For harsh environments, materials provide the difference between survival and failure by addressing thermal, chemical and mechanical operating requirements. However, the right materials are also essential to achieve the desired sensor electrical performance, especially in many more demanding, high performance applications. This starts with the sensing element and extends to the packaging. As one of […]
How do microphone sensors fit into a smart home?
A quick search for “sensors in the smart home” can easily identify dozens of sensors – primarily for sensing physical properties. The results could be one of many specific sensing technologies or specific products. For example, one search showed: Fire/CO detection Leak/moisture detection Window & door open and close Video doorbell Smart thermostat Motion sensors […]
What sensors make the latest Waymo Driver smarter?
You may read about the 5th-generation Waymo Driver but until you see one on the road, it is hard to appreciate the extent of its sensing capabilities. Sensors are visible everywhere on the all-electric Jaguar I-Pace SUV. In fact, each visible mounting location has more than one sensor. To consistently obtain the amount of information […]
What is the newest use for radar in automobiles?
The use of radar in advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) including adaptive cruise control (ACC), automatic emergency braking (AEB), pedestrian and cyclist detection and more has been widespread for many years. In these external vehicle applications, radar detects the speed and range of objects in the vicinity of the vehicle and typically operates at 77 […]
What is the difference between variable reluctance and eddy current speed sensors?
Both variable reluctance (VR) and eddy current (EC) technologies provide contactless speed sensors based on interaction with a magnetic field. A variable reluctance sensor can be thought of as an ac generator with an output voltage proportional to speed. With its self-generating electrical signal, a VR sensor does not require an external power supply. The […]
How can environmental monitoring be improved?
With its recently announced Exo Sense Pi, Sfera Labs s.r.l. provides its answer to this question. It is a multi-sensor module with the Raspberry Pi 4 as its computing core. Offering specialized sensors and interfaces, the system provides easy and versatile integration with wide communication protocols support. Sensors for the Exo Sense Pi include: temperature […]
How is the MEMS industry doing?
It was a tough year in 2020 and now there are semiconductor shortages in 2021. So, with all that has and is going on, how is it impacting the microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) industry? MEMS technology accounts for many different types of sensors as well as actuators. To find out, Roger Grace, president of Roger Grace […]
How is human-powered wearable electronics progressing?
Researchers continue to search for improved solutions to power the many wireless, wearable sensing devices that are being developed to avoid frequent, or as frequent, charging and/or battery replacement. Two of the prominent research areas include thermoelectric generators (TEGs) and piezoelectric energy harvesters. With wearable thermoelectric generators (TEGs), the amount of thermo‐generated power strongly depends […]
What sensors are in a smart door lock?
With a newly available product, an existing deadbolt can be converted to a smart door lock, add many sensors and obtain several new desirable functions. To get started, the Bosma Aegis Smart Door Lock simply replaces the indoor portion of an existing deadbolt with the conversion process taking about 10 minutes. The newly installed device […]
What is the difference between a gauge and an absolute pressure sensor?
Understanding the difference between gauge and absolute pressure sensing measurements is easiest to visualize with piezoresistive type pressure sensor and a diaphragm that deflects with pressure. For both types of measurements, pressure is applied to the top of the thin diaphragm. With the gauge pressure sensor, the back side is vented to atmosphere. This could […]
