Different Types of Sensor Technologies to Know in 2024

Sensors vary based on the technology (analogue/digital) and application. This article discusses some of the most recent sensors, including IoT, pollution, RFID, image, biometric, printed, MEMS, and NEMS sensors.

Fremont, CA: Sensors are devices or modules designed to detect and transmit information to other interconnected electrical equipment. The field of electronics is on the verge of a transformation with the advent of the latest sensors, especially those utilized in IoTs and wearables. These sensors hold significant importance in electronic devices, and their capabilities continue to evolve alongside scientific and technological progress.

IoT Sensors

Temperature sensors, proximity sensors, pressure sensors, RF sensors, pyroelectric infrared sensors, water-quality sensors, chemical sensors, smoke sensors, gas sensors, liquid-level sensors, car sensors, and medical sensors are all examples of IoT sensors.

These cutting-edge sensors are linked to a computer network to enable monitoring and control. IoT systems, which use sensors and the Internet, offer various applications in sectors due to their inherent flexibility in enabling increased data collecting, automation, and operation.

Pollution Sensors

Air pollution sensors detect and monitor air pollution in the surrounding region. They can be employed in both indoor and outdoor settings. Although there are different types of air pollution sensors, the majority specialize in five parameters: particulate matter, ozone, carbon monoxide, sulphur dioxide, and nitrous oxide. These sensors are relatively expensive, but they are becoming increasingly cheap for general applications.

Biometric Sensors

The fingerprint module is the most often used biometric sensor. The R30x fingerprint module is very popular among amateurs and experimenters. Qualcomm's latest series of fingerprint sensors includes sensors for display, glass, and metal, directional gesture detection, underwater fingerprint match, and device wake-up.

Printed Sensors

Sensors manufactured on flexible substrates are becoming more popular. The next generation of printed sensors will be useful in various applications, including human-machine interactions and environmental monitoring. According to IDTechEx, the market for completely printed sensors is expected to be worth $7.6 billion by 2027.

Printed sensors can have very simple structures with only a few electrodes, or they can be much more complex, requiring the deposition of numerous layers. They share the capacity to be made on plastic substrates, which provide benefits in terms of mechanical flexibility, thinness, and weight reduction.