Smart home devices, which help automate household systems and promote energy efficiency, are some of the most popular applications in the burgeoning Internet of Things (IoT) space. Fortune Business Insights projects that the global smart home market will reach US$ 622.59 billion by 2026, for a CAGR of 29.3%.
At the heart of many of these devices is a new generation of infrared (IR) detection sensors. These sensors are essential for the operation of motion-detecting security cameras and safety lights that increase the general security of our living and working environments, and for presence-sensing applications that can promote energy efficiency. Examples of these are sophisticated heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) systems, which are traditionally among the heaviest contributors to household power consumption. A smart thermostat can use IR sensors to scan a room for motion- and presence- detection, prepare a heat map, and control the temperature of the air supply to save energy and still keep the climate comfortable but only heating or cooling when people are present.