Companies’ mainstream selection consists of temperature, humidity, pressure, vibration, infrared and gas types.

China sensors manufacturers are upbeat about the component’s widening adoption in security products, and the application market’s continued expansion. They are counting on the projected sales growth for the local line, which will surpass 15 percent in coming years. Fueling suppliers’ optimism is the uptick in global production value of security equipment. From $23.4 billion in 2013, it will hit $32.2 billion in 2017, according to Memoori.

To take advantage of this market opportunity, some domestic companies are updating their selections of conventional sensors, which include temperature, humidity, pressure, vibration, infrared and gas types.

Following the trend for multifunction, space-saving and low-cost components, some companies have released various kinds combining pressure, humidity and temperature sensing devices. More such integrated units will be introduced in the years ahead. They will include traditional sensors incorporating an acceleration transducer, gyroscope or electronic compass.

Intelligent variants constitute another development. These include an A/D converter, signal processor, memory and interface circuit. A number of available models come with a multiplexer, CPU, RAM and ROM. Local companies are systems integrators, sourcing such sensors.

MEMS technology, meanwhile, is predicted to enter the security products field. Thermal cameras, gas sensors and microspeakers are the next killer applications for MEMS chips, according to IHS. So far, only about 500 of China’s 1,600-maker pool for the line offer
MEMS-based variants.

In image sensors, the key component in video surveillance products, there are no domestic suppliers due to the high technological threshold. International manufacturers such as Aptina, Sony, OmniVision and Panasonic dominate this field.

China remains a minor player in the line, generating less than 10 percent of the aggregate production value worldwide. Its annual yield exceeds 2 billion units, and consists of more than 6,000 varieties. The main manufacturing hubs are the provinces of Anhui, Shaanxi and Heilongjiang.

Entry-level units abound

Most sensors from China suppliers are entry-level units, with those for security products dominated by conventional types. Temperature, humidity and pressure kinds form the bulk of their output.

Manufacturers such as Shenzhen Fulighten Optoelectronics Technology Co. Ltd and Shenzhen Kuki Electric Co. Ltd offer mainly temperature sensing devices. One model from the former is adopted in fire alarm devices. The DIP unit has approximately 80s thermal time constant and -30 to 180 C operating temperature. Its zero power resistance is 4.367kohm±7 percent at 50 C, while B constant (0/100) is 3435K±3 percent.

To match the trends for high precision, sensitivity and reliability, makers adopt sensing elements with enhanced performance features. Shenzhen Kuki and Shenzhen Fulighten use mainly NTC thermistors respectively from Shibaura and Semitec for their temperature sensors.

Local companies continue to rely on foreign providers for 90 percent of their chip requirement. For housing materials, wires and terminals, they tap domestic sources.

Manufacturers emphasize customization capability to meet buyers’ specifications on precision, housing configuration, cable length and terminals or plugs.

So far, the cost of production inputs has been stable, keeping prices at current levels. This will remain so in the months ahead.

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