The​ ​Rundown​ ​of​ ​ON Semiconductor’s Smart-Passive-Sensors​ ​(SPS)​ ​for the IoT

Sensors ​and ​sensor ​networks ​are ​an ​integral ​part ​of ​the ​IoT ecosystem. ​Many ​markets ​are ​already ​using, ​or ​will ​soon ​be using ​IoT ​devices, ​including ​the ​industries ​of: ​automotive, transportation ​& ​marine; ​home automation ​and ​security; logistics, ​inventory ​and ​supply ​chain; ​agricultural ​and ​livestock; industrial, ​construction ​and ​power; ​and ​medical ​& ​personal healthcare.

There ​are ​many ​benefits ​of ​using ​the IoT ​such ​as ​cost ​savings, process ​optimization, ​yield ​enhancement, ​analytics, ​and ​data storage.

Smart ​Passive ​Sensors ​(SPS)

ON​ ​Semiconductor​ ​introduces​ ​the​ ​world’s​ ​first​ ​wireless​ ​sensor—using​ ​standard protocol—that​ ​is​ ​battery​ ​free​ ​and​ ​microcontroller​ ​free.

Features ​and ​Capabilities ​of ​Smart ​Passive Sensors

Due to their unique inherent features (e.g., battery free, wireless, ultra thin, and low cost to scale) these sensors allow for new sensing capabilities such as dynamically sensing data in areas including:

• Hard-to-access: underground, inside walls, areas that are toxic or pose health dangers and/or hazards.
• Space constrained applications: within doorways, RFID tags, and bandages.
• Using multiple sensors for cost effectiveness: disposable products, multiple data points, increasing needs over time.

Practical ​Applications

High-Power ​Switchgear ​Equipment

To​ ​prevent​ ​catastrophic​ ​failures​ ​inside​ ​high-power​ ​switchgear​ ​boxes,​ ​it’s​ ​essential​ ​to identify​ ​high​ ​resistance​ ​points​ ​inside​ ​the​ ​equipment.​ ​And​ ​because​ ​such​ ​points​ ​can​ ​be found​ ​through​ ​temperature​ ​monitoring,​ ​the​ ​traditional​ ​method​ ​is​ ​to​ ​manually​ ​ ​monitor these​ ​high​ ​resistance​ ​points​ ​during​ ​scheduled​ ​maintenance​ ​intervals.​ ​This​ ​manual process​ ​involves​ ​extensive​ ​use​ ​of​ ​labor​ ​and​ ​yields​ ​limited​ ​data​ ​points—perhaps​ ​only​ ​one data​ ​point​ ​every​ ​year. SPS​ ​sensors​ ​can​ ​wirelessly,​ ​and​ ​continuously,​ ​monitor​ ​and​ ​analyze​ ​temperatures​ ​on busbars,​ ​circuit​ ​breaker​ ​contacts,​ ​and​ ​cable​ ​connections.

Smart ​Healthcare

Nurses are experiencing an increase in workload, which, in turn, makes it more challenging for them to effectively monitor patient status. SPS devices allow nurses to monitor their patients’ status by sending alerts for:

• Patient is out of bed
• Temperature change
• IV bag is empty
• Catheter bag  is full
• Bed liner needs changing
   

These continuously monitoring SPS sensors provide early detection with faster resolution, and, because they are wireless, the sensors will not impede patient comfort.

Server ​Racks

As data centers become larger and larger, the difficulty and cost of monitoring their equipment increases as well. A full turnkey solution development includes the SPS sensors, and reader hardware and software. SPS temperature sensors can monitor—completely wirelessly—the air inlet temperatures inside server racks, helping to optimize cooling efforts, which, in turn, saves energy and reduces costs. Additionally, these wireless sensors can provide a means for early detection of equipment failure, and can also help track assets, thereby, lowering labor costs.

Digital ​Farming

Sensors are used on livestock for identifying specific animals and for monitoring temperatures. Animal identification is used to regulate feeding schedules and for tracking milk production factors, while an animal’s temperature can be used for early detection of illness or for detecting ovulation. SPS wireless, battery free, and maintenance free sensors offer improved accuracy, combine animal identification and temperature sensing into one device, and can be placed either on an animal’s skin or injected beneath it.

Cold ​Chain/Logistics

SPS​ ​sensors​ ​can​ ​be​ ​used​ ​to​ ​monitor​ ​temperatures​ ​of​ ​food​ ​and/or​ ​pharmaceuticals during​ ​shipment.​ ​The​ ​continuous​ ​temperature​ ​monitoring​ ​of​ ​these​ ​goods​ ​allows​ ​for immediate​ ​detection​ ​of​ ​failures,​ ​thus​ ​allowing​ ​shipments​ ​to​ ​be​ ​rejected​ ​before​ ​being unloaded​ ​and​ ​discovered​ ​by​ ​customers.

Summary

ON Semiconductor’s Smart Passive Sensors (SPS) are the world’s first battery free and microcontroller free wireless sensors. Their unique features make them ideal for applications including hard-to-access and space constrained areas. Full turnkey development solutions are available which include the SPS sensors, reader hardware, and software.
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