This page has been updated. Follow this link for New Temperature Logging SystemInformation

tcButton A Temperature Logging System.

Application Descripton and Product Information

tcButton works with the Dallas Semiconductor Thermochron iButton to measure and log temperature. Thermochron iButtons log temperatures at specified time intervals and store data for later retrieval. Palm and PC programs allow users to set specifications for logging, start measurements and retrieve results.

Once setup and launched, a thermochron iButton measures and stores temperature data at user-specified intervals, storing up to 2048 measurements. The parameters which specify a mission are described below to illustrate the user's flexibility in applying tcButton and the Thermochron iButton to many varied temperature logging situations.

The tcButton system is an easy-to-use vehicle to setup a Thermochron mission, launch the mission and start measuring by sending data to an iButton, monitor progress by reading the iButton, retrieve temperature data and mission specifications for display on the Palm screen and storage in the Palm database, and transfer results via Hot-Sync to PC. Once in PC, mission specifications and data can be graphed, used to generate a webpage or output in tab-delimited format for use in other applications such as Microsoft Excel.

Data Logging and Display Features

• Log up to 2048 separate temperatures with date and time stamp at specified time intervals.
• Retrieve logged data with Palm (Mission data can be read in approximately 2 seconds with iConnection, requires that iButton is attached to Palm/iConnection for this time.)
• Store temperature data in Palm database.
• Graph and view temperature data on Palm screen.
• Zoom in or out of Palm Graph to show detail points or general trends.
• Tap Palm screen to display date, time and temperature of individual points.
• Transfer data via Palm Hot-Sync to PC for display, distribution or analysis.

Features to Set Specifications for Logging

• Define mission specifications in the Palm or PC (see below for specification range).
• Store specifications in Palm database.
• Load specifications into iButton to start missions
• Read specifications from iButton to identify missions and store in Palm database
• Set high and low temperature alarm limits

Reading iButton Temperature Data

• Start the tcButton application on Palm.
• Clip iConnection onto the Palm Serial Port connector.
• Insert probe into iConnection telephone-style connector.
• Attach probe to iButton.
• Tap the "read" button on Palm screen.
• Wait about 2 seconds (that's all it takes!)
• View temperature in graphic form on Palm Screen.
• Tap Palm screen to display date, time and temperature for individual data points
• Store data in Palm database for later display or transfer to PC.

Thermochron Mission

Mission Parameters

• Mission Number - User assigned identifier
• Mission Name - User assigned descriptor
• iButton ID - Unique serial number of the iButton performing this mission
• Status - stopped, running, alarm conditions
• Time and Date mission started
• Time and Data last read by Palm
• High and Low Alarm Set Points
• Sample Rate (1-255 minutes)
• Start Delay (time to wait before starting mission)
• Instructions/Notes
• Number of mission samples recored
• Number of samples recorded by this iButton

Examples of Palm and PC Screens

iThermo Version 4.0 Now Available

March 17, 2004

Several options are now available to help users setup and start new thermochron missions using their Palm Handheld, including a setup wizard that guides the user through a series of Palm screens to collect necessary mission data. Other setup aids use a database template and a user preference construction.

To make room for new features on the Palm Handheld, support for historgram and alarm logging has been withdrawn with this release.

On the PC, the applications now allow the user to select filename and directory for archive of graphic temperature data files and to print temperature graphs.

Information on previous versions:

Version 3.5 (April 2003) added feature on both Palm and PC.

• New iButtons - Dallas Semiconductor high resolution Thermchron iButtons:
  • DS1921H - High Resolution Thermochron - (Human Tempemperature Range)
  • DS1921Z - High Resolution Thermochron - (Freezing Temperataure Range)
  The Handheld Application recognizes the Thermochron temperature range and automatically converts iButton raw data to temperature units for graph and storage. The PC dialog application also displays and exports temperature data in temperature units.
• New Palm OS - Version 5 for Tungsten Handhelds. tcButton determines which Palm OS your handheld is using and configures the proper libraries. If you upgrade to a new Palm, you may need to upgrade your thermochron application to version 3.5.
• Multiple Handheld support on your PC - Version 3.5 supports multiple Palms on a single PC system, hot-synching data from multiple Palms to and from separate directories and files.

Thermochron iButtons, Palm Models and Probes

These Thermochron iButton types are supported by tcButton .

Thermochron Type	Description and Range
DS1921G	Thermochron iButton -40C to 85C
DS1921H	High Resolution Thermochron 15C to 46C (Human Temperature Range)
DS1921Z	High Resolution Thermochron -5C to 26C (Freezing Temperature Range)

tcButton uses Scanning Devices iConnection and a Dallas Semiconductor Probe to link Palm and Thermochron iButton. Any probe terminating in a RJ11 (telephone style) connector can be attached to iConnection.

The iConnection depends on the Palm model.

Palm Model	Uses this iConnection
Palm m125, m130, m500, m505, m515, i705, Tungsten /T /W /C	3305m
Palm m100, m105	3301A
Palm III, IIIc	3303C
Palm VII, VIIx	3303C

Pricing Information

tcButton Enterprise Software Licensing Fee: $250 USD.
(One Fee for all your Palms)

What is included?
One Software disk with programs for Palm and PC, an application extension for Hot-Synch and an installation program.

What else is needed?

A Palm. See list of supported Palms and iConnections above.
An iConnection. Select your Palm and then select the iConnection that clips to it.
A Probe. Dallas blue-dot receptor or other iButton probe terminating in an RJ11 connector.

Product Summary and Order Form

Or Contact Scanning Devices to order.

Home Page | Application Stories | Product Information | News | Trade Shows