[Microwave sensor] Detects movement even over long distances and walls! What is the difference from an infrared sensor?

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foundation sensor

Microwave sensor that detects the movement of people and things

Microwave sensors are sensors that overcome the challenges of infrared sensors. It enables use in various scenes. It can detect long distances that cannot be achieved with infrared sensors, detects moving objects that do not emit heat, overcomes the appearance issues of cameras, and can be used in environments with temperature changes. In addition, accuracy can be adjusted using software (parameter settings), making it easy to customize the system in a variety of ways depending on the application.

No drilling required! No influence of temperature! No maintenance required!
[Usage scenes] High ceilings, automatic doors, toilets, kitchens, entrance lights, security lights/street lights, beside railroad tracks and roads (animal intrusion detection), etc.

If you would like to develop using microwave sensors but cannot do it in-house, please feel free to contact us.

Features of microwave sensor

Microwave sensors are products that can overcome the challenges of infrared sensors. The table below summarizes the characteristics of each sensor.

point	microwave sensor	infrared sensor
principle	Object detection and moving speed are detected by transmitting microwaves and taking the difference in frequency between the radio waves reflected by the target object and the radio waves reflected by the object.	It detects the presence of people by detecting infrared rays emitted by objects with temperature. (The wavelength of human body temperature is around 9.4µm)
Appearance	No holes are required in the housing.	A window (hole) is required for the sensor to receive infrared rays. Looks like a hidden camera.
Effects of temperature	No effect. There are no malfunctions caused by heat sources.	Because infrared rays are emitted by thermal radiation, abnormalities may be detected in high-temperature environments. It will malfunction if there is a heat source.
Maintenance required	It's not particularly necessary.	If the window (hole) of the sensor light receiving area becomes dirty, it will affect accuracy, so regular cleaning is required.
Sensing accuracy	Adjustment is possible through software (parameter change) processing.	Adjustment is required on the hardware side as it depends on the specifications of the photodetector and application circuit.

Can be customized according to the application by setting parameters

Microwave sensors can be customized according to the application by setting parameters. By adjusting the parameters below, you can set the optimal sensing mode according to the usage situation.

Granularity of motion detection: Should multiple moving objects moving at the same speed be considered as “separate detection” or “integrated detection”?
Strength threshold: Threshold of signal strength to be detected as a moving object (if it is strong, it is possible to detect far away moving objects)
Minimum and maximum thresholds for moving object speed (approach and departure): Whether to detect slight movements, etc.

Scenes and usage examples where you can take advantage of the advantages of microwaves

It can be used in the following situations, such as for energy saving purposes or in places where a camera cannot be installed.

Lighting ON/OFF can be automated even in facilities with high ceilings

Application example 1: Lighting installed on a high ceiling

Because of its "wide sensing range," it is possible to automate the ON/OFF of lighting in facilities with high ceilings such as warehouses and factories.

Detection at automatic doors, even objects that do not emit heat can be detected if there is movement

Application example ② Automatic door

If there is movement, it can detect objects that do not generate heat, so it is possible to detect when strollers, pushcarts, and shopping carts are in use.

Sensing possible even across walls, detecting movement inside the toilet

Usage example (3) Toilet

Sensing is possible "even if separated by a wall", so it is possible to "aggregate multiple infrared rays" used for lighting. *Depends on wall material.

Detection in the kitchen, no false detection even in places with heat sources

Usage example ④ Kitchen

It can be used as a sensor that "does not make false detections" even in "places with heat sources" such as gas stoves.

Automated ON/OFF of entrance light, does not malfunction due to sunlight

Usage example ⑤ Entrance light

"There is a possibility of malfunction due to sunlight, etc." Even with entrance lights, etc., ON/OFF is automated.

Automating ON/OFF of security lights and street lights, sensing over a wide range and with high precision

Usage example 6 Security lights/street lights

Security lights and street lights installed outdoors that cannot be turned on all the time can be turned on and off automatically by sensing over a wide range and with high precision.

Application example (7) Animal intrusion sensor

Taking advantage of the advantages of "wide sensing range" and "no malfunction due to sunlight, etc.", it can also be used as an animal intrusion sensor installed on the side of a track or road. By interlocking with an animal repellent device, it also prevents accidents.

Sensors for checking occupancy in buildings and spaces where the inside cannot be seen from the outside, such as toilets.

Application example (8) Sensor for confirming room occupancy

Since it can "detect minute movements of objects", it can be used as a sensor to check the occupancy status of buildings and spaces where "the inside cannot be seen from the outside" such as toilets.

Detect minute movements and understand customers waiting for taxis

Usage example ⑨ Bus stop, tram stop, taxi stand

Taking advantage of the fact that it can be used outdoors and that it can "detect minute movements", it can identify customers waiting at bus and tram stops, taxi stands, etc.

Microwave sensor demo

We demonstrated the following two patterns. Watch the video for more details.

Demo 1: Outdoor version
Tests were conducted with sensing set to long range. Specifically, the sensor was fixed at a height of around10mabove the ground, and the ground side was sensed. This reproduces a situation where the distance to the sensing target is long, such as from a high ceiling to the floor.

Demo 2: Toilet version
We conducted the test in the toilet in the basement. A sensor was installed above the toilet entrance and oriented so that it could sense the entire interior of the toilet. Although the distance to the target object is short, it is an environment where it is necessary to detect even the slightest movement. We conducted an experiment to see if a microwave sensor would respond in a situation where an infrared sensor would not respond.

Microwave sensor demo video

Video chapter [Duration: 16:41]

00:30Characteristics of microwave sensors/Differences from infrared sensors
03:15Microwave Sensor Functions
03:40About usage scenarios
05:00[Demo 1] Outdoor: Detecting pedestrians on the ground from 15m above ground (4F)
- 1 pedestrian case, 2 pedestrian case
07:55[Demo 2] Toilet: Detecting movements in the toilet
-Doesit detect through walls?
- Comparison of microwave and infrared sensors
11:33Summary of the demo
12:13　summary

Demo 1: Outdoor results

It was possible to sense pedestrians on the ground from a height of about 10 meters.
It was able to sense a wider range than expected, and was able to respond to bicycles passing on the road and bicycles passing on the sidewalk on the opposite side.
The two moving objects were displayed as separate large waves and could be detected as separate moving objects. It was also able to detect arm movements while walking.
Although it was a sunny day, there were no malfunctions caused by sunlight.

Even when installed on a high ceiling in a warehouse or factory, it can sense up to the ground surface or floor level, and can cover a wide area by keeping a distance. No malfunctions caused by sunlight.

Demo 2: Toilet version results

It was also possible to detect movement within a private room separated by a wall.
Even the slightest movement could be detected if it was in the lateral direction when viewed from the sensor.
Microwaves could not be detected even in situations where infrared radiation could not be detected. (In the case of infrared rays, there was no reaction unless you got close to about 2 meters.)
This time, we were able to cover the inside of the toilet with just one microwave sensor instead of the one covered by five infrared sensors.

Sensing across walls is also possible. (*) By replacing infrared sensors with microwave sensors, there is a high possibility that the number of installations can be reduced.
*Can be adjusted by setting parameters. It depends on the thickness and material of the wall.

Summary

This demonstration was a result of the remarkable characteristics of microwaves. As is clear from the experimental results, this product is able to overcome the weaknesses and issues of infrared sensors.

Wide sensing range, capable of sensing beyond certain obstacles
No malfunction due to operating temperature environment including heat source and sunlight
No need for the camera-like appearance seen with infrared sensors

By repeatedly conducting experiments and evaluations and deriving optimal sensing parameters and judgment criteria, it can be used in a variety of situations. If you are interested in developing products using microwave sensors, please contact Macnica Manufacturing Consulting.

Inquiry

Do you have any problems when considering commercializing ideas like those in the above usage examples? Even if you don't have an electronics designer or designer, leave it to Macnica. We can "suggest ways to realize what you want to do," so please feel free to contact us first!

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