Part 1 of this blog discussed sensors in the laundry room in washing machines and dryers. In the kitchen, similar to the laundry room, basic functions can be designed in using established sensing techniques. In the typical home, the refrigerator is the second-largest consumer of electricity (13.7%), with the air conditioner being number one. So, […]
Frequently Asked Question (FAQ)
How do sensors improve home appliances? Pt. 1
Today’s home appliances are increasingly connected for remote monitoring and control and smarter due, in part, to numerous sensors. The sensors help even lower end appliances implement their basic functions and, more importantly, enable smarter, top end appliances. While sensors provide these capabilities for several home appliances, this two-part series will describe sensing functions for […]
What are submersible sensors?
The International Electrotechnical Commission’s (IEC’s) standard IEC 60529 (and International Organization for Standardization’s ISO 20653) identifies the ability of an electronic device (sensor) to withstand water or dust intrusion with IP68, IP69 and IP69K ratings. An IP68 product should prevent or withstand water ingression for a depth exceeding 1 meter as specified by the manufacturer […]
When should passive or active RFID be used?
The main difference between passive and active radio-frequency identification (RFID) tags is the absence (passive) or presence (active) of an internal power source. Because of these primary differences, there are several secondary differences. Understanding these differences is the key to properly selecting the most appropriate RFID system for a specific application. Passive RFID Since they […]
How can sensors protect a diamond center vault?
In Belgium’s’ Antwerp Diamond District, eighty percent of the world’s rough diamonds passed through a three-square-block area. The Diamond Squad, the world’s only specialized diamond police, provided 24-hour police surveillance and 63 video cameras monitored the district. In this area, the Antwerp Diamond Center vault was thought to be impenetrable. In addition to having a […]
How can sensors save energy and improve sensor node battery life?
In a battery-powered, wireless sensing node, the biggest energy consumer typically is the RF transmitter. The transceiver should have extremely low power in active, wait and even sleep modes. A one-second snapshot of the current consumption in the various portions of the transmission cycle shows the current draw of 15 mA for the 7.5-ms receive […]
How do sensors impact ATMs?
It’s well known that automobiles and smartphones have several sensors to improve today’s capabilities over those of previous generations. However, they are not the only products that impact consumers’ lives to do so. For example, automated teller machines (ATMs) have a surprising number and different types of sensors to perform a variety of functions. Even […]
How do you accurately measure skin color? Part 2
Measuring instruments for determining skin color have a variety of classifications. Telespectroradiometers (TSRs) and spectrophotometers (SPs) are two classifications for instruments that are widely used for measuring skin color. For example, in the cosmetic industry, TSRs are used for measuring color appearance for developing skin color charts and evaluating skin products. In contrast, SPs are […]
How do you accurately measure skin color? Part 1
While discrimination based on skin color is against the law in the U.S., changes in skin color provide important information in healthcare regarding disease progression or treatment response, so accurately measuring and distinguishing skin color is essential. Skin color is also a predictor of skin cancer risk. Also, accurately measuring and matching skin color is […]
How does skin color impact biosensors?
To determine blood oxygen (arterial blood oxygen saturation (SpO2)) and pulse rate, many biosensors use the reflectance of red and infrared (and sometimes green) light. Based on photoplethysmography (PPG), an optical technique that measures blood volume variations, dual-wavelength PPG pulse oximeters noninvasively measure/calculate the arterial oxygen saturation (SpO2). An oximeter transmits radiation at a known […]
