of Apple Computer, Inc. IBM P.C. is a registered trademark of IBM, Inc. ---------------------------------- Request for additional information ---------------------------------- Use this form to request additional information about DTSS Model X/10. If appropriate, please describe your application or project, and provide details about what custom modifications would be desirable, if any. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Name : ________________________________________________ Company/Institution : _________________________________ Street Address : ______________________________________ City : ___________________ State : ___ Zip : ______ Telephone : ________________ Fax : __________________ E-Mail : ______________________________________________ __ Please send more information about : __ DTSS model X/10 __ Customized DTSS (please describe below) __ Other instrumentation needs (please describe below) __ Please call, preferably between _____ and _____, ____day through ____day. If appropriate, describe your application or project (use additional sheets if necessary) : xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Mail to : CM Research, 2815 Forest Hill, League City, TX 77573 Or FAX to : 713-334-4860