Grid-EYE opens the door to a whole world of new applications, ranging from energy savings in the lighting industry (commercial and public places as well as residential spaces) to household applications (air conditioners, microwave ovens, etc.), from security systems (automatic doors, elevators, ATMs and kiosks, etc.) to the medical industry (patient detection and positioning) and many more.
Panasonic Automotive & Industrial Systems Europe has released the much improved and accurate second generation of its Grid-EYE infrared array sensors. The new high gain types (AMG8833 and AMG8834) and low gain types (AMG8853 and AMG8854) of Grid-EYE 2nd Generation now benefit from an improved NETD (Noise Equivalent Temperature Difference) of 0.16°C at 10Hz and of 0.05°C at 1Hz. For all Grid-EYE 2nd Generation models the detection distance has improved from 5m up to 7m. It is important to note that the second generation of Grid-EYE sensors is fully compatible with the existing first generation designs.
Based on Panasonic’s MEMS (Micro Electro Mechanical Systems) technology the Grid-EYE 2nd Generation infrared array sensors combine a more sensitive MEMS sensor chip, a digital ASIC (I2C interface) and a silicon lens in the same small package. The parts feature 64 thermopile elements in an 8x8 grid format that detect absolute surface temperature without any contact. Unlike conventional sensors, Grid-EYE uses a patented 60° silicon lens etched out of a silicon wafer, which is (with less than 0.3mm height) the smallest available lens in the market. The combination of these technologies allows for a sensor package size of only 11.6mm x 8mm x 4.3mm, which is around 70% smaller in size than competitor products.
Compared to single element thermopile sensors and pyroelectric sensors, the Grid-EYE 2nd Generation can not only detect moving and motionless people and objects but does that in comparison to its predecessor models with higher precision and higher accuracy.