With a competitive landscape and strong demand, this technology, like other digital goods, continues to evolve and develop year after year. As a result, there is a worldwide race to find the best solution at the appropriate price. We've taken temperature sensors for granted over the years, but it's critical that they continue to evolve to fit the devices and new situations in which they're utilised.

How technology has improved temperature sensors

Technology is playing an important role in improving the sensors used in measuring temperature, along with an array of other sensors used in business and personal applications and the rise of IoT is accelerating this development.

As with most digital products this technology continues to go through innovation and improves year on year, with a competitive landscape and high demand, so globally, there’s a race to the smartest solution, at the right price. When it comes to temperature sensors, we’ve taken them for granted over the years, but it is important to keep evolving them to match the devices and new contexts in which they are being used.

Important attributes to improve include the size and scale of the sensor, to broaden their application, as well as improved accuracy and thermal thresholds.

If you look at the timeline, you’ll probably be impressed with the evident evolution that temperature sensors have undergone. But what exactly has been happening over the years? How do temperature sensors have changed over the course of time?

Well, no need to guess, lets jump right into some of the main ways you’d observe by just taking an aerial view of their timeline:

Miniaturisation      

One of the most obvious ways in which technology has improved temperature sensors is through miniaturization. Before, temperature sensors were huge machines that took up the entire room and weighed hundreds of pounds, but now they can easily fit into your pocket or on your keychain.

With this size, reduction comes which increases its accuracy and penetration into other areas such as home appliances, gaming consoles, personal computers, etc.

Accuracy

If you’ve been wondering “How do temperature sensors work?” and “Can I trust them to give accurate feedback on how hot or cold something is?” The answer is an emphatic yes!

Technology has definitely improved the accuracy of temperature sensors.

Now, even with small and relatively cheap devices, you can measure temperatures to a thousandth of a degree (0.001) on some devices and 0.1 on others. Accuracy is important because it allows for better control and capability regarding instrumentation and automation.

Resistance To Corrosion

As if being smaller, lighter, and more accurate wasn’t enough, most modern temperature sensors have also improved and become highly resistant to corrosion. This is particularly important in locations where they’re exposed to corrosive chemicals daily over long periods.

While the ability to resist corrosion is beneficial regardless of their operating environment, it’s especially valuable in regions with high humidity. It allows manufacturers to create devices that can operate effectively regardless of atmospheric conditions.

This enables engineers and designers to focus exclusively on other factors such as size, weight, and accuracy when designing new types of temperature sensors instead of worrying about making them capable of withstanding harsh environments. It has also helped widen the applications of temperature sensors.

Specialisation

In addition to lower cost, smaller size, and integration with other devices, manufacturers of temperature sensors realize that one of the most important ways they can improve their products is through specialization. This means developing new types of sensors for different industries such as medical, automotive, home automation, and pharmaceuticals.

These areas all have very different requirements in any product and claims to offer value in them must be met.

Making its sensor both small and light enough yet durable within different settings requires different levels of rigor to enable each sensor to withstand its given context. While this seems simple enough in theory, creating a single monitor that can cover all of these bases is no small feat. The fact that it can be done is a testament to how far temperature sensors have come.

By taking this approach, temperature sensor manufacturers have retained their competitive advantage over rivals while also expanding into new markets where they’re unlikely to face any direct competition.

(This is a slightly modified version of an article originally published in TechAU. The original article can be found at https://techau.com.au/how-technology-has-improved-temperature-sensors/)