Automatic rearview mirror system using a photosensor array

A system apparatus, structure and method for controlling a plurality of variable reflectance mirrors (or mirror segments), including a rearview mirror and side view mirrors, which change their reflectance level in response to a plurality of drive voltages applied thereto, for an automotive vehicle. The system includes a light sensing device and a control circuit formed as a single VLSI CMOS circuit. The light sensing device comprises a photosensor array having a field of view encompassing a rear window area and at least a portion of at least one side window area of the vehicle. The logic and control circuit determines a background light signal from photosensor element signals generated by the photosensor elements in the photosensor array indicative of light levels incident on the photosensor elements. The circuit also determines a peak light signal in three different zones or sub-arrays of the photosensor array. The zones or sub-arrays may correspond to three mirrors or mirror segments. The peak light signals in each of the zones and a common background light signal are used to determine independent and separate control signals, which are then output to separate mirror drive circuits for independently controlling the reflectance level of the rearview mirror and the left and right side view mirrors, or alternatively the segments of a mirror.
Description
This application is a divisional of application Ser. No. 08/023,918 filed Feb. 26, 1993, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,550,677.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to an automatic rearview mirror system for automotive vehicles which automatically changes reflectance level in response to glare causing light, and more particularly relates to an improved automatic rearview mirror system using only a rearwardly facing sensor.
2. Description of Related Art
Automatic rearview mirrors and mirror systems have been devised for varying the reflectance level of a variable reflectance rearview mirror by reducing the reflectance automatically in response to annoying glare light, as seen rearwardly of the rearview mirror or mirrors by a driver of the vehicle, and by increasing automatically the reflectance to a normal or maximum reflectance level when the annoying glare light subsides. These automatic mirrors have been changed over the years in an effort to improve their performance characteristics and associated level of glare protection.
Early automatic rearview mirrors used a rearwardly facing sensor and control circuit to change mirror reflectance. One example of such a "single-sensor" type mirror is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,266,856. In these prior art single-sensor type mirrors, the rear glare light was incident on a rearwardly facing sensor or photocell, such as a photodiode, photoresistor or phototransistor. These mirrors suffered from various problems, however, including the problem that these mirrors would become increasingly sensitive and even "lock-up" in their minimum reflectance level or state as the driver encountered significantly higher light levels in town or city driving. This required the driver to repeatedly adjust the mirror's sensitivity control to prevent such problems.
To overcome the problems of single-sensor type mirrors, a non-rearwardly facing photocell for sensing "ambient" light was added. It was believed that the desired reflectance necessary to relieve the driver from glare depended not only on glare light but also on ambient light. Accordingly, these "two-sensor" type mirrors used two separate photocells, one generally facing rearwardly and one generally facing forwardly (or other non-rearwardly facing direction) of the mirror or vehicle. The signals from these two photocells were then compared in some fashion, and when, for example, the glare light from the rear was comparatively high with respect to the "ambient" light, a control circuit would apply a control signal to reduce mirror reflectance. Some examples are described in German Laid-Open Patent No. 3,041,692; Japanese Laid-Open Patent No. 58-19941; and U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,601,614; 3,612,666; 3,680,951; 3,746,430; 4,443,057; 4,580,875; 4,690,508; and 4,917,477. In many of these prior art automatic rearview mirrors, light generally forward of the mirror or vehicle was incident on the second photocell.
These arrangements, however, also had problems. In some of these mirrors the forwardly facing or "ambient" light sensor was inaccurate because it did not correctly measure ambient light levels since it did not include light generally rearward of the mirror or vehicle. Some examples include the devices described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,443,057 and 4,917,477. Other prior art devices overcame these deficiencies by providing a control circuit which correctly measured ambient light as a combination of both the forward and rear light levels. Examples of this significantly different approach are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,793,690 and 4,886,960.
The prior art two-sensor type systems generally provided improved performance over prior art single-sensor type systems but were also more complex and costly. In part, this was because using separate forwardly and rearwardly facing photocells required that the performance characteristics of the two separate photocells, such as photoresistors, be matched appropriately to ensure consistent performance under various operating conditions. Matching photocells such as photoresistors, however, generally involves complex, expensive and time consuming operations and procedures.
Both the prior art single-sensor and two-sensor type mirrors presented additional problems when they were also used to control the exterior side view mirrors. This is because such prior art systems used a common control or drive signal to change the reflectance level of both the interior rearview mirror and the exterior left and/or right side view mirrors by substantially the same amount. In U.S. Pat. No. 4,669,826, for example, a single-sensor type mirror system used two rearwardly facing photodiodes to control both an interior rearview mirror and the left and/or right side view mirrors based on the direction of incident light from the rear. Another example includes the two-sensor type system described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,917,477.
In rearview mirror systems, however, each of the interior rearview and exterior side view mirrors may reflect different source light levels. More specifically, the inside rearview mirror, left side view mirror and right side view mirror each enable the driver to view a different portion or zone of the total rearward area. Of course, there may be some overlap of the image information contained in each of the three zones. The situation is further complicated with multi-lane traffic because each of the mirrors reflects different light levels caused by the headlights of the vehicles which are following, passing or being passed. As a result, in the prior art systems, when the reflectance level of the interior rearview mirror was reduced to decrease the glare of headlights reflected therein, the reflectance level of the exterior left and right side view mirrors was also reduced by substantially the same amount, even though, for example, the side view mirrors might not be reflecting the same level of glare light, if any. Accordingly, rear vision in the exterior left and right side view mirrors could be improperly reduced.
Other prior art two-sensor type systems used a common ambient light sensor and several rearwardly facing sensors, one for each of the mirrors. An example is the alternate system also described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,917,477. This approach is not satisfactory, however, because it reduces system reliability and increases complexity and cost.
Finally, some prior anti-glare mirrors used several sensors to control the segments of a variable reflectance mirror. One example is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,632,509, which discloses a single-sensor type mirror using three rearwardly facing photocells to control three mirror segments depending on the direction of incident light from the rear. See also U.S. Pat. No. 4,697,883. These prior mirror systems generally have the same problems as the other single-sensor type mirrors. Some other anti-glare mirrors are generally disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,986,022; 4,614,415; and 4,672,457.
Consequently, there is a need for an automatic rearview mirror system for an automotive vehicle having improved reliability and low cost, which accurately determines or otherwise discriminates light levels that the driver will experience as glare without the need for a separate forwardly facing photocell. In addition, as noted above, there is also a need for an automatic rearview mirror system of high reliability and low cost, which accurately determines light levels that the driver will experience as glare, and which can control independently the reflectance of a plurality of mirrors according to the light levels actually reflected by each of the rearview and exterior side view mirrors without the need for additional and separate rearwardly facing photocells. There is also a need for an automatic rearview mirror system that can independently control the segments of a variable reflectance mirror while accurately determining light levels that the driver will experience as glare in each segment of the mirror without the need for additional and separate forwardly and rearwardly facing photocells.

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The Most Incredible CO2 Sensor in the World

Detecting carbon dioxide emissions has always been a little hit and miss when it comes to larger areas: the sensor technology we currently have isn’t well-suited to large areas, and it’s extremely expensive.
This is, of course one of the multitudes of reasons why fossil fuels have been able to hold off the energy lobby for so long. This has left environmentalists searching for a better way to police the pollutant and now they may have found one.
It’s so simple that it is almost confounding that this hasn’t existed all along: the Hemholtz Centre for Environmental Research has designed a simple carbon dioxide sensor (CO2 sensor) based on the principle of diffusion. In case you, like me, chose to skate through your chemistry class in the last term of your senior year perpetually hung over, diffusion is the movement of particles from an area of high concentration to an area of low concentration. This means that certain gases will always move through a membrane faster than others, allowing you to measure concentrations on either side and, using the rate of transfer, establish the concentration in the surrounding atmosphere.
These MeGa (Membrane-based Gas sensors) are presently planned to be used in fields like landfill monitoring, where it was previously prohibitively expensive to use sensors to keep track of emissions. They may be adapted for use in other applications however, such as gas pipelines, sewers, bodies of water, and, most exciting, at least to those of you that believe in carbon sequestration, drilling and capture of carbon dioxide.
This technology of course, has great implications far beyond industrial use. The scientific team that developed it suggests a wide variety of commercial uses will be established and that they will be able to scale down their invention for use in small spaces like private homes and scientific labs. The main victory here however, is that information gathered before this was merely a projection, now the data is far superior; finding the hottest spots on the planet for carbon emissions is the first step to cutting them back.

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FAU’s I-SENSE, Dioxide Materials to Jointly Develop Low-Power CO2 Sensors for HVAC Applications

Just as the summer is heating up, Florida Atlantic University’s Institute for Sensing and Embedded Network Systems Engineering (I-SENSE) and Dioxide Materials™ have formed a unique partnership to develop and evaluate a novel low-cost, low-power, wireless CO2 sensing system for heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) applications. The technology that emerges from this joint project will help to significantly lower the amount of energy businesses and homes use for HVAC.
Located in the Research Park at FAU, Dioxide Materials™, in collaboration with FAU’s I-SENSE, has received a Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) grant from the U.S. Department of Energy to work on the project. This project builds on a private/public partnership that leverages the complementary skill sets and associated innovations of both organizations.
Dioxide Materials™ has developed low-cost, low-power CO2 sensors for building HVAC applications. Their technology employs electrochemical sensors, similar to those in a household carbon monoxide (CO) alarm, making the sensor sensitive to carbon dioxide rather than carbon monoxide. The sensors can be manufactured much less expensively than the current generation of CO2 sensors and can run on batteries.
Currently, Dioxide Materials™ has working sensors, but needs the electronics and communications systems to connect the sensors to a building’s direct digital control (DDC) systems. I-SENSE is a leader in the design and application of low-cost, low-power telemetry platforms and sensor network systems. Together, the team will develop the electronics and software necessary to interface Dioxide Materials’ sensors to a building’s DDC system. This new technology will help to lower the amount of energy homes and businesses use for HVAC based on whole-building CO2 monitoring without the need for expensive building rewiring.
Most current HVAC systems are designed to supply constant ventilation based on the design occupancy of the space. However, this method often results in significant wastes of energy and energy dollars. Demand control ventilation (DCV), the automated process that adjusts the volume of fresh air or outside air into a building, saves energy and electricity costs by using CO2 sensors to measure the air quality and occupancy in each room, and adjusting the HVAC system accordingly. Although DCV is often seen in the construction of new multisensory LEED buildings, it has been slow to be adopted in commercial retrofits or remodeling projects, small commercial buildings and residential complexes.
“Our project will focus on robust, networked CO2 sensing and HVAC system integration; we are excited to partner with Dioxide Materials™ to help them develop and test these innovative CO2 sensors,” said Jason Hallstrom, Ph.D., director of FAU’s I-SENSE and a professor in the College of Engineering and Computer Science at FAU. “We expect this technology to substantially reduce the costs that are associated with installing DCV systems in commercial and residential buildings.”
According to the U.S. Department of Energy, demand control ventilation using CO2 sensors could reduce the energy costs of heating and cooling a building by 10 to 30 percent.
“By leveraging our expertise with FAU’s I-SENSE scientists and engineers, we can have a tremendous impact on reducing energy waste in buildings,” said Rich Masel, Ph.D., founder and CEO of Dioxide Materials™. “Having CO2 sensors in each room so that cooling and heating are based on the number of people in the room rather than running at a constant temperature, will prevent energy losses from over ventilation, while maintaining indoor air quality.”
FAU’s I-SENSE is a leader in the design and application of low-cost, low-power telemetry platforms and sensor network systems. I-SENSE serves as a clearinghouse for sensing, communication, and data management technologies, providing expertise, engineering support, and project management services through its research, engineering and administrative cores.
Dioxide Materials™ is developing a new generation of low-cost, low-powered CO2 electrochemical sensors for demand controlled ventilation (DCV) of HVAC systems. The devices are microscale versions of the CO2 electrolyzers being developed for CO2 conversion and use the company’s patent pending CO2 conversion catalysts to create an electrical signal that is proportional to the amount of CO2 in the air. Dioxide Materials' low-power CO2 sensors meet the battery operating lifetime requirement, eliminating the need for costly rewiring, and, unlike infrared-based sensors, are compatible with wireless thermostats.

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Color controller integrates RGB photosensor

Avago Technologies has announced a color controller with an integrated color photosensor for backlighting LCDs, touted to be the industry's first such product. According to the company, the new ADJD-J823 enables more accurate and consistent RGB LED backlighting and richer colors than conventional technology. This solution is suitable for use in digital cameras, cell phones, PDAs, portable DVD players and display screens measuring 7 inches diagonal or smaller.
The device has a small footprint and low profile that allows it to easily fit into portable LCD devices where board space is limited, Avago said. The 5-by-5-by-0.75mm illumination and color management (ICM) device operates at voltages as low as 2.5V.
The new device is a CMOS mixed-signal IC with integrated RGB photosensors designed to be the closed loop optical feedback device of an RGB LED-based backlighting system. It also has a wide gain control and uses an algorithm to automatically select the optimum gain.
A typical system consists of an array of RGB LEDs, LED drivers and the color controller. The device samples the light output from the RGB LED array, processes the color information and adjusts the light output from the RGB LEDs until the target color is achieved. To do this, the device integrates an RGB photosensor array, an ADC front-end, a color data processing logic core and a high-resolution 12bit PWM output generator. By employing a feedback system and the color controller, the light output produced by the LED array maintains its color over time and temperature.
"By integrating the sensor and controller into one package, we are expanding the benefits of color management to the growing array of applications using color LCD screens in smaller consumer electronics," said Lee Soo Ghee, vice president and general manager for Avago's Optoelectronic Products Division.
Avago said the use of LED backlighting with the company's ICM control in LCD TVs has been proven to offer 25 percent richer colors than conventional cold cathode fluorescent lamp (CCFL) backlighting. In addition, LED backlighting totally eliminates the traces of mercury found in CCFLs to meet European Union RoHS mandates, the company said.

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Automatic Carbon Dioxide-Methane Gas Sensor Based on the Solubility of Gases in Water

Biogas methane content is a relevant variable in anaerobic digestion processing where knowledge of process kinetics or an early indicator of digester failure is needed. The contribution of this work is the development of a novel, simple and low cost automatic carbon dioxide-methane gas sensor based on the solubility of gases in water as the precursor of a sensor for biogas quality monitoring. The device described in this work was used for determining the composition of binary mixtures, such as carbon dioxide-methane, in the range of 0–100%. The design and implementation of a digital signal processor and control system into a low-cost Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) platform has permitted the successful application of data acquisition, data distribution and digital data processing, making the construction of a standalone carbon dioxide-methane gas sensor possible.

Low-cost chemical analysis sensors can have a great impact in fields such as environmental preservation and energy efficiency. There is a growing market for this kind of sensor, especially for low-cost and reliable sensors focused on carbon dioxide (CO₂)-methane (CH₄) mixtures in biogas quality monitoring applications. Currently, the most studied method to transform waste into energy is anaerobic digestion, which can convert a variety of wastes, such as agricultural waste from animals and plants and municipal waste, into a full energy product such as biogas. The preferred technology for the analysis of single components in raw biogas, specifically to determine the CH₄ and CO₂ content, is optical sensors, which detect infrared absorption in the characteristic wavelengths for these molecules. In the literature, biogas composition has been measured with gas infrared analyzers, such as those used by Sedlačík and Dvořáčková, who utilized a GASCARD II infrared gas sensor from Edinburgh Instruments; Nordberg et al., who used a Model 6500 visible/near-infrared scanning monochromator from FOSS NIRSystems and Steyer et al. , who used a Siemens Ultramat 22P, which works on the principle of the nondispersive absorption of infrared light. Additionally, semiconductor diode lasers for use in the mid-infrared spectral region based upon lead-salt operating near 7.8 μm have also been used for methane measurements. However, there are two main drawbacks to the sensors outlined above: high cost and difficulty of installation at all biogas production sites. For comparison, the cost of a commercial FTIR spectrophotometer is near $20,000 USD, while the estimated cost of the gas sensor described here is approximately $5,000 USD. The described sensor is also easy to build and operate.

Methods for the acquisition of biogas methane content based in a variety of measurement principles have been reported in the literature. For example, Mandal et al. determined biogas quality using flame temperature as the measurement principle. In this case, the steady-state flame temperature was measured using a system consisting of a thermocouple probe and an analog temperature indicator. In addition, Rego and Mendes  and Rego et al. described a permselective gas sensor for determining the composition of carbon dioxide-methane mixtures in the 0–100% range. The sensor consisted of a permselective membrane, a pressure transducer for measuring the permeate pressure and a needle valve for controlling the permeate outlet to the atmosphere. Furthermore, Rozzi et al. used a thermostatically controlled cell containing 0.1 mol · L⁻¹ sodium bicarbonate in which the pH was monitored by an Orion combination glass electrode and an Orion Model 601A specific ion meter. When the pH reading had stabilized, gas samples were taken using a syringe and analyzed for CO₂ and CH₄ content using gas-solid chromatography on molecular sieves with nitrogen as the carrier gas and a katharometer for the detector.
Carlson and Martisson presented a technique to quantify variations in ultrasound pulse shape caused by interactions between the constituents of a two-component gas mixture as an alternative method to extract information concerning the molar fraction of a gas in a binary mixture. Additionally, Tardy et al. developed a dynamic thermal conductivity sensor for gas detection based on the transient thermal response of a SiC micro-plate slightly heated by a screen-printed Pt resistance. This device was intended for specific application in the determination of the specific gases in a mixture.
Gonzalez et al. used a device that passed the produced biogas through an Erlenmeyer flask filled with a 20% NaOH solution followed by a tube filled with soda lime pellets. The gas then passed through a Mariotte flask system containing water for the quantification of methane production. The displaced water was collected in a plastic container on a pressure sensor (QB 745, DS-Europe) for continuous monitoring of CH₄ production.
A Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) is an array of basic logic blocks where the user can define its interconnectivity, making it programmable in a fully open architecture. Therefore, an FPGA provides the advantages of a general-purpose processor and a specialized circuit that can be reconfigured as many times as necessary until the required functionality is achieved. The speed and size of the FPGA are comparable with the Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC), but the FPGA is more versatile and its design cycle is shorter because of its reconfigurability. FPGA applications go beyond the simple implementation of digital logic; they can be used for the implementation of specific architectures for speeding up some algorithms. A specific structure for an algorithm implemented into an FPGA could have 10–100 times higher performance than its implementation on a Digital Signal Processor (DSP) or microprocessor.
Due to the sequential processing data flow on commercially available DSPs and microprocessors, the increase in sampling rate, mathematical processing, or versatility can impose severe restrictions on processor performance. Therefore, other alternatives for signal processing must be considered to achieve real-time data acquisition and data pre-processing. Moreover, FPGA devices have been gaining market share in system on chip (SOC) applications because they can integrate processing units defined by the user and related peripheral logic in the hardware, combining open architectures that do not depend on the manufacturer or specific platforms. However, DSPs and microprocessors have a fixed sequential construction for computation, which can easily be overloaded when the processing time between samples is significantly reduced, as in high-speed control, while FPGAs have a natural parallel architecture for high-speed computation. Along with the advantages previously cited, FPGA development is performed under Hardware Description Language (HDL), making the design portable and platform independent, which is not the case for commercially available DSPs or microprocessors.

In this paper, the development of a low-cost automatic carbon dioxide-methane gas sensor based on the principle of the solubility of gaseous species in water is reported. The novelty of this work is two-fold. First, a physical principle, never used before, is applied for binary mixture quantification, drastically reducing the cost and complexity of the equipment and facilitating on-line monitoring. Second, the hardware implemented in the FPGA has the capacity for data acquisition, data distribution, data processing, data communication and control, adding functionality and autonomy to the automatic carbon dioxide-methane gas sensor and allowing it to be deployed in the field.

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InGaP/GaAs heterojunction photosensor powered by an on-chip GaAs solar cell for energy harvesting

In this study, an InGaP/GaAs heterojunction phototransistor (HPT) and a GaAs solar cell were monolithically integrated into an HPT epitaxial wafer, and the battery-free operation of the HPT was demonstrated for energy harvesting. Although the thickness and doping condition of the layers were optimized for the HPT performance, but not for the solar cell performance, the obtained short-circuit current was high enough to operate the InGaP/GaAs HPT in a two-terminal (2T) configuration. A collector photocurrent of 0.63 mA was obtained when the energy-harvesting InGaP/GaAs 2T-HPT was exposed to white light with a power density of 35 mW/cm², and it linearly increased with the power density. For a potential application of the energy-harvesting InGaP/GaAs HPT as a photosensor in space, the device was irradiated with electrons of 1 MeV energy and 10¹⁵ cm⁻² fluence. No significant degradation of the fabricated energy-harvesting 2T-HPT after the high-energy electron irradiation guarantees its battery-free operation in space.

A heterojunction phototransistor (HPT) is more attractive as a photosensor than a photodiode because of its high photoresponse even at low bias voltage and immunity from avalanche noise. In particular, the GaAs-based HPT with an AlGaAs emitter demonstrated a high performance. Recently, the InGaP emitter has replaced the AlGaAs emitter in the AlGaAs/GaAs HPT owing to its superior material properties. The photosensor may be widely used in space, where it needs to be operated without a battery. An HPT has a process compatibility with a heterojunction bipolar transistor (HBT) for the fabrication of monolithically integrated photoreceivers. The InGaP/GaAs HPT also has good compatibility with the GaAs heteroface solar cell for a battery-free operation. Solar cells made of III–V compound semiconductors have been developed and used in space owing to their high conversion efficiency, lower temperature coefficient, and superior radiation resistance. The significant potential of high-efficiency GaAs heteroface solar cells for space applications has been extensively investigated by many researchers.Compared with Si, which has been widely used as a material of terrestrial solar cells, III–V compound semiconductors have a superior radiation resistance for the same electron energy and fluence. In particular, the InGaP solar cells demonstrated a radiation resistance superior to that of GaAs solar cells. Since the migration energy of radiation-induced defects and the activation energy of defect annealing in InGaP are lower than those in GaAs, InGaP has a higher radiation resistance than GaAs. In this study, radiation resistant InGaP was used as a window layer in a GaAs heteroface solar cell.
In space, high-energy electron or particle irradiation often induces a significant degradation of the performance of semiconductor devices. Since the battery-free operation of an InGaP/GaAs HPT monolithically integrated with a GaAs solar cell is also proposed for use in space in this paper, the effects of high-energy electron irradiation on the fabricated energy-harvesting HPTs were studied by 1 MeV electron irradiation.

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New composite material works as CO2 Sensor (carbon dioxide sensor)

A new type of sensor that can measure carbon dioxide (CO2) consists of a recently developed composite material. It interacts with CO2 molecules and changes its conductivity depending on the concentration of CO2 in the environment. Material scientists at ETH Zurich in Switzerland and the Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces in Potsdam, Germany developed the sensor and say that compared with existing sensors, it is much smaller, has a simpler construction, requires considerably less energy and has an entirely different functional principle. ETH scientists have created a sensor chip with this material that enables them to determine CO2 concentration with a simple measurement of electrical resistance, according to a news release from ETH.
The basis of the composite material is a chain-like macromolecule (polymer) made up of salts called ionic liquids, which are liquid and conductive at room temperature. (The researchers say that the name of the polymers is slightly misleading as they are called polyionic liquids (PIL), although they are solid rather than liquid).
Scientists worldwide are currently investigating these PIL for use in different applications, such as batteries and CO2 storage. From their work it is known that PIL can adsorb CO2. “We asked ourselves if we could exploit this property to obtain information on the concentration of CO2 in the air and thereby develop a new type of gas sensor,” said Christoph Willa, doctoral student at the laboratory for multifunctional materials.
Willa and Dorota Koziej, a team leader in the laboratory, eventually succeeded by mixing the polymers with specific inorganic nanoparticles that also interact with CO2. By experimenting with these materials, the scientists were able to produce the composite. “Separately, neither the polymer nor the nanoparticles conduct electricity,” Willa said. “But when we combined them in a certain ratio, their conductivity increased rapidly.”
They were also surprised that the conductivity of the composite material at room temperature is CO2-dependent. “Until now, chemoresistive materials have displayed these properties only at a temperature of several hundred degrees Celsius,” said Koziej. Thus, existing CO2 sensors made from chemoresistive materials had to be heated to a high operating temperature. With the new composite material, this is not necessary, which facilitates its application significantly.
With the new sensor, scientists are able to measure CO2 concentration over a wide range – from a concentration of 0.04 volume percent in the earth’s atmosphere to 0.25 volume percent.
Existing devices that can detect CO2 measure the optical signal and capitalize on the fact that CO2 absorbs infrared light. In comparison, researchers believe that with the new material much smaller, portable devices can be developed that will require less energy. Koziej believes that portable devices to measure breathing air for scuba diving, extreme altitude mountaineering or medical applications are now feasible.

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Global Advanced CO2 Sensor Market 2016 – Digital Control Systems, Siemens Industry, SenseAir, Veris Industries, Vaisala Inc., Hans Turck, Honeywell

The market report, titled Advanced CO2 Sensor Market 2016, is an analytical research done by QY Market Research study based on the Advanced CO2 Sensor market, which analyzes the competitive framework of the Advanced CO2 Sensor industry worldwide. This report “Worldwide Advanced CO2 Sensor Market 2016” build by the usage of efficient methodical tools such SWOT analysis, the Advanced CO2 Sensor industrial 2016 study offers a comprehensive evaluation worldwide Advanced CO2 Sensor market.
Major Manufacturers Analysis of Advanced CO2 Sensor : Balluff, Siemens Industry, SenseAir, Veris Industries, Vaisala Inc., Hans Turck, Honeywell, AirTest Technologies, Johnson Controls, Digital Control Systems
Global Advanced CO2 Sensor Market 2016 report has Forecasted Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) in % value for particular period, that will help user to take decision based on futuristic chart. Report also includes key players in global Advanced CO2 Sensor market.
The Advanced CO2 Sensor market size is estimated in terms of revenue (US$) and production volume in this report. Whereas the Advanced CO2 Sensor market key segments and the geographical distribution across the globe is also deeply analyzed. Various Advanced CO2 Sensor market dynamics such as growth drivers, restrictions, and the future prospects of each segment have been discussed in detail. Based on that, the Advanced CO2 Sensor market report determines the future status of the market globally.
This report covers every aspect of the global market for Advanced CO2 Sensor , starting from the basic market information and advancing further to various significant criteria, based on which, the Advanced CO2 Sensor market is segmented. Key application areas of Advanced CO2 Sensor are also assessed on the basis of their performance.
The Advanced CO2 Sensor industrial chain, existing policies,and rules and regulations are studied in this Advanced CO2 Sensor Market report. Key manufacturers, their manufacturing chain, products, Advanced CO2 Sensor market price structures as well as the revenue.
The report also evaluates the production capacity, dynamics of demand and supply, logistics, and the historical performance of the Advanced CO2 Sensor market worldwide.

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Low-cost miniaturized UV photosensor for direct measurement of DNA concentration

Highly sensitive measurement of DNA concentration on portable, easy-to-use, low-cost miniaturized equipments without sample waste is challenging.
The DNA peak optical absorbance at λ=260 nm is a well-known property already used in the spectrometric measurement of DNA concentration. Existing apparatus are large-sized, expensive and require a manipulation of DNA. In the current work, a low-power, suitable and miniaturized photosensor aiming at a sensitive and direct measurement of DNA concentration has been designed. Direct measurement, i.e. without sample manipulation, implies UV transmission through the translucid tube wall from the closed tube containing the DNA sample in solution.
To allow measurements at such low wavelengths, we designed and fabricated photodiodes in SOI technology to ensure a high responsivity in the UV range. Measurements of the photodevice confirmed its responsivity spectrum and magnitudes. These fully integrable photodiodes, fabricated in SOI CMOS technology, can be coupled to a complete signal processing microsystem.
Direct measurements at 280 nm optical wavelength of serially diluted DNA within a closed tube (range: 40 pg/μL to 400 ng/μL in a volume of 45 μL) generated a monotonic relation between the DNA concentration and the mean of the diode photocurrent induced by light transmission through DNA solution and tube container. Absorbance of the incident UV ray was inversely proportional to DNA concentration. The photosensor compared favorably with other DNA quantitative methods (spectrophotometry, fluorometry, real-time PCR) in terms of sensitivity.
Originalities of this work are the use of a thin-film SOI photosensor, the low-cost, portable and adaptable system and the potential of the device for direct measurement of nucleic acid concentration within tube containers without sample manipulation or waste.

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Apple could use curved photosensors to product smaller iPhone cameras

A new Apple patent reveals the Cupertino company could soon employ curved photosensors to create smaller iPhone cameras that capture better photos. The design could help Apple in its mission to make future smartphones even thinner.
Published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office this week, “Small form factor high-resolution camera” describes a cutting-edge mobile camera module that uses complex optics to deliver a more compact footprint and even better performance.
Apple explains how the sensor could refract light through a trio of special lenses onto a concave surface, resulting in a sharp, low-distortion image. The company also notes that the curved array limits diffraction, allowing the use of a smaller sensor with smaller pixels.
“To correct for diffraction and visual aberrations that propagate within miniature cameras, the proposed lens system includes three lenses, two of which are convex or substantially convex,” explains AppleInsider. “A third meniscus lens, or a lens with opposing convex and concave surfaces, is situated between the first two lens elements and the spherical photosensor.”
The design does have its limitations, however, such as barrel distortion. Apple describes how it might use software to correct unwanted effects like this.
Such sensors could allow Apple to make the iPhone thinner, or ensure future sensors sit flush with the handset’s case — rather than protruding out of it like they do with iPhone 6 and iPhone 6s. It could also lead to better cameras in the iPad, and even cameras in devices like Apple Watch.
But as always, Apple patents are never a guarantee of things to come, so this particular invention may never see the light of day.
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New report shares details about the North America Advanced CO2 Sensor

The North America Advanced CO2 Sensor Industry 2016 Market Research Report is a professional and in-depth study on the current state of the Advanced CO2 Sensor industry.
The report provides a basic overview of the industry including definitions, classifications, applications and industry chain structure. The Advanced CO2 Sensor market analysis is provided for the North America markets including development trends, competitive landscape analysis, and key regions development status.
Development policies and plans are discussed as well as manufacturing processes and Bill of Materials cost structures are also analyzed. This report also states import/export consumption, supply and demand Figures, cost, price, revenue and gross margins.
The report focuses on North America major leading industry players providing information such as company profiles, product picture and specification, capacity, production, price, cost, revenue and contact information. Upstream raw materials and equipment and downstream demand analysis is also carried out. The Advanced CO2 Sensor industry development trends and marketing channels are analyzed. Finally the feasibility of new investment projects are assessed and overall research conclusions offered.
With 152 tables and figures the report provides key statistics on the state of the industry and is a valuable source of guidance and direction for companies and individuals interested in the market.
COMPANY PROFILE:
7 Analysis of Advanced CO2 Sensor Industry Key Manufacturers
7.1 Digital Control Systems
7.1.1 Company Profile
7.1.2 Product Picture and Specification
7.1.3 Capacity, Production, Price, Cost, Gross, and Revenue
7.1.4 Digital Control Systems SWOT Analysis
7.2 GE
7.2.1 Company Profile
7.2.2 Product Picture and Specification
7.2.3 Capacity, Production, Price, Cost, Gross, and Revenue
7.2.4 GE SWOT Analysis
7.3 Honeywell
7.3.1 Company Profile
7.3.2 Product Picture and Specification
7.3.3 Capacity, Production, Price, Cost, Gross, and Revenue
7.3.4 Honeywell SWOT Analysis
7.4 Johnson Controls
7.4.1 Company Profile
7.4.2 Product Picture and Specification
7.4.3 Capacity, Production, Price, Cost, Gross, and Revenue
7.4.4 Johnson Controls SWOT Analysis
7.5 AirTest Technologies
7.5.1 Company Profile
7.5.2 Product Picture and Specification
7.5.3 Capacity, Production, Price, Cost, Gross, and Revenue
7.5.4 AirTest Technologies SWOT Analysis
7.6 Balluff
7.6.1 Company Profile
7.6.2 Product Picture and Specification
7.6.3 Capacity, Production, Price, Cost, Gross, and Revenue
7.6.4 Balluff SWOT Analysis
7.7 Pepperl+Fuchs
7.7.1 Company Profile
7.7.2 Product Picture and Specification
7.7.3 Capacity, Production, Price, Cost, Gross, and Revenue
7.7.4 Pepperl+Fuchs SWOT Analysis
7.8 SICK
7.8.1 Company Profile
7.8.2 Product Picture and Specification
7.8.3 Capacity, Production, Price, Cost, Gross, and Revenue
7.8.4 SICK SWOT Analysis
7.9 Siemens Industry
7.9.1 Company Profile
7.9.2 Product Picture and Specification
7.9.3 Capacity, Production, Price, Cost, Gross, and Revenue
7.9.4 Siemens Industry SWOT Analysis
7.10 SenseAir
7.10.1 Company Profile
7.10.2 Product Picture and Specification
7.10.3 Capacity, Production, Price, Cost, Gross, and Revenue
7.10.4 SenseAir SWOT Analysis
7.11 Hans Turck
7.11.1 Company Profile
7.11.2 Product Picture and Specification
7.11.3 Capacity, Production, Price, Cost, Gross, and Revenue
7.11.4 Hans Turck SWOT Analysis
7.12 Vaisala Inc.
7.12.1 Company Profile
7.12.2 Product Picture and Specification
7.12.3 Capacity, Production, Price, Cost, Gross, and Revenue
7.12.4 Vaisala Inc. SWOT Analysis
7.13 Veris Industries
7.13.1 Company Profile
7.13.2 Product Picture and Specification
7.13.3 Capacity, Production, Price, Cost, Gross, and Revenue
7.13.4 Veris Industries SWOT Analysis

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A methane gas sensor based on oxidizing bacteria

A bacterial sensor system based on Methylomonas flagellata AJ 3670 is described for methane determinations. The system consists of a bacterial, reactor, a reference reactor and two oxygen sensors.

The current decreases with time until a steady state is reached within 30 s at 30°C; the maximum current difference is obtained at 30°C and pH 7.2. The response time for the determination of methane is less than 1 min.

A linear relationship is obtained between the current difference and the methane concentration below 6.6 mM; the lower limit of determination is 5 μM, and the current decrease is reproducible within 5%. The current output of the methane gas sensor is almost stable for more than 10 days and 250 assays.

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Global Advanced CO2 Sensor Market 2015 – 2019, New Report Launched

Advanced CO2 sensors help to monitor the intensity of CO2 in different mediums like air or water and can adjust automatically to changes in temperature, humidity, and altitude. This market is an integral part of the global sensors market and is heavily influenced by the augmented demand for location-based advanced CO2 sensors, which results in its impressive CAGR of nearly 42% by 2019.

The market research analyst has estimated eminent trends, such as the rising need for better air pollution measurement systems, to drive market growth during the forecast period. Recent innovations in the electronic industry have resulted in the increased emission of hazardous gases, which leads to global warming. Therefore, in order to effectively measure and monitor the intensity of CO2 in the atmosphere, environmental scientists across the globe are increasingly adopting advanced CO2 sensors.

Segmentation by type and analysis of the advanced CO2 sensors market
- NDIR CO2 sensors
- Chemical CO2 sensors

In this market analysis, analysts estimate the non-dispersive infrared (NIDR) CO2 sensors segment to account for nearly 89% of the total market share by 2019. The long lifespan, stability, and high humidity and dirt-withstanding nature of IR sensors are responsible for its high market share during the forecast period.

Geographical segmentation of the advanced CO2 sensors market
- APAC
- EMEA
- Americas

In terms of revenue contribution, the EMEA region is expected to dominate this market during the forecast period followed by the Americas and the APAC region. The rising incorporation of advanced CO2 sensors in smart buildings is a major factor that is expected to result in this region’s high revenue share between the period of 2014 and 2019.

Competitive landscape and key vendors
This global advanced CO2 sensors market is highly fragmented as most of the vendors in this market are yet to establish themselves as prominent players with extensive product offerings. Since this market is still in its nascent stage, analysts estimate intense competition between vendors to drive market growth during the forecast period.

Key vendors in this market are -
- Digital Control Systems
- GE
- Honeywell
- Johnson Controls

Other prominent vendors analyzed in this market study are AirTest Technologies, Balluff GmbH, Balluff GmbH, Pepperl+Fuchs GmbH, SICK AG, Siemens Industry, SenseAir AB, Hans Turck GmbH & Co. KG, Vaisala Inc., and Veris Industries Inc.

Key questions answered in the report include
- What will the market size and the growth rate be in 2019?
- What are the key factors driving the global advanced CO2 sensors market?
- What are the key market trends impacting the growth of the global advanced CO2 sensors market?
- What are the challenges to market growth?
- Who are the key vendors in the global advanced CO2 sensors market?
- What are the market opportunities and threats faced by the vendors in the global advanced CO2 sensors market?
- Trending factors influencing the market shares of the EMEA, Americas, and APAC?
- What are the key outcomes of the five forces analysis of the global advanced CO2 sensors market?

Spanning over 58 pages and 25 Exhibit "Global Advanced CO2 Sensor Market 2015 - 2019" report covers Executive summary, Scope of the report, Market research methodology, Introduction, Market Overview, Market Landscape, Market segmentation, Geographical segmentation, Impact of drivers, Impact of drivers and challenges, Vendor landscape, Key vendor analysis, Appendix.

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Toshiba Matsushita Display Develops Photosensor Touch-Panel

Toshiba Matsushita Display Technology Co., Ltd. (TMD) has developed an LCD panel that enables finger-touch input using photosensors under a range of light conditions from dark indoor to bright outdoor. Through enhanced sensitivity of the photosensors integrated onto the LCD panel's glass substrate and optimized signal processing functions, the panel detects reflection from a finger using backlight in dark indoor and finger shadows using external light in bright outdoor.

The prototyped panel is a transmissive LCD panel using a 2.8-inch (7.1 cm diagonal) WQVGA (400 x 240 pixels) resolution, low-temperature polycrystalline Si (p-Si) TFT with approximately 65,000 display colors. The range of ambient light intensity, in which finger-touch input is available, extends from 0 to 100,000 lx.

The panel has become able to recognize finger-touch input in a wide range of light intensity by switching its recognition modes between finger shadows using external light and finger reflections using its built-in backlight depending on the situation. The panel not only recognizes finger shadows but also supports input using an optic pen. TMD will present this panel at the Flat Panel Display International (Display 2007) show to be held at Tokyo Big Sight from April 11 to 13.

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Beam extrapolation and photosensor testing for the T2K experiment

Our understanding of the physics of neutrino oscillations has evolved rapidly over the past decade or so, with results from the SNO, Super-K, MINOS and CHOOZ experiments, among others, producing results favouring a three-neutrino mixing model, and significantly constraining the parameter space for the mixing.

There are still several important questions to be answered however: we do not know whether theta_13 is non-zero, or whether (sin^2 (2*theta_23)) is maximal; also, we do not know the sign of the mass splitting Delta M^2, or whether CP-violation occurs in the lepton sector. The latter is possibly the most exciting of all - leptonic CP-violation is a requirement for leptogenesis, and could therefore indicate a solution to the matter-antimatter asymmetry problem in cosmology. The T2K long-baseline neutrino experiment is one of a new generation of neutrino projects, which will make more precise measurements of theta_13 and theta_23 than has been achieved by previous experiments. It uses the Super-K water Cerenkov detector at Kamioka as a far detector, and also has a suite of new near detectors.

These are largely scintillator-based, but use a novel photosensor, the silicon photomultiplier (SiPM), for light readout. T2K has been leading the effort understand and model these new sensors, and the present work will describe the current state-of-the-art in device characterisation, and also the effort to ensure the quality of the devices installed in the calorimeter of the ND280 near detector. An important part of a long-baseline analysis is the extrapolation of the neutrino flux measured at the near detector to predict that at the far detector. Methods to do this have been developed by previous experiments; however T2K uses an innovative configuration whereby the main detectors are displaced from the neutrino beam centre, removing much of the high-energy tail in the neutrino flux to reduce backgrounds from non-quasielastic events. This thesis evaluates the effectiveness of two extrapolation techniques, used by previous experiments, for the T2K configuration.

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Graphene photosensor integrated into computer chip

Today, most information is transmitted by light – for example in optical fibres. Computer chips, however, work electronically. Somewhere between the optical data highway and the electronic chips, photons have to be converted into electrons using light-detectors.

Scientists at the Vienna University of Technology have integrated a graphene photosensor with a standard silicon chip. The hybrid device can transform light of all important telecommunications frequencies into electrical signals. The scientific results have now been published in the journal Nature Photonics.

Optical fiber transmission uses wavelengths that are in the near-infrared portion of the spectrum. Typical wavelengths are 850nm, 1310nm, and 1550nm. Both lasers and LEDs are used as transmission sources; lasers usually for 1310 or 1550nm single-mode applications while LEDs typically for 850nm or 1300nm multimode applications.

Both academia and the industry are placing high hopes in graphene for many different applications. Two years ago, the team of Thomas Müller (Institute of Photonics, Vienna University of Technology) demonstrated that graphene is ideally suited to convert light into electrical current.

Müller commented, “There are many materials that can transform light into electrical signals, but graphene allows for a particularly fast conversion. So wherever large amounts of data are to be transmitted in a short period of time, graphene will in the future probably be the material of choice.”

Significant development

The researchers had to come a long way from the basic proof of what the material can do to actually using it in a chip – but now they have succeeded. The Viennese team worked together with researchers from the Johannes Kepler University in Linz.

Müller added, “A narrow waveguide with a diameter of about 200 by 500 nanometers carries the optical signal to the graphene layer. There, the light is converted into an electrical signal, which can then be processed in the chip. There have already been attempts to integrate photodetectors made of other materials, such as germanium, directly into a chip. However, these materials can only process light of a specific wavelength range.”

The researchers say that they can show that graphene can convert all wavelengths which are used in telecommunications equally well. The graphene photodetector is not only extremely fast, it can also be built in a particularly compact way: for example, 20 000 such detectors could fit onto a single chip with a surface area of 1cm². Theoretically, the chip could be supplied with data via 20,000 different information channels.

”These technologies are not only important for transmitting data over large distances. Optical data transmission also becomes more and more important for communication within computers”, says Thomas Müller. When large computer clusters work with many processor cores at the same time, a lot of information has to be transferred between the cores. As graphene allows switching between optical and electrical signals very quickly, this data can be exchanged optically. This speeds up the data exchange and requires much less electrical energy.

W The light signal arrives throuth a waveguide (left), in the 2 micrometer wide graphene sheet, electrical current is generated. G 
Graphene - a two dimensional sheet made of carbon atoms - can convert light into electrical current. "CMOS-compatible graphene photodetector covering all optical communication bands", Pospischil et al., Nature Photonics (2013), doi:10.1038/nphoton.2013.240

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What Is a CO2 Sensor?

Carbon dioxide is a deadly gas that can kill a person before they realize what is happening. Because it is odorless and colorless, you may not even know it is present without a detector. Exposure to carbon dioxide can cause headaches, nausea, vomiting and even death. A Co2 sensor (or carbon dioxide sensor) detects the presence of carbon dioxide in an area. This device indicates the quality of indoor air, and it is ideal for industrial and commercial applications.

How Co2 Sensors Operate

Carbon dioxide sensors have a wide range of applications. They are ideal for the HVAC industry to measure the quality of indoor air, as well as ventilation on air conditioning systems. They monitor the level of carbon dioxide in a building to tell the HVAC system when fresh air is needed to restore optimal airflow. They measure air quality in terrestrial and space applications, measure Co2 levels in greenhouses, and are useful in many other industries.

NDIR Co2 Sensors

Two basic types of Co2 sensors exist. The first is the non-dispersive infrared (or NDIR) Co2 sensor. A NDIR sensor is a spectroscopic sensor that uses a light tube, an infrared source, infrared detector and a wavelength filter. The highest quality of these devices measures gas with sensitivities between 20 and 50 PPM. Waves of light go through the tube towards an infrared light detector while the gas absorbs the light. All remaining light is absorbed, except that absorbed by the carbon dioxide. The detector reads the amount not absorbed by either the CO2 or the filter. The measured difference tells how many carbon dioxide molecules are in the air.

Chemical Co2 Sensors

The second type of carbon dioxide sensor is a chemical Co2 sensor. It uses as many as three electrodes and an electrolyte. The carbon dioxide passes through the chemical sensor to produce a measurable electrochemical reaction. One of the popular options in this category is the nanotechnology based chemical sensor. It is portable, and provides high sensitivity and low cost and power needs. Chemical Co2 sensors are valuable in space applications.

Calibrating a Co2 Sensor

Carbon dioxide sensors that measure air quality may need calibration to ensure accurate results. This requires using either outdoor air or a calibration gas. When calibrating with outside air, users must place the device away from objects that release carbon dioxide, such as running vehicles and heavy vegetation. Once the device has been calibrated, it is ready to use.

Top Brands of Co2 Sensors

Several manufacturers make CO2 sensors for various applications. Honeywell is renowned for HVAC sensors that ensure the correct quality of air for air conditioners and ventilation systems. They sell wall-mounted sensors that connect to the HVAC system. These infrared systems measure the air in a duct or an open area.

GE manufactures Co2 sensors for use in residential and industrial applications. They work with HVAC systems, and measure refrigerant in automobiles and commercial refrigeration systems. This company provides a range of products with many of them being self-calibrated. They are often wall-mounted with easy wiring installation. Buyers have the option to choose a water-resistant product for use in specific projects.

Extech makes desktop air quality sensors with NDIR technology. Some items come with warning alerts to let users know when the quality of air is insufficient and carbon dioxide levels are too high. Some of these products calibrate themselves and require almost no maintenance to ensure accurate results.

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NASA’s Tiny Methane Gas Sensor Designed For Mars Will Go to Work on Earth

A tiny methane gas sensor has been developed by NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, equipped with a laser spectrometer, originally designed for gas testing on Mars.
However, the sensor is small enough that it can easily be fitted to a drone, where it could then be used to sniff out methane leaks around the world.

Capable of sniffing out a few parts per billion, NASA’s tiny methane gas sensor is about to be flying over gas pipelines on Earth by way of a drone, where it will help detect methane leaks for the natural gas industry.

If it never makes it to Mars, at least NASA’s mini methane gas sensor will find plenty of work at home.

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More graphene! This time in a broadband photosensor

Singapore--Cameras fitted with a new graphene-based sensor developed at Nanyang Technological University (NTU) will soon be able to take clear and sharp photos in dim conditions, according to NTU.

The sensor is believed to be the first to be able to detect broad-spectrum light from the visible to mid-IR with high photoresponse, says NTU. If so, it would be suitable for use in many types of cameras, including IR cameras, traffic cameras, satellite imaging, and so on.

The graphene sensor is supposedly 1000 times more sensitive to light than current imaging sensors found in today’s cameras and uses ten times less energy, as it operates at lower voltages. When mass produced, graphene sensors are estimated by NTU to cost at least a factor of five less than conventional sensors.

The inventor of the graphene sensor, Wang Qijie, from NTU’s School of Electrical & Electronic Engineering, said it is believed to be the first time that a broad-spectrum, highly photosensitive sensor has been developed using pure graphene.

Nanostructures
His device, made by fabricating a graphene sheet into novel nanostructures, was featured in a paper published this month in Nature Communications. The nanostructures trap electrons, which is the key to achieving high photoresponse in graphene, making it far more effective than the normal CMOS or CCD image sensors, says Wang.

“While designing this sensor, we have kept current manufacturing practices in mind," sys Wang. "This means the industry can, in principle, continue producing camera sensors using the CMOS (complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor) process, which is the prevailing technology used by the majority of factories in the electronics industry. Therefore, manufacturers can easily replace the current base material of photosensors with our new nanostructured graphene material.”

“The performance of our graphene sensor can be further improved (such as the response speed) through nanostructure engineering of graphene, and preliminary results already verified the feasibility of our concept,” Wang adds. Development of the sensor took Wang and his team two years to complete.

Wang has filed a patent through NTU’s Nanyang Innovation and Enterprise Office for his invention. The next step is to work with industry collaborators to develop the graphene sensor into a commercial product.

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iphone 7- No dual camera,but with a single photo sensor

A new 3D drawing of what appears to be a metal case for the iPhone 7 reveals more about the upcoming device and also confirms that the new model will be quite similar in design with the existing one.

Renowned leaker @OnLeaks has posted the sketch on French website NWE, revealing that the upcoming iPhone 7 will have the exact same dimensions as the current 6s model (this is only valid for the standard 4.7-inch version, but the chances are that the Plus models will have the same size too).

Specifically, the iPhone 7 could measure 138.3 x 67.1 mm 5.44 x 2.64 inches), so it’ll be identical to the iPhone 6s – note that we still don’t know how thin the new model will be, but the same report claims that the two models will be similar in this regard too.

So basically, the iPhone 7 and the iPhone 6s will have the same dimensions, but Apple is also preparing some rather minor aesthetic changes on the back of the new model.

No dual camera

As you can see in this drawing, the camera bump is moved slightly closer to the left top corner and this aligns with previous reports indicating that Apple was indeed planning such a change. This pretty much makes it impossible to use a 6s case with the iPhone 7 (as you can do right now between iPhone 6 – 6s and 5s – SE),

But the camera cutout also shows that they’ll be just a single photo sensor, so in case you were hoping for dual cameras, this doesn’t seem to be the case. Previous rumors indicated that a dual-camera setup might be exclusive to the iPhone 7 Plus, so there’s still hope that this upgrade would arrive on the next-generation model, but we won’t be getting it on the 4.7-inch version.

Other than that, the iPhone 6s and the iPhone 7 seem to be like two peas in a pod, but since the debut of the new model is planned for September this year, expect more information on what’s going to be changed to emerge in the coming weeks. Hopefully, the WWDC conference next month will also bring us some news in this regard.

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