Building a drive circuit for an electrostatic ultrasonic transducer takes specific high-voltage acoustics expertise, which is often the work that slows down a prototype. The SensComp OEM Kit handles that front end: it drives the transducer, times the pulse, and returns a simple echo signal, so you can build the application logic instead of the analog circuit. This post breaks down what is in the kit, the specifications of each part, and how to choose the right configuration.
What is the SensComp OEM Kit, and what does it solve?
The OEM Kit is a front-end ultrasonic ranging solution for prototyping: it packages the drive electronics an electrostatic ultrasonic transducer needs so you do not have to design them from scratch. Building a high-voltage drive circuit for an electrostatic ultrasonic transducer takes specialized acoustics expertise, and that analog design work is often the slowest part of getting from concept to a working prototype. The kit generates the drive signal, manages timing, and conditions the return echo, which leaves you to supply the application side: the trigger, the timing measurement, the display, and power. The result is that you can move straight to testing application code instead of debugging a transmit-and-receive circuit.
What is the Series 6500 Ranging Module, and what are its specifications?
The Series 6500 Ranging Module is the core of the kit: a complete ultrasonic transceiver that handles four functions. It generates the high-voltage drive signal for the transducer, controls the timing, receives and amplifies and filters the returning echo, and outputs a TTL signal when an echo is detected. Its key specifications:
| Specification | Value |
| Input voltage | 4.7 to 6.8 VDC (nominal 5 VDC) |
| Current draw | 2.5 A peak during transmission; approximately 100 mA average |
| Output signal | Open-collector, TTL-compatible; the line goes from low to high when an echo returns |
| Operating frequency | Optimized for 50 kHz; changeable to 45 kHz by replacing the resonator, which is required to drive Series 9000 transducers |
To calculate distance, measure the elapsed time between the module’s transmit pulse and the returned echo signal, then convert that round-trip time using the speed of sound in air (343.2 m/s), dividing by two to account for the out-and-back path. The module is rated 0°C to +70°C, narrower than the bare Series 600 transducer’s -40°C to +85°C, so specify the production temperature envelope against the module. Because the module reports echo detection on a single TTL line, almost any microcontroller can read it.
Which transducer options come with the OEM Kit?
The drive electronics stay the same across the kit; what changes is the transducer. The kit comes in three configurations for different environmental and space requirements, and all three use SensComp’s electrostatic ultrasonic transducers, so they have approximately 40 dB greater receive sensitivity than piezoelectric ultrasonic transducers, which lets the kit detect soft targets a piezoelectric ultrasonic sensor would miss.
| Attribute | Series 600 Instrument Grade | Series 600 Environmental Grade | Series 7000 |
| Construction | 304 stainless housing (black paint) with gold-coated Kapton film | 304 stainless housing with optional parylene conformal coating | Smaller square form factor, approximately 1″ x 1″ |
| Beam angle | 15 degrees | 15 degrees | 17 degrees |
| Form factor | 1.6″ diameter | 1.6″ diameter | Approximately 1″ x 1″ square |
| Best for | Robotics, controlled-tank level, general indoor prototyping | Ag machinery, outdoor kiosks, humidity or splash exposure | Compact electronics, drones, tight-integration prototypes |
A note on the Environmental Grade option: Its parylene conformal coating is a pinhole-free polymer barrier that resists moisture, chemicals, and corrosion, but the sensors are water-resistant, not submersible.
What cables, terminals, and wiring does the kit need?
The kit includes the interface hardware that connects the module to both your controller and the transducer. Interface cables link the ranging module to an external controller such as a microcontroller or Arduino. Specialized transducer connection terminals (part number 735715ALF) match the electrostatic ultrasonic transducer’s connection points. Two items are not included and worth planning for: the wiring, for which SensComp recommends stranded 26 to 22 AWG wire, and a standard crimping tool for non-insulated terminals, which is all that assembly requires.
Which OEM Kit configuration is right for my application?
Choose the configuration by environment and footprint:
- Series 600 Instrument Grade for indoor or protected work: robotics, level measurement in controlled tanks, and general prototyping where weather resistance is not needed.
- Series 600 Environmental Grade for outdoor or wet exposure: agricultural machinery, outdoor kiosks, and anywhere humidity or occasional splashes are a factor.
- Series 7000 for tight spaces: compact consumer electronics, drones, and integrations where a roughly 1 inch by 1 inch footprint matters more than the larger Series 600 body.
Across all three, the electrostatic ultrasonic front end is what lets a prototype detect soft or distant targets a piezoelectric ultrasonic kit would lose, without your having to design the analog drive circuit.
Frequently Asked Question
The kit includes the 6500 Series Ranging Module (the drive-and-receive electronics), an electrostatic ultrasonic transducer in one of three configurations (600 Series Instrument, 600 Series Environmental, or 7000 Series), interface cables, and transducer connection terminals. The wiring and a crimping tool are not included.
The module runs on 4.7 to 6.8 VDC (nominal 5 VDC), draws a 2.5 A peak during transmission and about 100 mA on average, and provides an open-collector, TTL-compatible output that goes from low to high when an echo returns. It is optimized for 50 kHz and can be changed to 45 kHz by replacing the resonator.
Measure the elapsed time between the module’s transmit pulse and the returned echo, multiply by the speed of sound in air (343.2 m/s), and divide by two to account for the round trip. That time-of-flight calculation converts directly to distance.
They are electrically and acoustically identical, with a 15-degree beam. The Instrument Grade uses a painted 304 stainless housing for indoor or protected use, while the Environmental Grade offers an optional parylene conformal coating for resistance to moisture, chemicals, and corrosion in outdoor or wet conditions. The Environmental Grade is water-resistant but not submersible.
Yes. The kit includes interface cables to connect the 6500 module to an external controller such as an Arduino or microcontroller, and the module’s single TTL echo line is straightforward to read. You supply the trigger, timing measurement, display, and power.
Ready to Prototype Ultrasonic Ranging?
Explore SensComp’s OEM Kit configurations, Series 600 and Series 7000, and choose the transducer that fits your project: Try our Sensor Selector tool.