Ideas Unlimited develops Hi-Precision Optical Systems for Wusten Purple LLC

Last few months have been busy time at Ideas Unlimited with multiple on-going projects coming near to closure. As usual, when projects get critical, update of blog/website take a backseat :-)  So, finally we are pleased to post yet another update of a new concept/technology turn into a useful product at our labs. This will be followed by a revamp of our website at www.ideas-unlimited.in

For Wusten Purple (www.wustenpurple.com) , we have developed an instrument (rather invented from an idea at Wusten Purple, idea was turned into reality at our lab)  from an idea stage to final product stage completely at Ideas Unlimited Lab. The project involved several man months of effort to make the final instrument.

At Ideas Unlimited, we take an idea right from the idea stage to working product stage.

Idea → Concept → Proof of Concept → Working Product! 

Due to the nature of our product developed, we will not be explaining about the concept or the instrument in detail on our blog, however we would like to showcase low-res pictures of the the instrument we have developed.

Instrument Ready!

One of the views of the instrument developed by us. Angular vernier scales are used for hi-precision

Another scale to measure angles

High precision components fabricated

Laser points on a screen used for calibration and testing.

Lasers on board the instrument help in precise calibration, test and validation

Another view of the assembled fixture

Screen-shot of the software associated with the instrument.This software helps in accurate computation of parameters for the instrument.

Wusten Purple (www.wustenpurple.com), our customer, is in the business of precision dental instrumentation.

www.wustenpurple.com

Credits:

This project was jointly developed by Ideas Unlimited (www.ideas-unlimited.in) and Designus, Mysore.

• Ideas Unlimited can be contacted at info@ideas-unlimited.in
• Designus can be contacted at: info@designus.co.in

The Glove Project - Student project @ Ideas Unlimited

Hello! It's been a while since we updated our website/blog.

The Glove Project!

When three students from Instrumentation Technology Department, SJCE Mysore, approached us for assistance with their idea of a 'Glove project' we were both intrigued and interested. It had shades of some of the work we were doing in terms of wearable electronics and biomedical devices. We thought of it as a good learning opportunity for the students as well as us. We agreed to provide the team with the privilege to use our lab as well as provide them with any kind of technical help required to realize their idea. The students had put this as their entry into an inter-college tech-comeptition,

  Video demonstration of the Glove Project on YouTube

The Glove Project Team: From Left, Swaroop, Ajay and Nikhil

The Glove Project' is a concept/idea to use a glove with sensors to detect Sign Language used by the Deaf and the Dumb. However, if perfected and engineered it has potential applications for:

1. Sign Language interpretation device for deaf and dumb.
2. Gesture sensing device?
3. Useful Input device for computing applications (PC/Mobile)?
4. Diagnostic device in medical applications?

Nearly a month and a half ago, the Glove project started. A week of debate and concept trials, the shape for the glove began to emerge. Nearly a month and a half worth effort, the Proof of Concept emerged. After days of painstaking soldering, re-soldering, testing and perfecting the concept they finally made a working proof of concept ready for demo. The work done as part of this project, the students were exposed to our apprenticeship process and had their hands on skills improved in many aspects.

The Proof of Concept setup consists of :

1. A glove with lots of sensors
2. A wearable watch like interface board
3. A hand shaped display board (evaluation jig) for testing/debugging of the glove.
4. A Microprocessor interface for grabbing data from glove for processing for respective application.

The Proof of Concept (POC) consisting of the Glove with sensors, Wearable Wrist board and an evaluation jig (click to enlarge photo)

This POC proved that using low-cost sensors it is possible to pick up binary signals from finger joints - whether the joint is open or folded - which can be interpreted for decoding sign language from a person wearing the glove in real time.

The Glove @ work: All joints open - Lights off.... (click to enlarge photo)

The Glove @ Work: All fingers closed, lights on! (click to enlarge photo)

The students have now embarked on a venture to interface this glove with a micro-controller to interpret the data in real time and translate it to sign language. (The students successfully completed testing of the POC today. 04-Oct-2012)

We wish them all the best in their endeavor.

The students who built this are from the Dept. of InstrumentationTechnology, SJCE, Mysore.

Nikhil R - 97381-31081

Ajay Rao - 94835-03680

Swaroop G S - 87222-90002

Electronics For You - Sept 2012 Issue features our Braille Tutor under 'Innovation'

The Sept 2012 issue of Electronics For You magazine covered a feature article on our Braille Tutor under their new 'Innovation' section. While we continue to perfect the prototype into a product form, we are close to that stage and shortly we will be turning this concept into a product from our stable.

 

Page 1 of the feature article on Braille Tutor from Ideas Unlimited

(Click image to view larger image)

 

Page 2 of the feature article on Braille Tutor from Ideas Unlimited

(Click image to view larger image)

For further information on this product, you can email us at info@ideas-unlimited.in 

Movement Sensor Switch Test Videos...

For answering some of the FAQs of our customers, we recorded some of the testing done on the sensors in the lab.

Wide Operating voltage (65V-300+V, 50Hz/60Hz) operation:

 

Our Movement Sensors Detect Movement of Living things! (Not just Movement):

 

Engineering Software: Diamond Die Inspection software developed at Ideas Unlimited

(Developed earlier in Dec 2011)

This is a slightly dated project, but we are posting about only now on our blog. This software was developed around Dec 2011. This software was developed by us exclusively for a 'Diamond Die' industry in Mysore.The software is used in the Diamond Die making industry to inspect tiny diamonds made from industrial diamonds.

Screenshot of the Diamond Die Inspection and Measurement software developed by Ideas Unlimited exclusively for a diamond die industry in Mysore.

Config screen - Calibration etc.

What is a Diamond Die and what does the software do?

The process of making metal wires is called 'Wire drawing'. Thick metal wire is forced through a die smaller in size resulting in a thinner wire. The process gets repeated using smaller dies each time until the right diameter of the wire is achieved. The key ingredient of making these wire-drawing dies is an industrial diamond. The process involves boring through a very small industrial diamond (few microns thick) in precise dimension through a very difficult time consuming process which the Diamond Die industries do.

Due to the complexity of the process (diamond is the hardest material) the profile cut in a diamond has to be inspected for precision and quality. Such diamond is digitally photographed in an illuminated industrial microscope using a large scale factor. The image gets loaded into our software and its various parameters of the diamond die are assessed using this software developed by us. The software allows visual marking and measurement of angles (in degrees) and lengths (in microns) by clicking on the image.

Ideas Unlimited hives off Production, Commercialization of products/technologies developed into a new company: "Ideas Manufacturing Mysore Private Limited"

We are very pleased to announce that we have hived off Production, Sales and Service activities to a new firm incorporated on 07-Jun-2012 under Companies Act, 1955 called "Ideas Manufacturing Mysore Private Limited".

Ideas Unlimited has been in existence for about roughly two years now and we are now in a stage to hive off production, sales and commercialization activities to a new firm and focusing on R&D, Technology and Intellectual Property Development completely. 

Ideas Unlimited will remain an R&D focus, Product development company, which keeps working on new products, concepts and technologies and technologies ready for production and to be commercialized will be given off to the new firm "Ideas Manufacturing Mysore Private Limited".

We are racing to get the new "Ideas Manufacturing Mysore Private Limited" firm operational before July 2012.

The products designed by Ideas Unlimited, made by Ideas Manufacturing Private Limited, will continue to use "Ideas Unlimited" brand. The new company may also take up product development and full life-cycle management for other companies as well as a separate business activity.

Illustration: Operational Business Model between newly incorporated  company "Ideas Manufacturing Mysore Private Limited" and "Ideas Unlimited".  (Click on image to view larger image)

This new move is in line with our original vision when we started Ideas Unlimited in December 2009, to keep Ideas Unlimited focused on Research and Development of new technologies, and new product development and a separate firm to take up Production and Commercialization of the technologies/products developed.

Ideas Unlimited will also be expanding its focus on taking up R&D, Product Development for external research labs, companies and entities in the near future. Ideas Unlimited will also continue to do in-house home/industrial automation products we are already in the process of making and move the production and commercialization aspects of the product to Ideas Manufacturing Mysore Private Limited.

Watch out for more announcements on the new company "Ideas Manufacturing Mysore Private Limited" in the coming days.

Miniature Movement Sensor Switch announced in EBAZAAR magazine, Jun-2012 Issue.

Our newly launched Miniature Movement Sensor Switch (mMS/MS501 series) was announced in EBAZAAR Magazine, Jun-2012 Issue.

(Click on image to enlarge)

Ideas Unlimited works with CFTRI for development of Portable, Bioluminescence meter using Silicon Photo Diode

Ideas Unlimited is collaborating with CFTRI (http://www.cftri.com/ - Central Food and Technological Research Institute, Mysore), to develop a low cost silicon photo-diode based Luminometer, which can detect very low intensity of Bio-Luminescence emitted by biological reactions.

CFTRI is working on Bio-luminescence based applications for detection of food contamination and other applications. In this initiative, as a first step, Ideas Unlimited has conceptualized and designed some prototype setups for experimenting with a silicon photo-diode to sense different bio-luminescence reactions and comparing results generated with lab grade equipment which use more expensive Photo-multiplier tubes. 

Picture 1: Experimental setup with Silicon photo diode and slot to insert sample in a test tube.

Picture 2: Experimental setup optically sealed by the lid before measurements.

Picture 3: 3D-Model showing internals of of the test setup

Picture 4: Screenshot of the data logging software developed by Ideas Unlimited for the experimental setup

The Luminometer experiments are conducted at CFTRI using enzymes synthesized by CFTRI in their labs. 

A low cost, portable Luminometer, if developed will have tremendous applications in the fields of Agriculture, Food Inspection and Quality Control, Contamination detection, Clinical Pathology and Medical fields.

 
What is Bio-luminescence?
[Source: Wikipedia]
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bioluminescence

Bioluminescence is the production and emission of light by a living organism. Bioluminescence is a naturally occurring form of chemiluminescence where energy is released by a chemical reaction in the form of light emission.

Fireflies, anglerfish, and other creatures produce the chemicals luciferin (a pigment) and luciferase (an enzyme).The luciferin reacts with oxygen to create light. The luciferase acts as a catalyst to speed up the reaction, which is sometimes mediated by cofactors such as calcium ions or ATP (Adenosine triphosphate). The chemical reaction can occur either inside or outside the cell. In bacteria, the expression of genes related to bioluminescence is controlled by an operon called the Lux operon.

How Bioluminescence works?
The link below graphically explains how bio-luminescence works.

[Source: howstuffworks.com]
http://science.howstuffworks.com/environmental/life/zoology/all-about-animals/bioluminescence3.htm

Challenges in measuring Bio-luminescence using Silicon Photo-diode
A normal silicon photo diode requires luminance to the tune of micro-watts per centimeter square. However most of the bioluminescence produced is in the order of nano-watts or pico-watts per centimeter square. At these levels a silicon photo diode's junction will not even trigger. A workaround had to be devised to detect such low bioluminescence.

Ideas Unlimited launches Low Cost, Miniature Movement Sensor Switches

01-Jun-2012:  In these days of high inflation rates and increasing power tariffs saving on wasted energy is no longer a luxury, but is becoming a necessity.  With the introduction of peak hour tariff rates, businesses and industries are increasingly looking for means to save energy usage and save on electricity bills every month.

Ideas Unlimited has been making Energy saving Movement Sensor Switches since April 2010. Today we have just launched mMS series (MS-501, Low Cost and Miniature Movement Sensor Switches) for use in domestic, commercial and industrial applications for saving on energy wastage when nobody is using a certain place or room. These can be used in homes, offices, shopping malls, showrooms and virtually anywhere where we can find that energy can be saved.

MS-501 - Low Cost Miniature Movement Sensor Switch next to a pen.

The unit can be directly connected to 230V AC and integrates seamlessly without requiring any change to your existing electrical wiring.

These switches are very compact in size (80 X 68 X 32 mm), aesthetically appealing and designed for high reliability. The product miniaturization is a result of our learning from earlier products.  We have also taken end user feedback to design these products and other accessories.  The MS-501 Series (or mMS) Miniature Movement Sensor Switch is designed for adaption and use in every place possible and designed to be a low cost product to handle small loads up to 220W. With the usage of contactors, heavy loads can also be driven by the same sensor. 

MSBR-501 2-Axis Swivel Mounting bracket for MS-501 Series Sensors

We also offer an optional accessory ‘MSBR-501: 2-Axis Swivel Mounting bracket for MS-501 Series Movement sensors.  This bracket can be used to mount the sensor on ceiling or wall, and allows fine adjustments of sensing zones even after the installation of sensor.

For full details, visit our website: http://www.ideas-unlimited.in 

For specific information on this new product line, visit our product page: http://www.ideas-unlimited.in/ms501.html

Power Tarrif Hike? Day Tariff burden? Reduce Energy Wastage using Movement Sensors

With increasing power tariff and inflation, saving power is assuming increasing importance. Considering the demand for energy saving products which SAVE MONEY month on month, we have been constantly developing different models of Movement Sensor Switches.

Movement Sensors (Also sometimes known as Occupancy detectors) provide the highest Return on Investment in terms of amount of energy (and money saved!) in your electricity bills.

The articles below in leading newspapers provide details about the Power Tariff hike in Karnataka effective 01-May-2012.

A new concept of 'Day Tariff' has also been introduced where in using digital meters, based on peak hours charges at higher tariff than compared to lean hours at night.

Financial Express: Karnataka increases power tariff by average 13 paise/unit
http://www.financialexpress.com/news/karnataka-increases-power-tariff-by-average-13-paise-unit/943869/0

Times of India: Industries oppose day tariff hikehttp://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/12945786.cms

This is the key feature of the the Karnataka Energy Regulatory Commission's Time of Day (TOD) metering scheme which has been run on a pilot basis for three years with 50 industries.

"This will give all industrial consumers an option to come to a consensus on shifting their peak loads to night. Most have digitized meters which indicate consumption levels every hour," said MR Sreenivasa Murthy, chairman, KERC.

However, industry bodies feel they're being burdened doubly. "Firstly, the tariff order is untimely ; it is the third time there has been a hike in the past two financial years. The tariff hike for HT2A consumers is Rs 1.10 per KWH, about 27% increase. For LT industrial consumers , it is 90 paise per KWH, about 25% increase. This makes industrial operations unviable," said JR Bangera, president, Federation of Karnataka Chamber of Commerce and Industries (FKCCI).

In a long term view, Energy costs will further go up, as consumption only increases due to increased dependence on all kind of electrical and electronic equipment which are becoming part of our daily lives.

To understand how you can save on Electricity wastage in your organization and to save money month on month, e-mail us with you query at info@ideas-unlimited.in

New Dealers/Retailers for our products in Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh Region

We are pleased to announce new dealers/retailers for our products in Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh region. Suguna Engineers are primarily into Engineering products and providing technical consultancy for R&D companies. We are glad to work with Suguna on our products for Hyderabad/Andhra Pradesh region.

 

Suguna Engineers

Contact Person: Mr. Prashanth Arra
Company Website: www.suguna.net
Contact e-mail: p_arra@yahoo.com
Contact Telephone:+91-90002-99981
Address:
Registered Office: # 1-1-380/10/A,
Sri Nilayam, Ashok Nagar Ext,
Hyderbad-500 020

Sneak Peek of New Product: Miniature and Low cost Movement Sensor Switch product

About a month and a half ago, an article on our Movement Sensor Switches and their utility for energy saving in today's times appeared in a leading Kannada daily newspaper 'Praja Vani'. The response for that article about our products was very good. In fact, we were overwhelmed by the response to the product and public interest in 'Energy Saving' from the hundreds of telephone calls we received after the Praja vani article on our Movement Sensor product lines.

Until the article in Prajavani and the subsequent phone calls, we did not have insight about the potential of this product with domestic market.

Prototype of the Sub-miniature Movement Sensor Switch next to a commonly available pen for size comparison

The response from the calls were very encouraging about the concept and the product lines, though some of the people wanted a lower priced model for domestic use. Encouraged by the response, we started thinking of developing a product that can be used both for domestic and commercial use with a low cost, (yet high reliability).

We started designing a product concept and specifications suitable for domestic use, yet cost effective to be affordable and should earn back the money invested on the product in a few months from your electricity bill. 

Last few months, we have been working on designing a Miniature and low cost Movement Sensor Switch product for domestic and commercial use. With this product we want to spread the domain of our product use to the 'Aam-Admi' as well.

After several man months of effort,  we finally are proud to put up photos of the first Beta prototype - now undergoing field trials. The product has been designed and manufactured in India, and designed for use in Indian market and to work reliably in our condition. (Including rural areas with erratic power situations)

Beta Prototype of the Miniature and Low Cost Movement Sensor Switch

Product has Shock-proof Screw-less connectors for easy installation

Product has a 2/6 minute selectable Off timer, and many more features

The product design has been exciting with the challenges of making the product as small as possible, yet have all the high reliability (defect free) aspects we have designed in the other high capacity models like (MS 102, MS 201, MS 101, MS 301 series). Miniaturizing and also adding a new feature proved extremely challenging, but in the end, the effort has really been worth it when we saw the final shape of the product emerging.

Making high reliability product in such a small form factor that operates at 230V Mains supply voltage directly was a challenge, and the prototype went through several iterations of revision of design to attain the current state which is now ready for field trials.

Pricing: To be finalized. 
Availability: End of April 2012 or Early May 2012.

We would like to know your feedback on the product. We are also looking for a catchy name for this new sub-miniature product line. Please do e-mail use at:

info@ideas-unlimited.in 

to let us know your feedback on the product and also suggestions on pricing, or naming of the product lines as well.

Brief technical specification of the Miniature Movement Sensor Switch product:

Safety Features:

Connectors: Screw Less type, Shock proof connectors
Fuse: Fuse for added electrical safety
Body: Rugged Plastic

Reliability:

Endurance: Designed for 24X7X365 days operation
High Voltage Survival: Designed to withstand at least 300+ volts and works even in erratic power situations
Ultra-High Voltage Protection: Unit has a protection circuit that opens the circuit if very high voltage is experience.

Technical Specifications:(Beta Version):

Dimensions: 80mm X 68mm X 32 mm approx.  
Fuse holder: Intutive easy to use fuse holder
Weight: Light weight (Will publish exact weight later) Load Capacity: (Low compared to all other models we have) 200W - subject to change without prior notice, by the time product is launched.
Sensor coverage area: 20'X20' Maximum for standard ceiling heights.

Usability and Utility features:

Built in flanges for easy mounting
Full isolation between loading and control circuit
Multiple units can be connected in parallel for wide area coverage.
BYPASS feature to completely disable sensor and rolling back to normal if required.


Do e-mail us your feedback at: info@ideas-unlimited.in

New Dealers/Retailers for our products in Bengaluru, Bijapur and Mysore, Karnataka region

We are pleased to announce new dealers/retailers in Bengaluru, Bijapur and Mysore regions.

Bengaluru, Karnataka Region

	G R Controls Contact Person: Mr. Ananda Contact e-mail: grcontrols12@googlemail.com Contact Telephone: 90084-62504 Alternate Telephone: 96118-42302 Address: # 6, KTG College Road, Srigandanagar Hegganahalli, Viswaneedam Post Bengaluru - 560 091
	V S Electricals Contact Person: Mr. Veeresh Holal Contact e-mail: veereshholal@gmai l.com Contact Telephone: 97412-97889 Address: No.115/32, 5th Main Road, Poorna Pragna Layout, Katriguppe, BSK III Stage Bengaluru - 560 085

Bijapur, Karnataka Region

Ashu Gouda Electricals Contact Person: Er. Rajendra Patil Contact e-mail: ashugouda@redif fmail.com Contact Telephone: 90084-62504 Address: "Satyashray" Akkamahadevi Cross Road, Behind Ananda Hospital Bijapur - 586 101

Mysore, Karnataka Region

	GREPI Energy and Power (India) Private Limited Contact Person: Mr. Soma Shekar Contact e-mail: soma.shekar@grepinc.com Company Website: http://www.grepinc.com Contact Telephone: 0821-2512333 Contact Telephone: 88803-03003 Address: Spl Plot No. 5, HIEMA Convention Center Road Hebbal Industrial Area Mysore - 570 016
	Vybhav Electronics Contact Person: Mr. Ravishankar R Contact e-mail: vybhavmysore@gmai l.com Contact Telephone: 0821-4252579 Contact Telephone: 93421-82084 Address: 1975, Kothwal Ramaiah Street D R Mohalla, (Near Hong Kong Bazaar) Mysore - 570 001

Electronics Bazaar features our company, announces Hawkeye product launch

Electronics Bazaar Magazine, March 2012 issue features our company under 'South Special' section. Also they announce the launch of our 'Hawkeye - Industrial/Farm Security and Intrusion Detection System' under 'New Products' section.

Click to Enlarge Image

Click to Enlarge Image

Off-track: Student projects at Ideas Unlimited

At Ideas Unlimited, we provide hands on training and mentoring (apprenticeship) to a few students every year (based on our spare bandwidth). In this post, we want to showcase some innovative storage concepts developed by a Diploma student in our lab.

Magazine Rack made with MDF board, using hand tools!

Step 1	Step2
Step 3	Step 4
Step 5	Step 6
Final product, the magazine rack in use!

The entire fabrication was done by just using hand tools below.

All the hand tools used to make both the projects by Sunaag

Small book shelf designed with available material!

Design Drawing of the shelf

The book shelf below was made with available raw material, design adjusted to size and then made into a usable shelf!

Step 1	Step 2
Step 3
Step 4	Step 5
Step 6	Done!

The above storage concepts were designed at Ideas Unlimited. The concepts were fabricated by Sunaag A R, studying at Government CPC Polytechnic, Mysore (Studying 2nd Semester - Machine Tools and Technology branch). Sunaag is also working on developing some test jigs and fixtures for testing electronic modules.  Sunaag can be contacted at: sunaag.arveti@gmail.com