Reflow Surface Mount Pyroelectric Infrared Sensor for Human Presence Sensing

Murata Manufacturing Co has manufactured the ‘IRS-B series’, the thinnest and smallest surface mount type of pyroelectric infrared (IR) sensor in the world.

This new sensor model is smaller as compared to the reflow surface mount type of pyroelectric IR sensor that was available from Murata previously. The new sensor model will help to promote large-scale production and price reduction of the reflow surface mount category of sensors. This model will speed up the development of human presence sensors for use in consumer devices, besides enabling reduction in equipment size.

This sensor can be used in eco-friendly appliances, digital photo frames, TVs, IP cameras or Webcams, PCs, automated hot water flushed toilet seat, and various automatic switches like ventilation fans, air-cleaners, and LCD monitors. Murata has also created a condenser flat lens that is utilized along with the pyroelectric IR sensor, resulting in a thinner equipment.

The new sensor measures a mere 4.7×4.7×2.4 mm and represents the industry’s only reflow surface mounting model that has adopted lead-free soldering technique. This sensor has high sensitivity and facilitates flatter design of equipment as it comes along with the flat lens and does not utilize any RoHS directive-controlled substances. Murata’s unique packaging technology has helped this sensor to feature exceptional electromagnetic noise suppression capability.

The need for sensing the presence of humans is on the increase for many applications like care giving, theft prevention, and energy conservation appliances. Earlier pyroelectric IR sensors used to detect presence of humans were not suitable for automatic surface mounting because of lead mount construction. Theses sensors were also large-sized, less cost-effective, and difficult for volume production. In this context, Murata had earlier provided the industry’s only reflow surface mount type of pyroelectric IR sensor. Murata could decrease the size of the IRS-B series sensor further, resulting in a thinner and smaller sensor, by improving its unique packaging technology along with pyroelectric ceramic materials. This sensor model facilitates its mounting in equipment, rendering the equipment lighter, thinner, and smaller, like video game consoles, low profile digital equipment, PCs, and appliances.

Compared to erstwhile surface mount sensor model the IRS-B series is10% thinner and 50% lesser in volume, approximately. In comparison with the normal lead-type sensor models, the IRS-B series has 50% less thickness and 20% less volume. Streamlining the equipment design was possible by making the flat lens curvature very flat.