Hioki is pleased to announce that its AC/DC Current Sensor CT6877, AC/DC Clamp Meter CM4375 and CM4376, and AC Clamp Meter CM4141 and CM4142 have been recognized with 2019 Good Design Awards by with the Japan Institute of Design Promotion.

CURRENT SENSOR
AC/DC Current Sensor CT6877
This pass-through current sensor measures large currents of up to 2000 A AC/DC with a high degree of accuracy. In addition to those measurement capabilities, the product’s broad frequency band and high noise resistance make it ideal for use in evaluation of inverters (devices that convert direct current to alternating current) used in electric vehicles (EVs) and hybrid-electric vehicles (HEVs), which are being designed to handle increasingly large currents and high switching frequencies, as well as of the batteries used in those vehicles.

CLAMP METERS
AC/DC Clamp Meter CM4375 and CM4376
These clamp meters feature new, thinner jaws (clamping sensors) that are easier to clamp around wires in confined spaces. Conventional clamp meters have jaws that are too thick to fit around some cables, hindering measurement work. Hioki improved the shape of the jaws in response to feedback from technicians in the field to enable measurement in locations where it had been impossible in the past.

*The AC/DC Clamp Meter CM4376 received an Honorable Mention Award in the Japan Electrical Construction Association’s 58th product contest, which was held at the JECA Fair 2019.

 

AC Clamp Meter CM4141 and CM4142
Despite their large diameter (55 mm), these instruments’ jaws (clamping sensors) pass easily through gaps between wires thanks to an extremely thin profile. They’re also warrantied for 30,000 cycles, up from 10,000 cycles for previous models, thanks to a more robust design. Hioki made both products easier to clamp around wires and more rugged in response to feedback from technicians in the field so that customers will be able to use them even longer.

GOOD DESIGN AWARDS
The Good Design Awards were founded more than 50 years ago to evaluate overall design and encourage excellence in its pursuit. Hioki has received a total of 75 of the awards since 1985, including two Long Life Design Awards.

Hioki’s goal is to enrich lifestyles and society by designing measuring instruments that are pleasing to hold and satisfying to use. The Good Design Awards earned by the AC/DC Current Sensor CT6877, AC/DC Clamp Meter CM4375 and CM4376, and AC Clamp Meter CM4141 and CM4142 attest to the product’ measurement functionality as well as their fulfillment of customers’ needs.

Judges offered the following comments:

AC/DC Current Sensor CT6877
The CT6877 offers technical features such as the ability to simultaneously measure four high-current electrical cables thanks to a large-diameter aperture and a broader frequency band than previous models. Complementing those benefits are design features like a compact form factor with a small enough footprint that it can be installed in a wide range of customer equipment and an attractively shaped resin enclosure that allows uninsulated wires to be measured safely. The result is an exceptional product.

AC/DC Clamp Meter CM4375 and CM4376
AC Clamp Meter CM4141 and CM4142
Reflecting a focus on the diameter and spacing of the electrical cables that are likely to be measured using clamp sensors and their distance from the walls behind them, Hioki has offered compact sensors with sufficiently high current ratings and tips that have a narrow cross-sectional profile so that they can fit easily into confined spaces. The resulting design eliminates problems that technicians have had using clamp sensors to measure indoor wiring, which is being installed more densely with smaller gaps between wires.

What Is Lightning & Surge Protection System? 

The primary effect of lightning is a direct lightning strike on a physical entity.  A Lightning Protection System (LPS) intercepts, conducts, and disperses the lightning strike to a building through a safe pathway [1] to earth – bypassing the building components and thus protecting them from damage. Figure 1.0 shows the components of a typical commercial LPS and their functions. 

Figure 1.0  Components of a Typical Lightning Protection System and their Functions

Figure 2.0 Types of Surge Protection Devices (SPD)

Record the output voltage, current, and control signal of an EV quick charger simultaneously and conduct operational evaluation tests.

With increasing focus on electric vehicles from the perspective of environmental protection and the optimization of energy sources, the energy consumption efficiency of quick chargers (also known as DCQC or DC quick chargers) is an important measurement and evaluation criteria that is indispensable for the advancement of electric vehicles in society.  In an electric vehicle (EV), the electronic control unit (ECU) specifies the optimal charging current depending on the battery conditions and provides commands to the quick charger to deliver the correct amount of DC power.  Because various signals come into play when determining the right amount of supply, the ability to measure all signals at the same time to determine proper operation and signal integrity is critical for the development and evaluation of quick chargers.

 

• Memory HiCorder MR8875

 

 

Oscilloscope Function 

An oscilloscope is an instrument to display and analyze the instantaneous voltage waveform as a function of time [1]. Figure 1.0 below shows the two most common waveforms shape of voltage response as detected by the oscilloscope. The vertical and horizontal scale displays the instantaneous voltage response to the time of waveform incident. 

Figure 1.0 : The 2 most common waveforms displayed on the oscilloscope screen

Hioki Memory Recorder with oscilloscope-like functionality and much more

Hioki’s Memory Recorders oscilloscope-like functionality is not limited to voltage measurement as found in the conventional oscilloscope.The table below shows the key advantages of Hioki’s Memory Recorders compared to oscilloscopes. 

The following 2 Hioki Memory HiCorder models offer oscilloscope-like functionality and other advantages according to different needs.

Field Measurement – Hioki Memory HiCorder MR8847A

The MR8847A comes with features designed specifically for field measurements as illustrated below.

Other advantages include:

• Maximum high voltage direct input of 1000V DC and 700V AC without using a differential probe. This application requires U8974 high voltage input module.

• Up to 64 channels simultaneous recording using the 16 built-in logic input channels and 3 add- on logic input units option. All the channels’ recorded waveforms can be displayed on the same screen.
• Remote monitoring and data retrieval through the built-in HTTP /FTP server functions
• Trigger functions for monitoring all measurement channels (level/ window/ voltage drop/ period/ glitch(pulse monitoring)/ event setting/ pattern[ON/OFF logic signal])
• Post data acquisition anomalies search-and-detect function Advance Features – Hioki Memory HiCorder MR6000

This model offers a high-speed voltage measurement of 200 MS/s using the high-speed analog unit U8976 (max two channels simultaneously). Figure 1.0 shows the advantages of the 200 MS/s rate for detecting abnormality in an example of switching waveforms measurement. 

Figure 2.0 The U8976 high-speed analog unit sampling at 200 MS/s enables any abnormality to be displayed

The 12.1 inch touchscreen enables direct and intuitive user control instead of the conventional scrolling by button. 

The new Hioki Memory HiCorder Concierge function enables easy and fast detection of abnormal waveforms. A reference waveform is used to screen out the low similarity waveform, as illustrated below.

There are also three search functions to automatically search for some of the useful parameters in the waveforms recorded as shown in Figure 3.0

Figure 3.0 Search functions in MR6000 for parameters search

The MR6000 comes with a built-in HTTP/FTP server which enables remote monitoring function via LAN port and direct measurements transfer.

Hioki’s Memory Recorder offers oscilloscope- like functionality and other value-added features for waveform measurements not found in conventional oscilloscopes.

Read the original article here: Hioki Memory Recorder For Oscilloscope-Like Functionality 

References: https://whatis.techtarget.com/definition/oscilloscope

What is a Resolver?
A resolver is a rotary transformer consisting of a sensor that is used to accurately measure a rotor’s angular position relative to the stator, as well as speed of rotation. It has no electronic parts, which makes it suitable for long-term use in harsh and demanding environments including those with high temperatures, vibrations, radiation and residue, for example heavy industrial motors, servo motors, and automobiles. The digital version of a resolver is a rotary encoder.

Photo: Dynapar.com
https://ecatalog.dynapar.com/ecatalog/resolvers/en?_ga=2.112395652.1441738319.1562699952-819002326.1562699952 （Search date: 2019/7/10）

How are Resolvers Used?

A resolver is used as a feedback device to ensure that a rotor will rotate properly, and by extension, the motor will accelerate, slow down, or stop at precise moments.  Manufacturers using robotic equipment depend on reliable servo motors to control arm movement while it operates at optimal speeds, making both safety and efficiency high priorities.

Resolvers are also a critical part of a motor on hybrid or electric vehicles to serve as the rotor position sensor.  In order for the car’s AC synchronous motor setup to function properly, the computer needs to know the position of the rotor at any given time so that the appropriate stator winding is charged with the proper phase current from the inverter – a resolver is essentially a sensor that helps to do that.

The Memory HiCorder as a Resolver Digital Converter

During motor development, a multi-channel Memory HiCorder MR6000 can be used as a resolver digital converter to evaluate the rotor position and the rotational speed based on the signal waveforms.  The ability to capture the resolver’s excitation signal (reference voltage signal) and two output signals (sine and cosine voltage) with a single analog unit, and then using another channel to make calculations for the rotation angle, makes it a turnkey solution for this application.  The Memory HiCorder’s high 16-bit resolution enables customers to capture the slight changes in the output waveforms that serves as valuable information for advancing the precision of the resolver’s position sensing during development.

 

How to Set Up and Measure? 

• Input the resolver’s excitation signal and output signal to the 4ch Analog Unit U8978 (range: 100mVf.s. to 40Vf.s.)
• The remaining input slots of the MR6000 can be fitted with other modules to let you measure temperature, control signals, torque, and current signals at the same time in order to evaluate the effect of other factors on the signal as well as measure additional physical properties of a motor, especially EV motors that require highly efficient but precise control.
• Use the built-in waveform calculation function to calculate the resolver’s angle of rotation and display on the screen

 

Products Used:

・ Memory HiCorder MR6000

・ 4ch Analog Unit U8978, or 4ch Analog Unit U8975, depending on voltage specificaDons of resolver

*Please contact your Hioki sales office for more informa5on about how to configure the instrument.

 

HIOKI is pleased to announce the launch of the Current Probe CT6710 and CT6711. Both products provide three ranges (30 A, 5 A, and 0.5 A) to facilitate observation of waveforms representing currents as large as 30 A or as small as several hundred microamperes. This capability makes the probes ideal for observing current waveforms under a variety of operating conditions, including inrush currents*¹, micro currents, and high-speed currents*².

■ DEVELOPMENT BACKGROUND

Current probes convert the current flowing through a wire into a voltage signal.  They are connected to data acquisition equipment such as oscilloscopes and Hioki Memory HiCorders so that those devices can display the current waveform, and are used principally in the development and design of products such as electrical and electronic devices, industrial equipment, and electronic components.

In recent years, manufacturers in every industrial sector have redoubled their efforts to save energy, for example by increasing energy efficiency and by lowering power consumption. This renewed focus has made it necessary for engineers involved in device and component R&D to observe abrupt changes in currents, rapid variations in operating currents, and micro currents, creating demand for probes with broader current and frequency coverage.

Since launching its first clamp-on tester in 1971, HIOKI has developed numerous current sensors for use in a variety of applications. In 2014, the company sought to meet customer demand for high sensitivity by introducing a pair of current probes (the CT6700/CT6701) with 10 times the sensitivity of the legacy models (the 3273/3276). However, the new devices’ current-measuring capabilities were limited by its single range (5 A) configuration even as demand for a single probe capable of measuring both micro and large currents grew. To meet this demand, HIOKI sought to develop a current probe with a wide frequency band (DC to 120 MHz) and a broad measurement range (0.5 A to 30 A).

■ FEATURES
1. Observe waveforms from 30 A to micro currents thanks to 3 ranges (30 A, 5 A, and 0.5 A)
Existing current probes such as the Hioki CT6700 and CT6701 offer a single, 5 A range. The new CT6710 and CT6711 provides three ranges (30 A, 5 A, and 0.5 A) so that users can observe a wide range of current waveforms with one device. The result is an instrument capable of accurately identifying currents under various operating conditions, for example by using the 0.5 A range to measure micro currents and the 30 A range to measure inrush currents.  In addition, the range can be switched simply by pressing a button on the probe’s relay box.

 2. Observe current waveforms across a wide frequency band

The CT6710 and CT6711 can observe current waveforms across a wide frequency band, from DC to megahertz bandwidths. With a band of either DC to 50 MHz (CT6710) or DC to 120 MHz (CT6711), the probes accommodate use in an array of settings.

3. Ten times the sensitivity of existing and comparable probes, enabling micro currents on the order of several hundred microamperes to be observed clearly

Because they offer higher sensitivity than existing devices, the CT6710 and CT6711 can observe micro currents with a high degree of clarity.  The output rate of 1 V/A on the sister products, CT6701 and CT6700, as well as competitive devices means that they generate an output voltage of 1 V for a current value of 1 A.  At this low output rate, users need to set the oscilloscope to a high-sensitivity range where noise is more pronounced, resulting in the inability to precisely identify micro currents that are hidden by the  noise. By contrast, the CT6710 and CT6711 deliver an output rate of 10 V/A when using the 0.5 A range, giving them 10 times the sensitivity of prior Hioki probes.  The higher output rate enables users to make measurements at the low-sensitivity range where noise is less noticeable.   Additionally, overall improvements in the probes’ S/N ratio*³ allow use of oscilloscope functionality*⁴ to observe micro current waveforms with a high degree of clarity.

4. One-touch BNC connectors

Connect the CT6710 or CT6711 to an oscilloscope or Memory HiCorder simply by inserting its connector straight into the host instrument’s BNC connector, eliminating the need to rotate to tighten. Additionally, the connector is locked in place automatically so that there’s no need to worry about the sensor accidentally detaching. One-touch disengagement of the locking mechanism makes it easy to disconnect the probe.

■ PRINCIPAL MARKETS

• Development and design of electrical and electronic devices, industrial devices, electronic components, mobile devices, etc.
• Development and design of automobiles, transport equipment, and motors
• Fundamental research at universities, research institutes, etc.

■ LINEUP

CURRENT PROBE CT6710 (DC to 50 MHz)

CURRENT PROBE CT6711 (DC to 120 MHz)

Note: Use the optional Power Supply 3269 to drive the current probe when power from the Memory HiCorder or oscilloscope is not available.

POWER SUPPLY 3269  (designed to accommodate up to two probes)

Download the product catalog here: Current Probe CT6710 and CT6711

*1 Inrush current: A large current that flows momentarily when power is first supplied to an electrical device.

*2 High-speed current: A current that rises or falls abruptly. Some devices need to be able to cycle current on and off quickly in order to improve energy efficiency.

*3 S/N ratio: The ratio of a signal to the amount of noise. The higher the S/N ratio, the less the noise, allowing high-quality signal measurement.

*4: Oscilloscope averaging function or band-limiting function. 

 

 

 

 

 

Hioki is pleased to announce the launch of the Electrode Resistance Measurement System RM2610.

 

The RM2610 isolates and quantifies the resistance characteristics of electrode sheets, a major component of lithium-ion batteries (LIBs), as two components: the composite layer resistance and the interface resistance between the composite layer and collector.  The system allows users to visualize these two quantities by measuring the surface of the electrode sheet with a test fixture that consists of an array of test probes and then using proprietary analytical techniques to quantify them. By quantifying resistance characteristics that have been impossible to visualize in the past, the RM2610 assesses electrode sheet characteristics and quality trends and to help LIB developers visualize how resistance characteristics vary in response to changes in composite materials and composition. In this way, it facilitates improvements in the quality and development of lithium-ion batteries.

Electrode Sheet Diagram

DEVELOPMENT BACKGROUND

 

Lithium-ion batteries are rechargeable batteries in which the movement of lithium ions between positive and negative electrodes causes the battery to charge or discharge. This type of battery has entered into widespread use in compact devices such as smartphones and computers because it delivers high capacity in a lightweight package. Mass-production of lithium-ion batteries on a global scale is growing rapidly in the wake of efforts to evolve, improve, and develop them for use as rechargeable batteries in electric vehicles (EVs) as the world moves toward a carbonless society.

 

Electrode sheets are made by coating a collector (the part that attracts electricity; typically with a positive electrode made of aluminium and a negative electrode made of copper) with a liquid (the composite) containing ingredients such as an active substance (which serves to capture and release lithium ions) and a conductive auxiliary agent (which serves to facilitate electron conductivity). The sheets are used as electrodes in lithium-ion batteries. Since lower internal resistance means higher performance in terms of output and service life, it is extremely important to observe the resistance characteristics of electrode sheets, which are as a major component of lithium-ion batteries.

 

However, until now it has been impossible to evaluate electrode sheets until the lithium-ion battery they’re used in is fully assembled, making it necessary to spend a significant amount of time and effort creating prototypes. Complicating the issue is the fact that it has not been possible to measure the overall resistance characteristics of electrode sheets using traditional measurement techniques (measurement of pass-through resistance and 4-wire volume resistivity measurement), leaving no means of assessing the resistance of the composite layer or of the interface (plane of contact) between the composite layer and collector. Accurate knowledge of these characteristics not only makes possible the fine-grained observation of which materials, compositions, and manufacturing conditions yield improved performance, but also their evaluation at the electrode sheet stage of the battery manufacturing process. These capabilities promise to drive significant improvement in LIB quality and development efficiency.

 

Hioki focused on the issues described above and utilized proprietary analytical techniques to engineer the RM2610 so that it could quantify the interface resistance between the composite layer and collector, which has been impossible to visualize until now.

■ Electrode Resistance Measurement System RM2610: System components

・Press Unit RM9003

・Test Fixture RM9004

・Connection Cable RM9005

・Electrode Resistance Meter RM2611

・Resistance Calculation Software RM2612

 

■ PRINCIPAL MARKETS

・Lithium-ion battery manufacturers and venture companies

・Manufacturers of materials used in lithium-ion batteries

 

Download Product Catalogue Here : RM2610

More than 50 people from all walks of life, joined Hioki Singapore Pte. Ltd. on 16th June 2019 to plant a total of 305 trees in Ban Naka Community Forest, Ratchaburi, Thailand. Among the group includes Hioki distributors from Thailand, Hioki associates from Japan, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam & Indonesia, students from Baan Lankha school and villagers from Ban Naka Community forest.

In addition to tree planting, the group had also built and repaired 3 weirs. Weirs are commonly used to prevent flooding, and to measure water discharge. It is also used to serve as a water catchment tool in case of drought season to ensure the forest and community maintain important source of water.

Aside from business growth, Hioki E.E Corporation emphasizes on social and environmental balance by following closely to the company’s corporate philosophies, “Contribution to Society” & “Respect for Humanity”. Hioki Tree Planting 2019 (previously known as Green Point Campaign) is the fifth instalment of the annual initiative by Hioki Singapore Pte. Ltd., to plant trees on behalf of HIOKI users to a tree-planting organization when the customers purchase a qualifying product.

“It is really wonderful and important for Hioki to recreate good environment through activity like this, together with children who bear the future on Earth.” said Mr. Kazutoshi Hosoya, President & CEO, Hioki E.E Corporation. 

“And this time, our Thailand distributors also join us for this activity, I really appreciate that. I am also very glad that many students and villagers representing the local communities are able to join us as well.” Mr Toshihiko Tsuchiya, Managing Director of Hioki Singapore Pte. Ltd. added. 

The group planted a total of 305 trees, consisting of Syzygium cumini, Lagerstroemia speciose and eucalyptus.

About the area – Ban Naka Community Forest

Ban Naka Community forest is located at National forest Yanghak sub-district, Paktho district, Ratchaburi province, with an approximate area of 1,135 acre with high forest & mixed forest vegetation. The community work closely together to protect the forest as it helps to keep the climate stable, absorbing carbon dioxide and releasing oxygen, and they regulate the water supply and improves its quality. The people living around the forests depend on them for fuel, food, medicines and building materials.Ban Naka Community Forest is the winner of the provincial award “People protect forest, the forest love the community” in 2013.

Hioki associates, distributors, students and villagers from local community worked together to repair  3 wiers which are important protect the surrounding environment in case of flood

The team comes together to plant a total 305 trees in Ban Naka community forest

Click to watch Hioki Singapore Tree Planting 2019 Video Highlights!