Human-Machine Interface without Moving Parts

The human-machine interface project does not contain any moving part but a high tech MC33794 e-field sensor which is designed for industrial environments.

The effects of a person’s hands are detected by the MC33794 e-field sensor using 8 input devices which are built around electrodes designed to produce responses to human interaction in either digital or analog fashion. An industrial system with 2 axes of motion is controlled by the HMI. The system is comprised with 2 analog speed control inputs and 6 digital switches. The forward, reverse, and speed maintenance are controlled by the digital switches with 3 for each of the axes of motion control. The input devices will yield a longer service life in industrial environments because the input devices have no moving parts. This is where dirt, dust, and repeated activation require high durability.

The activated and inactivated signals are easily interpreted by simple software once an input device is calibrated. The indication of failure mode for a broken wire to an input device is that the device is OFF or the analog signal is at its zero value. The software is designed to communicate via the serial interface.

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