Mouser makes ‘sense’ of IoT

With the focus on the Design Engineer, and enabling access to the latest Technologies and Products in the design cycle, Mouser has a global presence and enables access to a number of leading suppliers, in addition to 800,000 part numbers from around 700 manufacturers in stock.

In terms of sensing and IoT, it is all about access to products. When you think about IoT applications they typically involving sensing in one form or another, and Mouser enables to access the latest sensing technologies and regarding sensors the company stocks 17,000 sensors from over 130 suppliers.

These sensors and the parameters they sense come in such a variety, different shapes and sizes and for a multitude of applications. One example is MEMS which are playing an increasing role in sensing, with a small form factor and multiple functions they are enabling many new applications.

Thermal Array sensors, another example, are essentially an enhanced PIR that is able to detect not only heat, but also direction of movement and distance.

A high frequency RF sensor, the mmWave are highly suited to measuring range, velocity, direction. Being contactless and able to penetrate through many materials makes them suitable for many applications also.

Another type of range sensing technology is ToF or Time-of-flight. Being an eye-safe laser based sensor, they can accurately measure range based on the time it takes the light to travel to and reflect from the nearest object to the sensor.

Additionally particulate sensors are gaining more demand due to the air pollutions in cities. The small size of 43mm, enables this sensor to perform all kinds of air quality monitoring.

Explaining more on how sensors can make sense of IoT Mark also talked us through some practical examples and where they can be found.

Sensor IoT applications in the Smart Factory include:

• Vibrations; piezoelectric, rotational and ultrasonic.
• Process; flow and pressure.
• Position; tilt, rotation and acceleration.
• Environment; temperature, humidity, light and air quality.
• Quality Control; image sensors.

Sensor IoT applications in the Smart Home include:

• HVAC; temperature, humidity and flow sensors.
• Occupancy; PIR’s, grid arrays and proximity sensors.
• Lighting; ambient light sensors.
• Security; biometric and image sensors.
• Energy; current sensors.

Sensor IoT applications in Wearable Technology include:

• Activity; accelerometer, gyro and magnetometer.
• Health; heart rate and temperature.
• Battery life; current and voltage.
• Environment;pressure, altitude and UV Light.

But does also include others, and there is much room for advancements in IoT sensors in wearables.

Mark further explained that when starting up, having access to the sensors themselves is very well, but to start with you need an idea, and access to tools that will help to try ideas out. He said: “You can’t jump straight into sensors, you need development/evaluation tools first.”

To learn more about sensors or IoT, visit the applications and technologies page on the Mouser website here, where the company features content on different sensor types, their applications, featured products and articles.