The Future of Medical Technology - Part 6: Optical Sensors
About Symmetry Electronics Team
Established in 1998, Symmetry Electronics is a focused global distributor of wireless connectivity solutions, sensors, and audio-video technologies. Offering comprehensive design support and available-to-ship inventory, Symmetry is committed to helping engineers accelerate time to market, reduce costs, and offer modern solutions for their IoT designs. Acquired by Berkshire Hathaway company, TTI, Inc. in 2017, Symmetry Electronics is part of the Exponential Technology Group (XTG) – a supergroup of electronic component distributors and engineering services firms working together to advance the electronics industry. For more information, visit www.symmetryelectronics.com.
What are Optical Sensors?
Optical sensors are devices used to safely measure biological, chemical and physiological parameters of the body. These sensors provide quantitative, qualitative and reliable results. They are life-saving devices that can simply acquire and process physiological information. Biomedical sensors are in high demand because they’re small, smart, reliable, selective, sensitive, biocompatible, fast, easy to manufacture in bulk and remotely controllable. They have the unique ability to select one parameter without interfering with other parameters. Types of biomedical sensors include, direct/indirect, contact/remote, invasive/noninvasive, real-time/static and sense/actuate. Each biomedical sensor consists of a sensing element with a physical transducer that converts a measure and into an output signal.
Optical sensors are used in health monitors, brain function monitors and wearables. Glucose meters are embedded optical sensors which can measure blood sugar levels with a camera-like device. This well-lauded device requires no finger pricking to measure glucose levels.
Optical Sensors in Symmetry’s Line Up
The Si1120 from Silicon Labs is a high-sensitivity active infrared proximity and ambient light sensor IC, enabling innovative touchless human interface applications with ultra-low power advantages. Consisting of an infrared LED driver, an infrared photodiode, an ambient light sensor and control logic, the device is packaged in a 3 mm x 3 mm clear DFN. The high-sensitivity infrared proximity measurement, offering customers an opportunity to implement a proximity and ambient light sensor with very lower power levels.
Features:
PWM output
Ambient Light Sensor
Seven Precision Optical measurement modes
3 proximity ranges
3 DC ambient light sensing ranges
1 calibration mode
Low-noise ambient cancelling circuit allows maximum sensitive with 8-12 bit resolution
Working in direct sunlight (100 klux)
Minimum reflectance sensitivity < 1 µW/cm2
High EMI immunity without shielded packaging
Power Supply: 2.2-3.7 V
Operating temperature range -40 to +85 degrees C
Typical 10 µA current consumption
Programmable 400/50 mA LED constant current driver output
Allows independent LED supply voltage
TAIYO YUDEN
These low cost high precision optical displacement sensors are designed to detect displacements of objects. Original optical design technology and circuit and machine technology provides high precision along with an extended range.
Features:
High accuracy => Measurement accuracy +/- 0.1
Long range => Range of detection: 1000 µm
Compact size => 20x20x10mm
Sources:
http://www.iaeng.org/publication/WCE2016/WCE2016_pp536-538.pdf
Read other blogs in this series:
The Future of Medical Technology - Part 5: Wi-Fi
The Future of Medical Technology – Part 4: Bluetooth Low Energy
The Future of Medical Technology - Part 3: Biometric Sensors
The Future of Medical Technology - Part 2: Wireless Video & Audio
The Future of Medical Technology - Part 1
About Symmetry Electronics Team
Established in 1998, Symmetry Electronics is a focused global distributor of wireless connectivity solutions, sensors, and audio-video technologies. Offering comprehensive design support and available-to-ship inventory, Symmetry is committed to helping engineers accelerate time to market, reduce costs, and offer modern solutions for their IoT designs. Acquired by Berkshire Hathaway company, TTI, Inc. in 2017, Symmetry Electronics is part of the Exponential Technology Group (XTG) – a supergroup of electronic component distributors and engineering services firms working together to advance the electronics industry. For more information, visit www.symmetryelectronics.com.