Electronics Weekly Electronics Design & Components Tech News
Panasonic Automotive & Industrial Systems Europe has released a second generation of its Grid-EYE IR sensor array with increased accuracy.
The high gain (AMG8833 and AMG8834) and low gain (AMG8853 and AMG8854) sensors available they offer an improved NETD (Noise Equivalent Temperature Difference) of 0.16°C at 10Hz and of 0.05°C at 1Hz.
For all models the detection distance has improved from 5m up to 7m.
Based on MEMS (Micro Electro Mechanical Systems) technology the new IR sensor array combines a more sensitive MEMS sensor chip, a digital Asic (I2C interface) and a silicon lens in the package.
The parts feature 64 thermopile elements in an 8×8 grid format that detect absolute surface temperature without any contact.
The array’s 60° silicon lens is etched out of a silicon wafer with a height profile less than 0.3mm.
Sensor package size is 11.6mm x 8mm x 4.3mm.
Applications are expected in consumer goods, industrial automation, security systems, digital signage, movement sensing, and healthcare.
The first generation of Grid-EYE was released in January 2013.
“Unlike conventional single thermopile or pyroelectric sensors that only measure temperature at a certain point-of-contact, Grid-EYE enables contactless temperature detection over an area,” said distributor Avnet Abacus. “It is able to measure actual temperature and temperature gradients, providing thermal images and identifying the direction of movement of people or objects.”
More recently, in September 2015, Panasonic Automotive & Industrial Systems began selling an evaluation kit for its Grid-Eye infrared array sensor, which incorporates a Bluetooth Smart module and a microcontroller.
The integrated Bluetooth module in the evaluation kit, the PAN1740, draws 4.9mA in transmit or receive operating modes, which means it can be powered by coin cell batteries.
See also: Whitepaper – Panasonic Grid-EYE Infrared Array Sensor
