Sensing the Rise of Sensors
By Greg Quirk, Mouser Electronics
Electronic sensors are the first step in enabling a machine to understand what is going on in the world around it. And if the system interprets the data collected correctly, it will be able to act on that information. As more information is being captured and used within systems, the sensor market is taking off at an amazing rate.
The next mission to Mars, launched on November 26, 2011 is underway with the goal of surveying the landscape with HD cameras, examining the chemical composition of the surface around “Curiosity,” monitoring the weather, and searching for signs of past or present life on the Red planet. These missions are always a fascinating endeavor and, while talking about sensors, it is particularly appropriate to mention the Mars mission as there are so many different types of sensors that are integrated in order to gather as much information as possible.
Even on our own planet, sensors are becoming more prevalent in all of the systems that we build. In the smartphone and tablet market alone, IHS iSuppli has predicted revenue of US$2.1 billion by 2015 for motion sensors, including accelerometers, gyroscopes, 3-axis magnetometers, and pressure sensors. This will account for shipments of more than four billion sensors. Those numbers are just for a single, albeit significantly large, market. These motion sensors will be linked with other sensors in the devices, including cameras, microphones and GPS systems, to create more integrated solutions. Temperature sensors alone are predicated to reach $739 million by 2016, driven by consumer electronic products and the automotive industry.
Sensors have a drastic impact on the performance and power of all systems, both industrial and consumer electronics.
Take the North Anna nuclear power plant in Mineral, Virginia as an example of how sensors can be applied in an industrial setting. When the sensors detected an earthquake of a greater magnitude than the plant was designed to handle, it automatically shut down the plant. While there was no damage caused by the earthquake, the sensors functioned within the system and would have prevented a potential ecological disaster as has been witnessed in Fukushima, Japan. After three months of careful investigation, the plant has been approved to restart.
A quick look at the iPhone, and the creative ways that people are finding to use the sensors that are built into the phone, shows how much potential there is for all kinds of solutions. In the iPhone you have accelerometers, gyroscopes, 3-axis magnetometers, and light level sensors, just to name a few, and many of them can be accessed to create applications.
Furthering the earthquake example from above, there is an app that can detect vibrations and provide a few minutes of early warning if an earthquake should strike. Of course, these applications have to be taken with a grain of salt because they are often created by individuals using their tech knowledge, as opposed to scientists ensuring accuracy, but it is still interesting to see the creativity.
From a simple sensor on a TV remote control that turns on the backlight when it is picked up, to the speedometer on your car, sensors have become an integral part of our daily lives. With more sensors being implemented in creative ways, sensors are making our lives easier and enabling us to make informed decisions.
However, there has to be a balance between gathering information and gathering too much information. Sensors require power, even in low amounts, to operate, which is particularly important in mobile consumer electronics. This is believed to be the cause of the poor battery life of the iPhone 4S because the proximity sensor is on whenever the screen is turned on so that the new Siri feature is activated. While collecting data is vital, using the correct sensor and knowing the right amount to gather to meet the need must be carefully weighed so as not to draw too much power or take too long to process before acting on the information.
Greg Quirk has been a technical writer since 2004 focusing on semiconductor components, consumer devices and business trends. He has written numerous articles for industry publications and presented at technical conferences. His expertise has been sought by the financial community on multiple occasions to predict design-wins in popular consumer products.
