A new product is in the starting blocks – meaning it’s the best time to talk to InnoSenT’s Product Management. Dr Eva Buchkremer is providing us with information about the IMD-3000 radar system in this blog article. This is another milestone for the company. For the first time, the radar experts have developed a ready-made plug & play radar system within a very short time. Here you will find out what applications and features the radar has to offer.

The IMD-3000 is the latest product from InnoSenT. What does the name stand for and what kind of radar system is it?

EB: The abbreviation IMD stands for ‘InnoSenT Motion Detector’. As the name suggests, our new product is indeed a motion detector. But not a conventional one. The IMD-3000 is designed as a proximity switch, with a range of 10 cm, and it is used as a touchless switch.

The radar system reliably detects the movement and presence of objects directly in front of the antenna and thus enables the contactless control of technical devices or products.

The ‘3’ in the product name stands for the advanced development stage. The IMD-3000 is a ready-made and complete system which our customers can easily integrate into an existing infrastructure without radar expertise. It has a signal-processing unit that processes a detected hand to be processed as a switching pulse. If a hand movement is recognised, the product forwards this information as a signal to trigger a subsequent reaction.

This makes the IMD-3000 our first plug & play radar system for non-contact-control applications. It serves as a digital trigger to deliberately initiate a coupled function without contact.

Compared to previous radar solutions, this system is very small and flat, isn’t it? What other special features does the product have?

EB: With the IMD-3000, we have again succeeded in reducing the size of our proximity switches. The system is very narrow, with a height of about 7 mm.

The design fits optimally into existing infrastructures. Even if space is limited, it can be easily placed behind a cover using a small strip of tape on its antenna. It thus even fits into existing light-switch systems or push-buttons on ticket or vending machines. Our customers can retrofit the radar system into their existing successful products and innovate their product range with push-button switches by adding contactless control.

The product’s ease of use and precise performance are crucial for the success of this contactless technology.

The IMD-3000 boasts a convincing combination of design and technology. Its function is precisely adapted to use as a touchless switch. The radar detects only the actually relevant hand movements directly in front of the antenna. The system does not react to passers-by, vehicles, or static objects. This is important in order to avoid accidental triggering.

For example, if a person holds their hand in front of it for a long time, the IMD-3000 does not constantly send new signals. If vandals sear paint on the cover, stick stickers on it, or get it dirty, this does not impair performance. Users do not even have to take off their gloves. And if users attempt to push on the surface, like they are accustomed to doing with mechanical buttons, this still triggers the system.

Radar is ideal for use in challenging environments. The technology is light-resistant and also works in bad weather or extreme temperatures. With this product, we have developed a contactless alternative to push-button switches which is reliably available and for a good price.

For what applications and purposes has the new product been designed?

EB: The pandemic has acted as a vivid reminder of pathogens’ transmission routes as well as hygiene rules. Day-to-day contact with surfaces and typical sources of infection have taken centre stage in our public awareness. As radar experts, we therefore developed a useful solution to avoid touching these heavily used buttons. And thus possibly avoid a smear infection.

The IMD-3000 boasts a diverse array of potential applications. And its functional principle is very simple. For example, the system can be inserted in the wall where the light switch used to be. A symbol indicates the presence of touchless switch technology. The user briefly holds their hand directly in front of that spot and switches the light on or off without contact.

This kind of application is theoretically conceivable wherever conventional buttons were previously used to manually trigger a response.

However, the utilisation of non-contact technology makes particular sense in areas with strict hygienic requirements or in public buildings where many different people operate the button. This includes parking ticket machines, sanitary facilities such as toilet flushing mechanisms, towel or disinfection dispensers, train doors, and bottle return machines.

Work in clean rooms and medical facilities also benefits from the installation of contactless technology. Where there is no contact, there is no need to change sterile gloves or disinfect surfaces.

But even in modern households, the benefits are clear to see. The technology is not only more hygienic but also eliminates wear and dirt. This makes the touchless switches appealing for a very wide variety of applications – and frees our customers’ hands! And the future has many more exciting opportunities in store.

Thank you for this interview!

picture: © Production Perig by adobe stock