Sensors for Smart Condition Monitoring

Presence & Motion Monitoring

Reliable detection of the presence of persons or objects is key in realizing occupancy-adaptive systems in indoor spaces. Depending on the application, different technologies are suitable for presence monitoring.

Infrared thermopile sensors detect movement and assume presence based on radiant heat emitted by or reflected from objects. The sensor is able to detect moving and motionless objects as well as the direction of movements. This opens up opportunities for hot spot detection, people counting, ambient assisted living, energy savings, and much more.

Ultrasonic sensors detect people, objects or fill levels with great precision and over a wide range of distances, even in the presence of fog, dirt and dust. Possible applications include vehicle detection, factory automation, people counting, and fill level control.

Classic presence detectors based on passive infrared (PIR) detect physical presence indoors and are ideal for offices, public buildings, hallways, storage areas and washrooms. They are characterized by simple construction, low maintenance requirements, and a convincing price/performance ratio. One of the most common applications is presence-dependent and energy-saving lighting control.
The infsoft AI Occupancy Sensor is a more advanced version of the classic PIR sensor. The sensor’s integrated optical sensor and PIR module enable intelligent person and object detection, which uses artificial intelligence to analyze and evaluate the images the sensor triggers in accordance with data protection laws.

Motion sensors measure the motion, acceleration or vibration of a device or system. Among other things, they can be used for shock monitoring, occupancy sensing, and fall detection. Sometimes, motion sensors come as a built-in element of BLE beacons.

Magnetic door/window sensors register the status of a door or window (open/closed). They are mainly used for security purposes or head counts.

Using the web-based infsoft Sensors tool, you can reliably monitor the condition of machines and systems and display the sensor output signals.

Infrared Thermopile Sensor

Infrared Thermopile Sensors

An infrared (IR) thermopile sensor can be used for tracking the movement and temperature of people and objects.
The infrared sensor measures actual temperature as well as temperature gradients within its viewing area and displays the temperature distribution in corresponding colors.

Based on thermopile technology, the sensor can detect the direction of moving people and objects. Its coordinated array of sensing elements can even detect multiple people or objects moving in different directions. At close proximity, some sensors are capable of detecting hand movements for simple gesture control.

Continuous detection of people/objects in a room may require several cameras aimed in different directions. Also, infrared signals can be blocked by physical items (e.g. glass, wood, human body), which has to be taken into consideration for the installation.

Application Examples of Data Enhancement Using Infrared Sensors

The ability to detect moving and motionless people/objects, movement direction, and measure temperature enables using the IR sensor in a wide variety of applications.

Condition-Capturing Sensor Functions in Office Buildings

Indoor Tracking of Patients in Hospitals

Management of Conference Rooms

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Ultrasonic Sensor

Ultrasonic Sensors

Ultrasonic sensors can be used for many applications, including precise detection of objects and contactless monitoring of fill levels.

Ultrasonic sensors work in much the same way as radar and sonar. Ultrasonic transceivers (consisting of a set of an ultrasonic transmitter and receiver) convert energy into ultrasound. They generate high-frequency sound waves and evaluate the echo which is received back by the sensor. The time interval between sending the signal and receiving the echo (time-of-flight, TOF) is calculated in order to determine the distance to an object.

The characteristics of the ultrasound signal are interesting for use in indoor positioning systems (IPS). Ultrasonic technology has several advantages, including high signal stability, high frequency, high sensitivity, and high penetrating power. The sensors are easy to use and safe during operation for nearby objects, persons, or materials.

Ultrasound signal emitters are directional, which means that distance computations based on time-of-flight are only valid when the sensor and object are facing each other. In no-line-of-sight conditions, the accuracy level of ultrasonic indoor positioning solutions degrades due to reflections (echo-effect).

Applications of Data Enhancement Using Ultrasonic Sensors

Ultrasonic technology can be used in a wide variety of applications:

Intelligent Car Parking Management

Passenger Flow and Wait Time Monitoring at an Airport

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Presence Detector (PIR)

Presence Detector (Passive Infrared Sensor, PIR)

A presence detector is a device that is used to detect physical presence or absence. It monitors the detection zone for occupancy based on infrared – if a person is sensed, the detector will automatically trigger an action such as turning the lighting on.

Presence detectors guarantee absolute privacy, as no faces are recorded. They are suitable for all closed interiors in e.g. offices, retail stores, and healthcare facilities where privacy and high-precision presence detection are required.

• More information on sensor beacons including product features

Use Cases for Condition Monitoring using Presence Detectors

Presence detectors can be used in a vast range of applications. Here is an example:

Digital Information Displays for Office Buildings

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Motion Sensor

Motion Sensors

Motion sensors are electromechanical devices used to measure acceleration forces. They sense the acceleration, movement, or vibration of a device or system. Among other things, they can be used for shock monitoring, vibration recording, occupancy sensing, and human fall detection. Sometimes, accelerometers come as a built-in element of BLE beacons.

Typical accelerometers are made up of one, two, or even three axes – two to determine most two-dimensional movement and three for 3D positioning. Defining and monitoring movement provides valuable information about events and processes in logistics, healthcare, manufacturing, and quality assurance.

Use Cases for Condition Monitoring using Motion Sensors

Motion sensors can be used in a vast range of applications. Here are some examples:

Indoor Tracking of Patients in Hospitals

Workplace Occupancy Sensing

An Emergency Call System for Elderly People in Nursing Homes

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Door/Window Sensor

Door/Window Sensors

Magnetic door sensors detect whether a door, window, or even drawer is open or closed. They are often used for security purposes or for head counts based on a registration of the number of door openings.

The battery-powered sensor consists of two magnetically coupled parts. One element needs to be attached to the door/window and the other to the door/window frame. A change of status is detected by the sensor when the two parts move away from each other and the magnetic contact is lost. The sensor registers the event and transmits the information via a Bluetooth gateway (infsoft Locator Node Dongle) to the cloud (infsoft LocAware platform^®). The sensors can be used to protect fire doors from being held open, prevent unauthorized access to certain areas, ensure the maintenance of necessary refrigeration temperatures, and much more.

• More information on sensor beacons including product features

• Related blog post: Door and Window Sensors for Increased Security and Automation

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