How is Humidity Sensors Making Use of Evolving Technologies?

Published On: October 2022

A humidity sensor is a piece of technology that can measure the amount of evaporated water in any substance and turn it into an analog output. These sensors can be found in larger embedded systems and come in various sizes and functionalities, like handheld devices.

For a very long time, the principal application of humidity sensors has been the detection of ambient humidity in settings including industrial, agriculture, and smart homes. Human body-related (HBR) humidity detection has received much interest because of the development of wearable electronic systems (such as respiratory behavior, speech recognition, skin moisture, non-contact switch, and diaper monitoring). Consequently, the development of HBR humidity sensors has recently received much attention. Despite the impressive accomplishments in this subject, there are still several obstacles.

It is well known that humidity sensors can accurately and instantly detect the amount of moisture in the air. The market for humidity sensors was valued at USD 4.68 billion in 2021 and is anticipated to grow to USD 8.79 billion by 2029, at a CAGR of 8.20% over the forecast period of 2022-2029. The end-use industry's main segment is the automotive sector. This is a result of the widespread use of these sensors to ensure that the air inside cars is appropriately regulated.

The industrial use of humidity sensors has some growth factors. Some key market drivers are the installation of personal weather stations, increased demand for small-sized humidity sensors, and growth in the automobile industry. However, several limitations could restrict the business in the future, such as the need to increase humidity sensors' technical specifications. These will also create new chances for the different market participants to consider the constraints and go forward with the market growth drivers. One of the critical reasons propelling the expansion of the humidity sensor market is the rise in the adoption of these sensors for moisture-sensitive applications in sectors like food and beverage, textile, and healthcare, among others.

Also, the market expansion is accelerated by the demand for contactless sensors used in potentially dangerous situations, such as areas exposed to radiation. The market is also influenced by the usage of humidity sensors in home appliances such as air purifiers, air conditioners, smoke alarms, and smart thermostats. Additionally, the market for humidity sensors is positively impacted by rising industrialization, investments, and the development of the manufacturing sector. The market participants have lucrative potential due to the rise in demand for humidity sensor products based on MEMS technology for sensing applications.

The expansion of the humidity sensor market is fueled by elements like significant technological advancements and the rising demand for IIoT devices from the industrial sectors. The US, followed by Canada and Mexico, has the most excellent humidity sensors market. The size of the US humidity sensor market is increased by the growing demand for humidity sensors in hotels, hospitals, buildings, and schools.

One important use is the thin film-based humidity sensor with surgical masks for respiration monitoring. Additionally, since much moisture often surrounds our skin and fingers, it is possible to measure physiological and psychological status dynamically without contact.

For instance, humidity sensors affixed to the forehead, hand, chest, and neck can be used to determine if a person is lying.

Noncontact switches for the next generation of human-machine interfaces have been extensively researched to stop cross-infections. It's interesting to note that, like how humans sweat to control their body temperature, plants can remove heat through transpiration, which aids in photosynthesis and produces chemical energy.

To exchange water molecules with the surrounding air, such transpiration processes that the humidity sensors may access rely on stomata that open and close. In addition, to meet the growing demand for internet-of-things applications, research trends concentrate on creating integrated, flexible sensor systems which combine multimodal sensors, flexible printed circuits, and intelligent displays on a single system for point-of-care detections.

Conclusion

With evolving trends in technology and industrialization, humidity sensors will not just be limited to applications like detecting the humidity in nature. Still, they will also play a significant role in the human healthcare sector that will pump up the markets.