Networked Data Acquisition and Control Application Examples

Please call us (800-420-3991), or email us ( Sales@OpenNetInstruments.com ) with your application questions or if you have an opportunity for a custom project.

Application Examples

* Custom Services * Temperature Alarms / Temperature Alerts * Humidity Alarms / Humidity Alerts * Power Alarms / Power Alerts * Home Monitoring (Office Monitoring) * Remote Monitoring * Remote Control * Distributed Control * Web enable your products * Using Your Acquired Data (Importing XML Data)

Home Monitoring (Office Monitoring)
The Open-1000 is an 'XML data logger' that can be used to monitor anything in your home or office: power, water leaks, temperature & humidity alarms, temperature & humidity controllers, security (sensor input) monitor with email alarms and/or audible alarms.

If you want it monitored, we can create a solution! We can even help you monitor your kitchen sink. Just call us and we will explain how!

Any email alarm can also be sent directly to your cell phone. If your cell phone does not receive email, Don't worry, you can use our SMS (short message service) to receive alarms on any cell phone. Call for details.

The OpenNet-1000 is safe and secure. No need to worry about hackers or loss of private information.

Installation is simple and very easy. Quickly set-up sensor inputs, control loops, alarm points, email alarms and a self-hosted web page.

Custom Applications & Custom Services
OpenNet Instruments prides itself on its ability to develop solutions to any application. We can add any or all of the features of the OpenNet-1000 (OpenNet Core) to your product, machine or instrument.

Examples of our custom applications work include:

• Long-term recording of temperature sensor performance (data acquisition for quality control).
• Remote temperature monitoring with email alarms for a local greenhouse.
• Monitoring the presence, location and intensity of an x-ray beam.

Please call us at (800-420-3991), or email us ( Sales@OpenNetInstruments.com ) and we will help you create a solution for your next application.

Additional applications for the OpenNet-1000 include:

• Remote monitoring and remote data acquisition;
• Closed loop control and Remote actuation;
• Distributed machine control;
• Add Internet services, email server and a web-browser to your products, systems and instruments using our embedded web technology called OpenCore;
• Simply your data acquisition, data importation and data usage with our XML (Extensible Markup Language) data files. XML data can be used on any computer platform—local or remote.

Sensor Monitoring (General System Monitoring)
Users can monitor a variety of process sensors using a web browser. Pages posted by our products can show both current and historic data. Alarm events can be defined to send an email or to launch alarm applications when alarm events occur.

The microprocessor controlled OpenNet-1000 is comparable to a 4-zone monitor with 4 independent control (16-TTL, 1-SPDT relay) signals. The key differences between the OpenNet-1000 and a typical 4-zone controller are:

• simple, easy to use application development software;
• self-served email alarms (no PC required for email alarms);
• a self-hosted web-page (no PC required to host the web page);
• XML data files (import data directly into Excel and Access);
• 12 more (16 total) TTL signals for additional input / output capability.

Examples of this type of application include:

Temperature and humidity monitoring. Research experiments, greenhouses, cold storage facilities, wine cellars, large in-door swimming pools, walk-in coolers and other areas where temperature and humidity are a concern. Use XML data files to create long-term temperature and humidity spreadsheets and databases, and send emails if the temperatures or humidity are out of range. Open the web page to directly view current data and system status.

Wine Cellar Climate Controller. This is an example application for a wine cellar climate controller / monitor. This example sets up an OpenNet-1000 to control up to three (3) loops (heating, cooling, humidity) using an integrated humidity / temperature transmitter. This transmitter is installed on Analog Channels 1 and 2. Digital Channels 1, 2 and 3 are used to create control signals for heating, cooling and humidity. Email alarms are automatically sent if the temperature rises above 60 ^oF, drops below 38 ^oF, humidity drops below 55 %RH (Relative Humidity), or if power has been interrupted to the OpenNet-1000 unit.

Freezer / Cooler Monitor. This is an example application for a freezer / cooler monitor application. This example sets up an OpenNet-1000 to monitor up to four freezer (coolers) using RTD temperature sensors on Analog Channels 1, 3, 5 and 7. (Note: An RTD is a resistive device that needs two input channels). Alarm notification is by automatic emails sent if the temperature rises above 50 ^oF, or if power has been interrupted to the monitor.

Home Temperature & Humidity Monitor. This is an example application for a home or office climate control and monitoring application. This example sets up an OpenNet-1000 to control temperature (heating and cooling) and humidity for two separate zones. An email alarm is sent if the temperature or humidity is too low or too high.

Greenhouse Monitor. This is an example application for a greenhouse climate control and monitoring application. This example sets up an OpenNet-1000 to control temperature (heating and cooling) and humidity for two separate zones in a greenhouse.

Home, office and building monitoring. Homes, business offices, computer rooms, cabins, summer and winter homes are now easily monitored. Use the analog inputs for temperature sensors (RTDs) and the digital I/O to connect door and window switches, water (leak) detectors. Once setup, our products will notify you by email when alarm events occur. By sending an email to your cell phone, you receive an immediate update and can decide the appropriate action for yourself.

Home Monitor / Office Monitor / Building Monitor. This is an example application for an building monitor application. This example sets up an OpenNet-1000 to monitor a series of sensors commonly used to monitor an building or office. These sensors include: temperature sensors, magnetic reed switches, and motion sensors that have a relay output. Automatically send email alarms if the temperature raises above 100 ^oF, falls below 40 ^oF, if the reed switch changes state (a door or window is opened), if the motion detector is active, or if power has been interrupted to the OpenNet-1000.

Computer Room Temperature Monitor. This is an example application to monitor the temperature of a server room or other computer facility. Up to 6 additional analog sensors and 16 discrete (digital) sensors can be added to determine humidity, detect water and other leak, air quality, and the exact time doors and cabinets have been opened or closed.

Power Monitoring
Built-in power monitoring feature!

Our products have the ability to determine that power has been interrupted. This feature can be used to determine if power has been lost during long testing sessions. If power is lost, the time and duration can be determined after power is restored. An email can then be sent to alert interested users.

Remote Monitoring and Remote Debug
The OpenNet-1000 allows you to remotely monitor sensor data (like temperature, pressure and viscosity) from the comfort of your desk. Our products allow monitoring remote locations via the Internet. When the OpenNet-1000 is installed on a LAN (Internet), any PC user (Windows, Linux, and MAC) with the appropriate passwords can browse to the OpenNet-1000 to view system status. Think of the OpenNet-1000 as an XML Data Logger.

Use the automatically generated emails to your desk (or cell phone) to alert you to changes in your system, whether they are significant parameters such as oil temperatures and coolant pressures or a simple notification that consumables are running low and need to be replaced.

Use the OpenNet-1000 as a web based system to use the Internet to control real devices, instruments, and equipment used in science and engineering. Through the use of Internet data acquisition and automation is extended to the "anytime, anywhere" philosophy. A remote user can monitor and control data from any system on the network, both locally, as well as off-site locations throughout the world.

Remote monitoring allows service and maintenance departments to monitor on-board systems for debug purposes and to predict the need for preventative maintenance.

Distributed Machine Control
There is a trend away from monolithic systems for machine control. As an embedded controller with network services, this technology can be easily configured to autonomously control a subsystem of a machine while maintaining near real-time communications with a master controller - across your computer networks (LANs) or the Internet. (More on embedded electronic control...)

 

Internet (web) Enabling Systems and Instrumentation
There are many 'simple' electronic products that would benefit from having a LAN (Ethernet, TCP/IP) connection and full access to computer networks and the Internet. OEMs can use our products to embed web technology into their systems and designs.

1. Easily embed web technology into your systems and designs. Implement web based data acquisition with XML data files, quickly and cost effectively.

   By putting a web server inside your designs you provide a user interface everyone is familiar with -- their own web browser. By using XML for data acquisition and all device communications, no software needs to be installed to view acquired data or use our products. Nor is there concern over compatibility with different version of Windows (Win32), MacOS or Unix/Linux. XML data can be used on any computer platform—local or remote.

2. Use our products to create a LAN to serial bridge or XML to serial bridge, easily upgrade any serial instrument to allow full accessibility from your computer networks (LAN) and the Internet.

   Use XML to communicate with your serial devices. Simplify every aspect of using data acquired through use of XML documents for data acquisition and control.

Importing System Data into Business Systems Our products use XML for data communication. In addition to being supported by all modern web-browsers, XML is common to many office software and database applications. For example, Microsoft Office XP and the .NET technology natively supports XML. This means our device data can be used directly by a large variety of applications developed for office, business and manufacturing.

An example of this type of application would be the remote monitoring of manufacturing consumables, such as the usage of liquid Nitrogen. With a simple level sensor installed and a trigger point configured in the OpenNet-1000. A database stored procedure or other process can periodically query an OpenNet-1000. When a threshold value has been reached, the process can trigger a chain of events ending with the timely delivery of liquid Nitrogen.

Alternately, the OpenNet-1000 would send an email to the vendor to schedule an order. This email could be used to trigger an automatic re-order within an MRP system or other business application.

Both the user and supplier would be able to directly review this information via the Internet. Allowing the user to monitor their consumables and allow the supplier to efficiently schedule driver routes on an as-need instead of a periodic basis.

Sample Excel Download. This is a link to an Excel (2000 or 2002) spreadsheet that imports XML data from an OpenNet-1000 unit. This spreadsheet works best if downloaded and launched from your PC.