The Omron D7S, designed specifically for the growing number of standalone Internet of Things (IoT) systems, offers high-precision spectral intensity measurements that allow it to reject vibration noise pulses and respond only to genuine seismic activity. Despite its compact size, the D7S has its own internal memory and I2C interface, making it easy to integrate into IoT devices. Potential applications include smart electricity and gas meters, wireless sensors, industrial control panels, electrical distribution boards, fire prevention systems, appliances such as gas heaters and stoves, chemical plants, highways, bridges, tunnels, roads, and many more.
Fabrizio Petris, Business Development Director at Omron Electronic Components Europe, commented: “Earthquakes are extremely frequent worldwide: on average, there are 50 earthquakes every day, or about 20,000 per year. Many are so weak that they go unnoticed, but some are catastrophic. It is not always possible to predict when an earthquake will occur. With Omron’s new sensor, designers can develop safer systems and minimize the risk of secondary damage after earthquakes by switching off and stopping the operation of dangerous devices. The sensor can also help determine damage by mapping seismic intensity and providing information on building collapses.”
A key feature of the sensor is its ability to distinguish between genuine earthquake activity and other sources. When an earthquake occurs, the D7S uses spectral intensity calculation algorithms developed exclusively by Omron to differentiate between seismic activity and other ground motions. The sensor incorporates a triaxial accelerometer and, from the resulting measurements, calculates the spectral intensity value to determine the earthquake's magnitude.
The D7S is a very compact surface-mount module with overall dimensions of just 9.8 x 10.9 mm, allowing for easy integration into any system. Its low power consumption of only 90 µA at rest and 300 µA during operation allows the D7S to be integrated into battery-powered systems.
