Comeau Computing Tech Magazine 2024
Nowadays, automatic sensor doors are used in several places. Due to the covid-19 pandemic, the need to install automatic doors has become more important to avoid physical touch. In offices, malls, hospitals, restaurants, hotels, and several other places have started replacing their old doors with automatic sensor doors.
These doors function automatically with the help of sensors, and you don’t have to keep a doorman to open and close doors every time someone enters or leaves. With the use of these automated sensor doors, you no longer have to worry about closing the doors after someone leaves and the touchless solution to open doors in times of covid-19 pandemic is ideal for maintaining a contact-free entry and exit.
If you are looking to install automated sensor doors for your entrances and exits or searching for automatic door services, then read about automatic sensor doors more on www.advanced-door-service.com/door-service.
3 types of sensors and how to do automatic sensor door works
1. Pressure sensor
Use of pressure sensors in automatic sensor doors has been used for a long time. Pressure sensors are installed in control mats that detect changes in pressure or weight applied to the control mats on both sides of the gates. Whenever a person walks on the mat due to a change in pressure, the door opens and closes automatically.
These control mats placed on both sides of the door have a set pressure limit, and the increase in pressure or weight of a person makes these doors function automatically. The limit is usually set lower than an average human weight to make it function properly.
The benefit of having an automated door with a pressure sensor is that the door remains open until there is pressure on the control mats. There are pressure-sensitive areas on both ends of the control mat, so the door will remain open until you don’t pass the door. This also prevents the doors from closing in while someone is passing through the door.
The pressure sensor technology has been used for a long time, and still, it is used as a backup sensor in case the primary sensor starts malfunctioning or stops working. The pressure sensor automatically detects the change in pressure whenever a person steps on the pressure-sensitive areas on the control mat.
2. Optical sensors and motion detectors
Nowadays, almost every automated sensor door uses optical sensor and motion detection technology to open doors automatically. Optical sensors and motion detectors are equipped on both sides of the door that makes the door open and close whenever a person walks by the door.
Optical sensors and motion detectors function when it detects any motion near the gate. These sensors have an antenna that emits electrical signals of 10.5 GHz on both sides of the door facing the ground. These electrical signals cover a wide angle and detect any kind of motion to make the doors functional.
The optical sensors on the doors integrate light rays into electrical signals that are detected by the motion sensor. This sensor detects light sensitivity producing an electrical output when there is any movement that triggers the motion sensors and makes the doors open and close on their own.
These sensors have very high sensitivity and can detect any motion easily, but the drawback of this sensor is that it only functions if there is any motion. If there is no movement or slow-motion, the sensors might fail to detect any motion, and the doors won’t open.
3. Infrared sensors
These are unique sensors that emit infrared light to automatically open and close doors. Whenever a person walks by the doors, these sensors detect human body temperature near the door. When there is any change in temperature, it gets automatically detected by the sensor, which makes the doors function automatically.
Two sensors are installed on the gates that emit and detect infrared light to trigger the infrared sensors. These infrared sensors are unique and work effectively, and the ability to detect and auto-adjust the temperature as per the outside temperature is quite impressive. This lowers the chances of the opening of doors when someone is not around.
These infrared sensors still function perfectly irrespective of any motion. Whether you are walking at a normal speed or slowly, the doors will still open until the sensors can detect the human body temperature and only close when the temperature changes. These sensors provide you with complete safety from accidents occurring while passing through the gate.
How do these automatic sensor doors work?
The mechanism of these automated sensor doors is quite simple and easy to understand. The sensors installed on the gates are attached to the electronic drive actuators. These actuators are connected with the sides of the doors with a cogwheel. The cogwheels are connected with rubber belts that make the door open and close.
Whenever these sensors detect any person, it triggers the electronic drive actuators that make the cogwheel move, and the cogwheels regulate the rubber belts that function the opening and closing of the doors.
Though these sensors work efficiently, it is always better to equip the doors with double sensors of different types. In case it starts malfunctioning or stops working, you can have a backup sensor that would still work until you fix the primary sensor. This also reduces the chances of accidents while a person passes the gates.
For example, if your doors have optical sensors and motion detectors, sometimes if a person stands stills in between the door, the door might still get closed as there will be no detection of movement, but if it has a secondary sensor like a pressure sensor or infrared sensor it can detect pressure or the human body heat and still keep the doors open.
Wrapping Up
Automatic doors are totally convenient and safe to use. The most common types of sensors used in automated doors and how the sensors work is mentioned above. All sensors work effectively, and installing an automatic door must be of utmost importance to avoid the spreading of covid-19.
