IR detectors

	City Wall’s LK-200HQ is a quad-beam sensor that features a 200m detection distance for outdoor application, and 8ch beam frequency for minimizing crosstalk.

To enhance multiple-beam detectors, makers focus on digital coding, longer detection ranges and better optical designs.

Dual or twin and quad photoelectric beam detectors form the bulk of IR detector production in mainland China and Taiwan. Other makers manufacture single and multiple photoelectric beam detectors for their respective niche markets. Photoelectric beam detectors claim only a small portion of the IR detector market, and are generally seen by makers in these two regions as a mature product line with a low technology threshold. For makers who still opt to engage in R&D, environment-proofing, longer detection ranges, and the application of optical designs and “digital coding” or “code hopping” technologies are top priorities.

Rising production costs and the raging price war in mainland China due to inflation and the appreciation of the yuan are the major challenges confronting mainland China makers. Taiwan companies, on the other hand, are coping with raw material shortage. To address these challenges, most of the interviewed makers are enhancing their respective management systems and product development capabilities. They expect either a slight increase in output or stable production levels in H2 2008.

At present, photoelectric beam detectors from mainland China are priced from $10 to $100. An entry-level model with dual beams and 50m detection range costs around $10, while a midrange model with dual beams and 100m detection range costs from $30 to $40. High-end models with quad beams and 200m detection ranges are quoted around $200. Makers expect product prices to increase soon.

	Ansite's model AST-2248F is a multi-beam indoor/outdoor detector that operates within 10m to 40m.

Dual or twin photoelectric beams with 50m, 100m or up to 200m detection ranges are currently popular in mainland China and Taiwan. A typical photoelectric beam detector consists of a transmitter and receiver. Standard models have a 5m to 100m detection range, pulsed IR, 50ms to 700ms interruption period, 1s to 3s alarm period, tamper alarm, 12V or 24V DC input voltage, 40mA to 100mA current consumption and form C relay alarm output. Since photoelectric beam detectors are mainly used outdoors, most models are weatherproof, and can work at temperatures of -25° to 55° Celsius and 5% to 95% relative humidity. In mainland China, photoelectric beam detectors are primarily used for boundary protection, specifically for walls and fences.

Shenzhen Alean Technology Development Co. Ltd and Shenzhen P&H Electronics Co. Ltd offer dual, triple and quad photoelectric beam detectors. Similarly, Shenzhen Ansite Electronics Technology Co. Ltd supplies dual, triple, quad, and 6/8/10 beam models with a detection range of 10m to 30m. Ansite specializes in home security systems, wireless cameras, IR detectors, IR beams and barriers, car alarms, car parking systems, wireless doorbells and current transformers. The company has a 5,000sqm factory with 18 SMT machines. Ansite’s annual sales revenue is estimated at $5 million.

Tolion Technology (HK) Ltd has likewise released its LSG series of single-beam detectors. With aluminum alloy housing, the 240g single-beam detector features 50ms interruption period, and 5m to 50m detection range. The company also offers dual-, triple-, and quad-beam detectors and models with 8/10/24 beams. “Multiple-beam models can protect large areas and have higher reliability,” said Roger Shan, manager at Tolion, which produces IR/gas/smoke detectors, magnetic switches, emergency buttons, fire alarms and sirens. The company has 150 workers and three R&D engineers.

Mainland China makers can also supply wall and pole mounting accessories as well as defrost and heating accessories. Other makers, such as Ansite, offer photoelectric beam detectors in various form factors.

Digital photoelectric beam detectors are emerging in mainland China, although to date, only a few makers have embarked on production due to the high costs involved. “Compared with traditional photoelectric beam detectors, digital models are interference-free and have high reliability. However, its high production cost is still an issue with most makers. At the moment, we’re closely watching its development and will launch similar products at the right time,” said Willnie Hou, export director at P&H.

Alean was scheduled to launch its first digital model last month.

Chi Yang Electronics Co. Ltd’s CKF60M is an active IR detector that uses the technology. Aside from digital coding, the model features dual IR beams, adjustable communication intervals, and an outdoor transmission range of up to 60m. Measuring 209x67x67mm, the 850g IR detector has an ABS plastic and IP55-rated water-resistant case. The company can also provide digital IR detectors with longer detection range, such as 80m, 120m and 150m. Chi Yang designs and produces photoelectric beam detectors, magnetic reed switches and auto alarms.

Taiwan makers generally offer midrange to high-end products to shun price competition in the low-end segment. Mainstream products from Taiwan feature twin or quad-beam IR detection, enhanced coding technologies, and detection ranges of up to 200m.

City Wall Enterprise Co. Ltd has an extensive line of photobeam detectors with twin or quad beams. The company’s LK-200HQ series is a quad-beam active IR detector with an outdoor transmission range of up to 200m. The 1,310g model has four synchronized pulsed IR beams to reduce false alarms caused by small objects. It also features a 10-level LED indicator for easy installation and optical alignment. The LK-200HQ series has an 8ch beam frequency for avoiding crosstalk, and an adjustable detection interval of 50ms to 700ms. The 303x80x78mm IR detector also has lighting surge protection and anti-frost design. City Wall has a wide range of access control products, such as IR photobeam sensors/detectors, alarm control systems, auto dialers, digital keypads, proximity access controllers, remote controls, key switches, magnetic contacts and glass break sensors.

IR-Tec International Ltd’s twin-beam and quad-beam active IR detectors feature 30/60/100m and 120/200m detection ranges, respectively. Designed with AGC circuits and built-in optical viewfinders, these IR detectors come with lightning surge and tamper protection, on top of their weather-resistant housing and anti-fog/anti-dew design. They also boast high-level RFI/EMI immunity for reduced signal disturbance. These compact-sized dual-beam detectors measure 171x82x77mm. IR-Tec specializes in IR sensing technology, and is an ISO 9001:2000-certified designer and provider of OEM, ODM and EDMS services for various electronic products. At present, PIR sensors lead its product roster, but it has started to offer human presence and motion sensors designed for intruder alarms, lighting control, HVAC control and building management.

According to the company, IR and PIR detectors are two totally different product lines, and only a few suppliers offer both. IR and PIR detectors differ in terms of technologies used, manufacturing processes employed and key features. IR detectors are designed for commercial applications, such as factories, multi-dwelling structures, shopping malls, museums and exhibition halls. PIR detectors, on the other hand, cater to the consumer market, particularly the home security segment.

To enhance the stability and anti-jamming performance of photoelectric beam detectors, some mainland China makers are introducing advanced circuit and optical designs. For instance, Alean’s AN900-A series of dual photoelectric beam detectors feature AGC, adjustable beam interruption period and anti-frost convex visor design. The AGC circuit can continuously monitor the signal and adjust it automatically according to the current environment. The adjustable beam interruption period, on the other hand, can minimize false alarms caused by falling leaves or small animals. Its special housing cover design protects it from frost and dew, allowing it to operate on as much as 99.5 percent of the beam’s energy even in harsh weather conditions.

Model AN900-A series also features a detection range of 30m to 100m for outdoor settings or 90m to 300m for indoor use. Alean is an ISO 9001-certified maker of intruder detection and CCTV systems. With 200 employees, including 10 R&D specialists, Alean has a monthly capacity of about 60,000 sets of photoelectric beam detectors.

Other makers also adopt various frequency designs and employ convenient positioning to reduce interference among multiple devices. P&H’s EM100-A series of dual photoelectric beam detectors enable quick installation and feature alignment design.

With a design similar to that of Alean’s products, P&H’s dual photoelectric beam detectors consist of a rotating dial for alignment angle adjustment (±10° vertical and ±90° horizontal), built-in viewfinder for easy alignment, and two built-in adjustment indicators for voltage measurement. P&H has been manufacturing home security systems, fire alarms and car accessories since 1999. The company’s factory houses 150 workers and 10 R&D personnel.

At present, mainland China makers are keen on developing long-range models for special applications. Alean, P&H and Tolion claimed to have already released dual photoelectric beams with up to 250m detection range for outdoor use. Ansite, on the other hand, said that its beam detectors, such as AST-2248F, can support detection ranges of over 150m.

Guangdong and Zhejiang provinces are the two major manufacturing hubs for photoelectric beam detectors in mainland China, accounting for about 60 percent and 20 percent of total output, respectively.

Taiwan, meanwhile, has less than 10 suppliers offering this product line, most of which are small- and medium-sized. These makers maintain manufacturing facilities on the island to be able to closely monitor product quality.

According to the interviewed makers, the structure of IR beam detectors is simple and does not require complex manufacturing processes.

Thus, the production processes used are similar to those of other electronic products, a few of which are mold making, plastic injection, auto/manual insertion, soldering, PCB sub-assembly, final assembly and QC. Mold making and plastic-injection are generally outsourced, while auto/manual insertion, soldering, PCB sub-assembly, final assembly, and QC are done in-house. The key QC procedures employed are IQC, IPQC, FQC, QA and OQC. Makers also offer RoHS-compliant IR beam detectors upon buyers’ request.

On the other hand, some Taiwan makers employ advanced manufacturing processes to maintain and even improve product quality. For instance, Taiwan’s IR-Tec uses robotics and SMT in component assembly, and has a computerized In-Circuit Tester (ICT).

Key components used in the production of photoelectric beam detectors include IR emitting diodes, lenses and visors. Mainstream models largely adopt spherical lenses and PC resin visors.

Some makers also adopt aspherical lenses for better optical performance. While makers generally source components locally, they import key components for high-end models. For instance, Alean’s photoelectric beam detectors use IR emitting diodes from Germany and aspherical lenses from local suppliers. P&H imports IR emitting diodes from Germany and relays from Omron in Japan.

Majority of the interviewed mainland China and Taiwan IR detector makers in this report are export-oriented. Mainland China makers export at least half of their total output to OEM and ODM buyers in Europe, North America, the Middle East and Africa. Europe, on the other hand, is the major export destination for Taiwan makers.

Alean ships 30,000 photoelectric beam detectors to Europe, North America and the Middle East every month. Tolion delivers 3,000 to 4,000 sets to buyers in Europe and Israel every month.

Ansite exports 60 percent of its output, while P&H has an average monthly export volume of 10,000 to 20,000 units.

Taiwan-based Chi Yang sells hardware directly to security companies, and CCTV surveillance manufacturers and system integrators in Europe, particularly in Italy and France. The US, Israel and Malaysia are also target markets.