How MEMS sensors could drive the smart home?

What are the sensor requirements for smart homes?

1. Smart homes need various sensors to detect conditions. This allows intelligent control of appliances and systems. Small size, multi-parameter detection and low power sensors are needed. MEMS technology can make mechanical and electronic parts into microchip sensors. 

2. Such as gas, flow, humidity sensors. These can efficiently and low cost monitor temperature, light, air quality precisely. Thus, they give appliances intelligent sensing and control abilities. Furthermore, MEMS sensors can also be integrated into doors, windows, walls. This builds a perception network for the smart home.

Air Quality Monitoring

1. Smart home air quality monitoring needs MEMS gas sensors. These detect harmful gases and particles like formaldehyde, PM2.5 in indoor air. The MEMS sensor chips have sensitive chemical probes. These accurately capture target gas molecules. Based on monitoring data from the gas sensors, the smart home system can judge indoor air quality. 

2. It then controls fresh air and filtration systems. This changes air and removes harmful gases. Thus, indoor air quality reaches safe, comfortable levels. So MEMS gas sensor based intelligent monitoring and management can effectively improve smart home air quality.

Electrical Temperature Control

1. Smart cooking appliances like rice cookers need MEMS temp sensors. This allows precise control of cooking temperatures. The tiny MEMS sensors can be integrated inside the wall. They then detect food and wall temp changes in real-time. The sensor sends the collected temp data to the smart control module. 

2. This then dynamically adjusts heating power based on the data. So the food accurately reaches the set cooking temperature. Thus problems like burning or uneven temps are avoided. MEMS temp sensors give smart cookers "eyes" for intelligent closed-loop cooking control.

Intelligent Security System

1. Smart security systems need MEMS sensors for human detection and localization. For example, MEMS thermal imaging array sensors can sense human infrared radiation. They generate thermal distribution maps for localization and tracking. 

2. MEMS time-of-flight lenses or photoelectric distance sensors can also be used. They send pulse lights and calculate return time to get human distance data. These tiny MEMS sensors can be placed around rooms for full coverage detection. Thus smart security systems gain capabilities for active protection and automation.

Looking Ahead

1. With fast smart home growth, MEMS sensors have broad application prospects. Through ongoing miniaturization and integration, MEMS sensor networks will enable more comprehensive monitoring. This gives appliances stronger perception and autonomy. Also, integration with AI and IoT will make MEMS sensors smarter. Additionally, fusion of multiple sensor types is important too. 

2. It enables combined detection and control of parameters like temperature, humidity and light. We can expect MEMS sensors to greatly improve smart home experiences and convenience. As a big manufacturer and user of consumer electronics and smart homes, China offers huge application space for MEMS sensors.