Application
Sensors for Appliances
Sensor technologies in household appliances are contributing to new levels of convenience and productivity for the smart home of today and tomorrow.
Appliances create their own unique challenges based on the environment they are creating. Sensors in many cases are put into a position to measure in the challenging environment. For example, a sensor can be used to measure humidity and temperature in a dishwasher. While our dishes and forks are cleaned with water jets spraying, elevated temperatures and high humidity, it creates unique challenges for sensors to survive humidity while producing an electrical output signal. In similar cases, we cook food in ovens to ensure our meals are safe to eat. Building a temperature sensor to ensure the meat is cooked completely requires the survival of the sensor and cabling at elevated oven temperatures. Various sensor types are manufactured with the customer in mind. Through relationships with major manufacturers, TE Connectivity (TE) helps create smart appliances that respond to human touch, sense vibration, adjust to loads, and operate more efficiently. Our global network of engineers offers custom solutions to meet customers’ exacting requirements. Fast-paced product development time lines are met with rapid prototyping as TE creates solutions for its customers. Leading products include:
Humidity Sensors
TE provides humidity sensors for dishwasher anti-steam, refrigerator, air conditioning, energy management and clothes dryer applications.
Piezo Film Sensors
TE provides vibration sensing with Piezo film for imbalance detection in washing machines and Piezo film sensors for control buttons in small appliance applications.
Position Sensors
We design and manufacture position sensors ranging from the sensing element up to system packaging for harsh environments. Our linear low field sensor provides high sensitivity, low hysteresis and linear uniaxial field strength in home appliance applications.
Pressure Sensors
TE offers a portfolio of pressure sensor solutions that include standard and custom pressure products ranging from board level components to fully amplified and packaged transducers for washing machines and small appliances.
Temperature Sensors
TE provides temperature sensors for household refrigeration units, dishwashers, ice machines, conventional ovens, washing machines, clothes dryers and microwave oven applications.
Applications
Today’s smart and green appliances are built using more efficient designs, meeting the latest regulations while saving energy, water and time. Customers rely on our sensor technologies to enable appliances to respond to human touch, sense vibration, adjust to loads, and operate more efficiently. We work to develop custom solutions that can monitor humidity, water levels, position and temperature. Our products contribute to new levels of convenience and productivity in a wide range of household appliances.
Washing Machine / Clothes Dryer
- Temperature sensor measures water temperature and controls heating elements
- Pressure sensor monitors water level
- Vibration sensor detects out-of balance conditions during spin
- Proximity sensor verifies door closed and latched before start-up
- Force sensors measure payload weight at the beginning of the wash cycle
- Humidity sensor monitors process humidity and stops the dryer when clothes are dry
- Thermopile measures clothing temperature to prevent overheating and fabric damage
Cooktop / Household Oven
- Temperature sensor monitors glass surface temperature for cooking control and “hot” indication lights for user safety
- Temperature probe monitors cooking temperature
- Temperature sensor monitors pyrolytic cleaning temperature and controls door latch
Dishwasher / Refrigerator
- Temperature sensor measures water temperature and controls heating elements
- Magneto-resistive (MR) sensor and magnet verifies spray arm rotation
- Liquid level sensor monitors water level and detergent dispenser level
Microwave Oven / Small Appliances
- Temperature sensors measure liquid and heating element temperatures in toaster ovens, coffee makers, popcorn poppers, etc.
- Humidity sensor monitors relative humidity and steam production for espresso machines, clothes steamers, etc.
- Humidity sensor monitors food moisture content during cooking
- Thermopile measures food temperature without the need to make physical contact
- Force sensor measures food weight on the turntable
TE is one of the largest sensor companies in the world, with innovative sensor solutions that help customers transform concepts into smart, connected creations. With the acquisition of Measurement Specialties, a global designer and manufacturer of sensors and sensor-based systems, TE offers an unmatched range of both connectivity and sensor solutions. Sensor solutions include a rich portfolio of temperature, humidity, pressure and piezoelectric film technologies for a wide range of applications.
Application
Sensors for Appliances
Sensor technologies in household appliances are contributing to new levels of convenience and productivity for the smart home of today and tomorrow.
Appliances create their own unique challenges based on the environment they are creating. Sensors in many cases are put into a position to measure in the challenging environment. For example, a sensor can be used to measure humidity and temperature in a dishwasher. While our dishes and forks are cleaned with water jets spraying, elevated temperatures and high humidity, it creates unique challenges for sensors to survive humidity while producing an electrical output signal. In similar cases, we cook food in ovens to ensure our meals are safe to eat. Building a temperature sensor to ensure the meat is cooked completely requires the survival of the sensor and cabling at elevated oven temperatures. Various sensor types are manufactured with the customer in mind. Through relationships with major manufacturers, TE Connectivity (TE) helps create smart appliances that respond to human touch, sense vibration, adjust to loads, and operate more efficiently. Our global network of engineers offers custom solutions to meet customers’ exacting requirements. Fast-paced product development time lines are met with rapid prototyping as TE creates solutions for its customers. Leading products include:
Humidity Sensors
TE provides humidity sensors for dishwasher anti-steam, refrigerator, air conditioning, energy management and clothes dryer applications.
Piezo Film Sensors
TE provides vibration sensing with Piezo film for imbalance detection in washing machines and Piezo film sensors for control buttons in small appliance applications.
Position Sensors
We design and manufacture position sensors ranging from the sensing element up to system packaging for harsh environments. Our linear low field sensor provides high sensitivity, low hysteresis and linear uniaxial field strength in home appliance applications.
Pressure Sensors
TE offers a portfolio of pressure sensor solutions that include standard and custom pressure products ranging from board level components to fully amplified and packaged transducers for washing machines and small appliances.
Temperature Sensors
TE provides temperature sensors for household refrigeration units, dishwashers, ice machines, conventional ovens, washing machines, clothes dryers and microwave oven applications.
Applications
Today’s smart and green appliances are built using more efficient designs, meeting the latest regulations while saving energy, water and time. Customers rely on our sensor technologies to enable appliances to respond to human touch, sense vibration, adjust to loads, and operate more efficiently. We work to develop custom solutions that can monitor humidity, water levels, position and temperature. Our products contribute to new levels of convenience and productivity in a wide range of household appliances.
Washing Machine / Clothes Dryer
- Temperature sensor measures water temperature and controls heating elements
- Pressure sensor monitors water level
- Vibration sensor detects out-of balance conditions during spin
- Proximity sensor verifies door closed and latched before start-up
- Force sensors measure payload weight at the beginning of the wash cycle
- Humidity sensor monitors process humidity and stops the dryer when clothes are dry
- Thermopile measures clothing temperature to prevent overheating and fabric damage
Cooktop / Household Oven
- Temperature sensor monitors glass surface temperature for cooking control and “hot” indication lights for user safety
- Temperature probe monitors cooking temperature
- Temperature sensor monitors pyrolytic cleaning temperature and controls door latch
Dishwasher / Refrigerator
- Temperature sensor measures water temperature and controls heating elements
- Magneto-resistive (MR) sensor and magnet verifies spray arm rotation
- Liquid level sensor monitors water level and detergent dispenser level
Microwave Oven / Small Appliances
- Temperature sensors measure liquid and heating element temperatures in toaster ovens, coffee makers, popcorn poppers, etc.
- Humidity sensor monitors relative humidity and steam production for espresso machines, clothes steamers, etc.
- Humidity sensor monitors food moisture content during cooking
- Thermopile measures food temperature without the need to make physical contact
- Force sensor measures food weight on the turntable
TE is one of the largest sensor companies in the world, with innovative sensor solutions that help customers transform concepts into smart, connected creations. With the acquisition of Measurement Specialties, a global designer and manufacturer of sensors and sensor-based systems, TE offers an unmatched range of both connectivity and sensor solutions. Sensor solutions include a rich portfolio of temperature, humidity, pressure and piezoelectric film technologies for a wide range of applications.
