Smart home enlivens motion sensor module line

China suppliers are boosting production in anticipation of greater demand.

High sales growth projections for the smart home industry in the next five years are driving China makers of motion sensor modules to increase production. From the commercial security market, companies hope to benefit from expanded residential applications, which include lighting and appliances. The majority expects up to 20 percent more revenue in 2016.

Manufacturers such as Shenzhen ZAFD Equipment Co. Ltd have raised output by 10 percent and will continue doing so in the coming year. They target use in products released by makers such as Xiaomi. The last's latest model is a set that includes a multifunction gateway, human movement, window and door sensors, and a remote control.

In addition, suppliers of motion sensor modules are developing compact units with enhanced precision and wider coverage area yet competitively priced. Releases from Shenzhen Lutuo are solar-powered and boast a 12m range. When triggered, these send out a signal to the security or lighting system. In a smart home setup, the modules also shut down all appliances again except the refrigerator when no further movement is detected to save on power and ensure safety.

As quality assurance, most local makers comply with relevant standards such as CE, EMC, GS, RoHS and TÜV.

Fueling these efforts is the Internet of Things as it gathers steam. As a result, up to 180 million IoT-based devices for the smart home application will be shipped worldwide in 2019, according to Xinhua News. This translates to CAGR of as high as 67 percent from 2015. In terms of sales value, the total is estimated at $61 billion by end-2015, jumping by 25 percent YoY. In 2019, the anticipated level is $490 billion.

In China, a similar trend is expected, with the market posting $47.6 million in 2014 and climbing to $761 million at 2015's end, according to the same source. The projected CAGR will surpass 20 percent in 2016 and 2017.

About 200 suppliers make up the motion sensor module line in China, and more than half are domestic operations. Most also turn out related products, including photoelectric and infrared sensors, and Fresnel lenses. They gather mainly in Zhejiang, Jiangsu and Guangdong provinces, respectively in the cities of Ningbo, Suzhou, and Shenzhen and Dongguan.

The majority of companies export between 10 and 60 percent of yield for the category, mainly to Europe, the US and Asia. Suppliers are looking to realize a 10 to 20 percent increase in outbound volume in 2016.

Motion sensor modules

The range in China is categorized by sensing technique—PIR and microwave. Units based on the former form the bulk of production. These have a sensing distance of over 10m and an angle of 120 degrees. Versions are in 5 to 20VDC or 220VAC rated voltage and less than 70µA no-load rated current. These support an operating temperature of -20 to 80 C.

Microwave types, which are based on the Doppler radar technology, have a maximum range of 30m and an angle of 180 degrees. These are rated at 12 or 24VDC.

Makers such as Shenzhen ZAFD and Shenzhen Salens offer both variants. The latter's microwave-sensing models are effective up to 30m and 180 degrees. These have 12/24VDC rated voltage and less than 2mW transmit power.

Manufacturers adopt controllers from foreign suppliers and usually source the rest of the main manufacturing inputs such as Fresnel lenses, PCBs and passive components from local providers. They accommodate for requests for imported inputs.

Component costs have been stable, keeping product prices unchanged. This trend is expected to persist in the months ahead. The influx of makers into the line as demand rises, however, might result in lower quotes but not exceeding 5 percent.