Infrared Detector Market, Applications and Technology Trends

Introduction

Abstract

INFRARED DETECTORS PRESENT IN OUR DAILY ENVIRONMENT

Infrared detectors are used as motion detectors since decades in our daily life for lighting controls and alarms. This business is very important in terms of volume with 150 million units sold in 2010, but the price of the detectors is very low (less than $ 1).

Even if this motion detector business is mature, it wi l l continue to grow at a significant rate (CAGR 2010-2016 in value: + 9 %) driven by the concern for energy savings. In the coming years it will be increasingly used to switch off/on automatically lighting and appliances such as HVAC , TVs, appliances...

Infrared Detector Applications and Integrated Systems Prices

Another common use of infrared detectors is for non-contact temperature measurement for applications like human ear thermometer, or industrial pyrometers. IR detectors can also be used to detect gas, fire or to analyze materials. For those applications, the detector price can vary very much from single dollars to tens of dollars each. Here also, the business is growing driven by interest in IR detection: very robust non-contact measurement with a long lifetime.

The technology behind those applications is quite mature and use small detectors from one to 4 IR sensitive elements that can be made with two technologies: Pyroelectric sensors or thermopile sensors.

LARGE MARKET PLAYERS ARE ENTERING THE MARKET

The Infrared detector industry was quite stable up to now with a few players dominating the business specially for motion detection: Perkin Elmer who sold its IR detector branch that became Excelitas (DE ), Nicera (JP), Murata (JP) and Heimann (DE ).

Technologies positioning (price / detector size)
Technologies positioning

Some niche players (Pyreos, Irisys) have also developed innovative pyroelectric technologies (thin film, ceramic hybrid) that enable arrays of sensitive elements, but the volume sold are still limited to niche markets (counting people, gas detection, spectroscopy).

Infrared detectors market forecast 2010 - 2016

Large MEMS manufacturers are entering the IR detector business in 2011: Texas Instruments, Omron, Panasonic, Hamamatsu. These companies who have substantial revenues and resources, have developed thermopile detectors which are processed on their MEMS large production line (6 to 8"). In that position, they have very competitive production costs that will provide access to new applications. For instance Texas Instruments target temperature measurement function for portable consumer electronic applications (notebook, tablet...).

NEW LARGE DETECTOR APPLICATIONS ARE ADDING FURTHER MARKET GROWTH

Large detectors (from 16 x 16 to 64 x 64 pixels) are developed to obtain advanced person detection functionalities meaning it is possible to locate the position of a person precisely in a space, to identify immobile persons (not possibly with motion sensors) or to monitor large areas. The end markets will be for home automation, healthcare, or security businesses.

On this “large detector” market, several technologies will compete: pyroelectric, thermopile and microbolometers. Pyroelectric and thermopiles are well advanced thanks to their position on small detectors, but need still to increase their detector size. Microbolometer technology is leading the infrared imager business where image resolution is higher than 10,000 pixels and prices of several hundred dollars.

Microbolometer players (Ulis, Flir, NEC, DRS ) have started to develop or investigate large detector applications, but the low cost target will be a big challenge for those players. Next year will be crucial to determine which technology will be the most adopted.

All in all, with the arrival of new MEMS players and the emergence of large detector applications, we expect that the overall IR detector business will grow from $ 152M in 2010 at a rate of + 11 %/ year to reach $ 286M in 2016.

KEY FEATURES OF THE REPORT

• Provide market data on IR detector business
  • IR detector unit shipments and revenues
  • Sales forecast by application and by technology (pyroelectric and thermopile small detector, large detector with any technology)
  • Market shares of IR detector manufacturers for both pyroelectric and thermopiles (Excelitas, Nicera, Murata, Heimann).

• Provide an overview of the IR detector applications
  • Applications: Motion detection, high end pyrometer, low end temperature sensors,
  • Applications profile: application description, technologies used, size of the detectors, integrators profiles with name of the key companies, average pricing and main trends.

• Analyze the IR detector players position
  • Comparison of current players (Excelitas, Nicera, Murata, Heimann) and new entrants
  • Analysis of new MEMS players strategies: Omron, Texas Instruments, Panasonic, Hamamatsu

• Provide a technological overview of IR technologies
  • Description of the main technologies: pyroelectric crystal, pyroelectric ceramic, pyroelectric thin films, thermopiles, microbolometers
  • Comparison of the technologies and market share by application

• Analyze the large detector emerging applications
  • What are the main competing technologies and players
  • What are the challenges to access to these applications and success chances for the various technologies

WHO SHOULD BUY THE REPORT

• IR detector and IR imager manufacturers
  • Identify and evaluate IR detectors markets with market size, growth and key customers
  • Analyse the threads and opportunities of new market entrants

• IR detector systems manufacturers
  • Get the list of the top IR detectors manufacturers
  • Spot the new potential suppliers with disruptive technologies

• Equipment & Material manufacturers
  • Understand the IR detector supply chain and its evolution
  • Identify new opportunities and prospects

• Financial & Strategic investors
  • Understand the main market dynamics and main technological trends
  • Get the list of the key players and emerging start-ups of the camera and detector industries

COMPANIES CITED IN THE REPORT

3S pocketnet, Agilent, Ametek, BAE , Bosch security, Cerberus, CSST , Delphi, Dias Infrared, DRS , Dostmann, E+e, Excelitas, FL IR, Fluke, Fuji Piezo, G&E, Hager, Hamamatsu, Heimann, Heitronics, Honeywell security, ICX FL IR, Infratec, Intex, Irisys, Korea digital, L3com, Land, Legrand, Leister Axetris, Lumasense ITC , Melexis, Memstech - Ann arbor, Merten, Mitsubishi Electric, Murata, NEC Avio, Nicera, Omega, Omron, Panasonic, Perkin Elmer, Pyreos, Raytheon, Ritsumeikan University, Samsung, SCD , Schneider Electric, Selex galileo, Sensair, Senseair, Sensource, Shimadzu, Somfy, Sony, Symetrix, Telaire, Texas Instrument, Thermofisher, Tyco security, Tyndall, Ulis, UTC fire & security, Visonic, Winsen, Wuan Cubic, Yongsheng, ZB sensor...

Market research scope

• The report surveys uncooled infrared detectors that supply a signal to be analyzed and not an image. The detector size goes from one pixel to lower than 10 000 pixels. The wavelengths targeted are mostly Long Wave Infrared (LWIR) from 8 to 12 microns. Some applications use however other wavelength (gas detection and spectroscopy).
• This include the following technologies:
  • Pyroelectric using crystal, ceramic, and thin film
  • Thermopiles
  • Microbolometers
• Infrared imagers are covered in details by the Uncooled Infrared Imaging market report.
• Market estimation are done for the 2010 - 2016 time period in $ (with $1.30 = one euro conversion)

Methodology

• This research has been prepared based on:
  • Primary information sources: direct interviews with companies all along the value chain (detector manufacturers, camera manufacturers, camera distributors, final users).
  • Secondary information sources: conferences, web sites, newsletters....
• All data, graphs, tables, and calculations in this report are based on Yole Developpement's investigation.

Yann de Charentenay was granted a master degree in physics in INP G in Grenoble and also in Innovation management from Compiegne University. Since 2003, he has worked for Yole Development in the field of MEMS , materials and compound semiconductors.

Wenbin Ding is responsible for MEMS market research at Yole Développement. She previously worked at research center CEA Grenoble (France). She holds a Microelectronics Engineering degree from the National Engineering School in Caen, plus a Master Degree in Business Administration from IAE Caen, France.

Beginning in 1998 with Yole Développement, we have grown to become a group of companies providing market research, technology analysis, strategy consulting, media in addition to fi nance services. With a solid focus on emerging applications using silicon and/or micro manufacturing Yole Développement group has expanded to include more than 40 associates worldwide covering MEMS, Microfluidics Medical, Advanced Packaging, Compound Semiconductors, Power Electronics, LED, and Photovoltaic. The group supports companies, investors and R&D organizations worldwide to help them understand markets and follow technology trends to develop their business.

Table of Contents

TABLE OF CONTENTS

GLOSSARY

COMPANIES CITED IN THIS REPORT

DEFINITIONS

MARKET RESEARCH SCOPE AND METHODOLOGY

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

OVERVIEW OF INFRARED DETECTOR MARKETS

• Current IR detecting systems and pricing
• IR detector supply chain with current key players
• Infrared detector Market Forecast by Application From 2010-2016 (in M units)
• Infrared Detector Market Forecast by Application From 2010-2016 (in $M)
• Infrared Detector ASP by Application 2010-2016 price evolution
• Infrared Detector Breakdown by Application Pyroelectric vs. Thermopile
• Infrared Detector Market Forecast by technology From 2010-2016 (in M units)
• Infrared Detector Market Forecast by technology From 2010-2016 (in $M)

OVERVIEW OF CURRENT INFRARED DETECTION TECHNOLOGIES

• Current Infrared Detector Technologies Overview
• Technology positioning
• Pyroelectric sensor
• Pyroelectric crystal detector - fabrication process
• Pyroelectric hybrid ceramic arrays (Irisys)
• Pyroelectric thin-film detectors/arrays (Pyreos)
• Pyroelectric thin film arrays
• Pyroelectric thin-film processing techniques
• Pyroelectric film arrays - construction
• Thermopile detector
• Sensitive elements materials
• Microbolometer
• Microbolometer Technology history
• Microbolometer: aSi and Vox materials
• Microbolometer process flow example
• Technology comparison
• Infrared Detector Technologies Application vs. Technology in 2010

OVERVIEW OF MANUFACTURERS' POSITIONING AND TECHNOLOGIES

• Players & Technologies for Thermopiles and Pyroelectic IR detectors
• Players for Thermopiles and Pyroelectic IR detectors Size vs. Maturity
• Infrared Detector Players for Thermopiles and Pyroelectic IR detectors Players HQ location
• Main current pyroelectric and thermopile manufacturer production data
• Infrared Detector Players: Pyroelectric and thermopiles Market Share
• Worldwide production
• Thermopile detectors MEMS manufacturers activity: Melexis
• Thermopile detectors MEMS manufacturers activity: OMRON
• Thermopile detectors MEMS manufacturers activity: Texas Instrument
• Thermopile detectors MEMS manufacturers activity: Hamamatsu
• Thermopiles detectors MEMS manufacturers activity: Panasonic
• Main Microbolometer Player Locations
• Microbolometer Player Profiles
• Microbolometer Player production for Imager applications

ANALYSIS OF INFRARED DETECTORS' CURRENT APPLICATIONS

• Infrared Detector Applications: Price vs. Performance
• IR Detector Technologies: Wavelength segmentation
• People & Motion detection (1)
• People & Motion detection (2) - Emerging energy saving market
• People & Motion detection (3) - Synthesis
• High-end pyrometer/ temperature measurement system
• Low-end temperature sensors
• People/Door counting (1)
• Queue management (2)
• People/Door counting (3) - Synthesis
• Gas & fire detection
• Spectroscopy

LARGE DETECTORS FOR ADVANCED PRESENCE DETECTION

• Advanced Presence Detection Applications
• Analysis of Large Detector Applications Technologies positioning
• Current status of the potential technologies
• Analysis of Large Detector Applications Technologies positioning
• Large detectors for Advanced Presence Detection Applications accessibility
• Challenges to access to these new applications
• Optics critical role
• Player developments of large format detector
• for advanced presence detection
• Microbolometer Players position NEC Avio
• Microbolometer Players position Ulis
• Player positions
• Large detectors for Advanced Presence Detection Applications Market
• Conclusions on Large detectors for Advanced Presence detection

GENERAL CONCLUSIONS

• General conclusions (1/2)
• General conclusions (2/2)

COMPANY PROFILES

• Main current pyroelectric and thermopile manufacturers Market Data
• Murata (JP)
• Excelitas (DE )
• Nicera (JP)
• Heimann (DE )
• Irisys (UK)
• Pyreos (UK)
• Current Microbolometer Foundries
• FLIR systems (US)
• Ulis (FR)
• DRS technologies (US)
• NEC Avio (JP)

Infrared Detector Market, Applications and Technology Trends published by Yole Developpement in January 26, 2012. This report price starts from US $ 5390.