Proximity and Ranging Sensing

Proximity and ranging sensing are essential technologies that enable machines and devices to perceive and measure distances to objects or obstacles in their environment. These sensing mechanisms play a crucial role in various applications across industries, from robotics and automotive to consumer electronics and industrial automation.

Proximity sensing is primarily concerned with detecting the presence of objects within a certain range of a sensor. This technology is often used for functions such as touchless interfaces in smartphones, motion detection in security systems, and object detection in industrial automation. Proximity sensors can employ various methods, including infrared, capacitive, and ultrasonic, to accurately determine the presence or absence of an object in close proximity.

Ranging sensing, on the other hand, goes beyond proximity by providing precise distance measurements between the sensor and the target object. This capability is crucial for applications like autonomous vehicles, where vehicles need to know how far they are from other objects to make informed decisions. Ranging sensors, such as LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) and ultrasonic sensors, use advanced technologies to measure distances with high accuracy.

Both proximity and ranging sensing technologies have witnessed significant advancements in recent years, enabling the development of smarter and safer devices and systems. They are fundamental components of the sensor ecosystem, enhancing our ability to interact with our surroundings and enabling machines to navigate, sense, and interact with their environment more effectively. As these technologies continue to evolve, we can expect them to play an increasingly vital role in our daily lives and industries.

Proximity and Ranging Sensing Applications

Automotive	Collision avoidance systems; Parking assistance and obstacle detection; Adaptive cruise control; Autonomous vehicles for navigation and obstacle avoidance; Blind-spot detection.
Industrial Automation	Object detection and presence sensing in manufacturing processes; Conveyor belt control and alignment; Robotics for pick-and-place operations; Material handling and warehouse automation.
Consumer Electronics	Touchless user interfaces for smartphones and tablets; Proximity-based screen dimming during calls; Gesture recognition for gaming and smart TVs; Face recognition and hand tracking in augmented reality (AR) applications.
Security and Surveillance	Motion detection in security systems; Intrusion detection in restricted areas; People and vehicle counting in public spaces; Perimeter security for homes and businesses.
Healthcare	Contactless patient monitoring and vital sign measurement; Hand hygiene compliance monitoring in healthcare settings; Object detection for fall prevention in hospitals and nursing homes.
Retail and Commercial	Touchless access control systems; Interactive digital signage with proximity-based content triggering; Automated doors and elevators; Inventory management and shelf stocking in retail stores.
Agriculture	Crop monitoring and precision farming; Obstacle avoidance for autonomous agricultural vehicles; Livestock tracking and monitoring.
Aviation and Aerospace	Aircraft ground proximity warning systems; Drones and UAVs for obstacle detection and navigation; Landing and docking assistance for spacecraft.
Environmental Monitoring	Monitoring water levels in rivers and reservoirs; Detection of objects or wildlife in conservation areas; Air quality measurement and pollution monitoring.
Construction and Mining	Equipment collision prevention on construction sites; Surveying and 3D mapping with LiDAR; Proximity detection for heavy machinery safety.
Maritime and Underwater	Collision avoidance for ships and boats; Underwater vehicle navigation and obstacle detection; Fish detection and tracking for fisheries.
Smart Home and IoT	Automatic lighting control based on presence or motion; Smart appliances that respond to proximity or gestures; Intrusion detection and home security systems.
Traffic Management	Vehicle detection at intersections for traffic signal control; Toll booth automation and electronic toll collection; Speed detection and enforcement on highways.
Medical Imaging	Distance measurements in medical imaging devices like ultrasound machines; 3D scanning for dental applications; Patient positioning and alignment during radiation therapy.
Geology and Exploration	Geological surveying for mineral exploration; Cavern and cave mapping in geology and speleology; Underground utility detection in construction and excavation.

	INFRARED	PHOTOELECTRIC	ULTRASONIC	CAPACITIVE	INDUCTIVE	LASER	TIME-OF-FLIGHT	3D	PASSIVE INFRARED	TMOS	RADAR
Power Consumption	Low to moderate	Low to moderate	Low to moderate	Low to moderate	Low to moderate	Moderate to high	Low to moderate	Moderate	Very low	Very low	Low to moderate
Detection Method	IR emission / reflection	Light/IR interruption / reflection	(Ultra)sound travel time measurement	Electrical field	Eddy currents induction	Laser reflection	Light travel time measurement	Infrared radiation	Infrared radiation	Radio waves reflection	Hundreds A
Cost	Low	Low to moderate	Moderate	Low	Low	High	Moderate	High	Low to moderate	Low	Moderate
Proximity / Ranging	Proximity and rough ranging	Proximity only	Proximity and ranging	Proximity and ranging	Proximity and ranging	Proximity and ranging	Proximity and ranging	Proximity and ranging	Proximity only	Proximity only	Proximity and ranging
Distance Range	1cm - 50cm	Up to a few meters	Up to 10 meters	0.1cm - 10cm	1cm - 50cm	Up to 200 meters	Up to 8 meters	Up to 5 meters	Up to 10 meters	Up to 4 meters	Up to 100 meters
Typical Applications	Remote receiver Motion sensors Robotics Automation	Object detection Conveyor systems Label sensing Safety barriers	Parking assist Object detection Level sensing Flow sensing	Touchscreens Object detection Liquid level sensing	Metallic object detection Proximity switches Inductive encoders	Autonomous vehicles 2D/3D Mapping Robotics	People counting Machine vision Object ranging Level sensing	Facial recognition AR/VR Gaming People counting AI Machine vision	Motion detection Security systems Lighting control	Motion detection Presence detection Security systems Lighting control	Distance measurement Obstacle detection Speed measurement

	Proximity sensor product categories
	Infrared	Ultrasonic (analog front-end)	Capacitive	Inductive	Time-Of-Flight (ToF)	3D Camera (ToF)	PIR (Signal Processing)	TMOS	Photoelectric
Elmos	✔(*)	✔			✔		✔
Microchip			✔	✔
NXP			✔
onsemi		✔		✔		✔
Renesas				✔	✔
ROHM	✔								✔
Semtech			✔
Sharp	✔				✔				✔
STMicroelectronics			✔		✔		✔	✔

* Analog front-end / controller only

Proximity and Ranging Sensing

Proximity and Ranging Sensing Applications

Technologies

Sensing