This section provides an overview for luminometers as well as their applications and principles. Also, please take a look at the list of 17 luminometer manufacturers and their company rankings. Here are the top-ranked luminometer companies as of November, 2024: 1.Lonza Group Ltd, 2.DTK Water, 3.MSE Supplies.
Table of Contents
A luminometer is a type of human-detecting sensor that detects ambient light.
It has a function to automatically turn on the light when the surroundings become dark and automatically turn off the light when the surroundings become bright. It also adjusts the brightness of the display to a level that is just right for human senses. There are three main types of luminometers: phototransistors, photodiodes, and photodiodes with an amplifier circuit.
Luminometer is a technology that contributes to reducing the power consumption of electronic devices and improving the quality of display screens.
Luminometers are widely used to detect the brightness of displays and LCD screens and to measure ambient illuminance to automate lighting on/off.
For example, in cell phones and smartphone devices, illuminance sensors contribute to improved visibility and lower power consumption of LCD screen displays by enabling control of LCD backlight brightness in response to ambient brightness. Once mounted on a display, it can automatically adjust visibility.
It is also one of the technologies in growing demand and being adopted in a wide range of fields including cameras and optical communications.
Illuminometers use photodiodes and phototransistors that convert the illuminance of light incident on the light-receiving part into an electric current, which is sensed by converting the actual brightness of the light into an electrical value through a circuit that amplifies the output current to a current value usable for the sensor function.
In other words, the current flowing through the phototransistor changes according to the brightness, and this causes a voltage corresponding to the brightness to appear at both ends of the resistor installed in the circuit, thus detecting light.
In addition, the photosensitive element must have a minute sensitivity characteristic in the same range of wavelengths that can be sensed by the human eye. However, photodiodes generally used in photodetectors are sensitive outside the infrared region, which is invisible to the human eye, and thus requires compensation.
By installing a sub-photodiode with a peak spectral sensitivity in the infrared region, the sub-photodiode is subtracted from the main photodiode. This mechanism enables the sensor to have spectral response characteristics close to the visual sensitivity that the human eye can perceive.
There are various types of luminometers, ranging from very simple ones that convert the output current from the photodiode or phototransistor in the light-receiving part into a voltage value using an analog circuit and output it, to more sophisticated ones that have an analog-to-digital converter, a digital control unit, and a serial interface such as SPI.
With an SPI interface, control from a microcontroller or other device is relatively easy via software and can follow the control of detailed applications. Usually, in such cases, a small dedicated IC that is converted into a sensor ASIC is used to realize a compact and highly functional luminometer product.
An applied product using luminometers is an illuminance sensor switch. Using this switch, room lighting can be automatically turned on and off according to the external brightness. For example, in a large office, there is usually a lighting switch for each area, and the lighting is turned on and off from that switch.
The advantage of installing lighting sensor switches is that lighting can be automatically turned on and off according to external brightness. Highly functional luminometer switches can also be used to dim the lights depending on the illuminance. These functions can be set from a controller installed separately from the luminometers.
From the controller, it is possible to set the level of illuminance at which the lights are turned on or off, the day of the week, and the time of day when the function is enabled. Some luminometers allow the illuminance setting to be changed depending on the season.
By installing such luminometers in offices, etc., it is possible to appropriately control the illumination level of various indoor lighting depending on the time of day, the season, and the weather conditions outside. Such efforts will result in energy savings.
*Including some distributors, etc.
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Vishay Intertechnology, Inc. (Vishay) was incorporated in 1962 and is headquartered in Malvern, Pennsylvania. The company serves the industrial, automotive, telecommunications, consumer products, and medical end markets and sells its products under numerous brand names inlcuding Siliconix, Draloric, Beyschlag, UltraSource, and Applied Thin-Film Products. The company manufactures and sells discrete semiconductors and passive electronic components in globally while operating in six market segments: MOSFETs, diodes, optoelectronic components, resistors, inductors, and capacitors.
3M Company was founded in 1902 and is headquartered in St. Paul, Minnesota. 3M provides diversified technology services globally. 3M operates through four segments: Safety and Industrial, Transportation and Electronics, Health Care, and Consumer. The Safety and Industrial segment offerings include industrial abrasives, masking, and natural and color-coated mineral granules for shingles. The Transportation and Electronics segment offerings include ceramic solutions, light management films, and electronics assembly solutions. The Healthcare segment offerings include wound care, dentistry and orthodontia solutions, and filtration and purification systems. The Consumer segment offerings include consumer bandages, picture hanging, and stationery products.
Promega Corporation, founded in 1978 and headquartered in Madison, Wisconsin, operates as a manufacturer of enzymes and products catering to biotechnology and molecular biology. Its extensive product range covers genomics, protein analysis, cellular analysis, drug discovery, and genetic identity products, which are utilized in various fields of scientific research. Additionally, the company offers custom solutions, including a wide range of capabilities in manufacturing, technology development, assay automation, and inventory management. The company has obtained certification to international standards for quality management systems in 1998.
MSE Supplies is a supplier of materials and equipment for research and manufacturing that has been in business since 2011, and is based in Tucson, Arizona. The company offers various materials, laboratory equipment, and analytical instruments, including high purity lab crucibles, single crystals, wafer, and substrates, as well as vacuum pumps and hardened steel & tungsten carbide pellet pressing dies for pressing dry powder pellets, used for various laboratory and production applications. With expert support, multiple customization options and a diverse product catalog, MSE Supplies caters more than 5000 products to researchers and businesses in over 100 countries across the globe.
Silan Microelectronics Co., Ltd., founded in 1997 in China, is a manufacturer of semiconductor microelectronics-related products for commercial, industrial, and military clients. The company's products include ICs, power modules, discrete devices, MCU/IC power semiconductor solutions, MEMS sensors, and optoelectronic products. Silan Microelectronics Co., Ltd. also specializes in LED chip manufacturing and packaging for indoor and outdoor LED display panels as well as LED illumination applications. The company was listed on the Shanghai Stock Exchange in 2003.
Token Electronics Industry Co., Ltd., established in Taiwan in 1983, is a manufacturer of electronic components and automatic production systems for commercial and industrial clients worldwide. The company produces a wide range of resistors, inductors, light sensors, microwave components, and RF components. Token Electronics Industry Co., Ltd. offers its clients a complete custom design, testing, and manufacturing service. The company's main export markets include Africa, Asia, Oceania, LATAM, and North America.
Melexis NV, founded in Brussels, in 1989 is a supplier of micro-electronic semiconductor solutions. The company's product portfolio includes Mixed Signal Integrated Circuits, Automotive Semiconductors, IC Sensors, Power ICs for Automotive Actuators, and Infrared Thermometers and sensors. The company serves markets including Automotive and Electric Vehicles, Renewable Energy and Energy Storage and Electronics and IT Infrastructure. The company has a global distribution channel, a technical and customer support center and 18 offices worldwide.
Located in Austria and Germany, Ams-Osram is a sensor design and manufacturing company that specializes in compact form factors, low power, high sensitivity, and multi-sensor applications. They were established in 1981 and were formerly known as austriamicrosystems AG. In 2012 it changed its name to ams AG. They have a technology portfolio for sensing, lighting, and visualization, ranging from light emitters and optical components to micro-modules, integrated circuits, and related software. Their work develops technology for use in the consumer, industrial, medical, and automotive sectors.
Nisshinbo Micro Devices Inc., established in 1959, and headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, is a manufacturer of semiconductors and electronic components. The company specializes in producing integrated circuits, discrete semiconductors, optoelectronic devices, which caters to industries such as telecommunications, automotive, and consumer electronics. The company holds ISO 9001 and IATF 16949 certifications, ensuring quality in their products which are used for various applications, including wireless communication, automotive systems, and industrial automation, providing crucial electronic components for advanced technologies in various industrial and commercial sectors.
Hamamatsu Photonics K.K., established in 1953 and headquartered in Hamamatsu, Japan, is a manufacturer of sensors and emitters for both visible and invisible light. It stocks products like LEDs, lamps, and photodiodes used in several industries, including consumer electronics, dental imaging, and environmental monitoring. The sensor and light source components are also available as modules and units that can be incorporated into systems the company develops, like optical measurement systems or imaging systems. The ISO 9001-certified company stocks over 15,000 devices, units, and systems that ship to over 100 destinations worldwide, and it has ten research and production bases.
Nippon Denshoku Industries Co., Ltd., founded in 1954 with headquarters in Tokyo, Japan, is a manufacturer of color measuring equipment. The company's product line includes spectrophotometers, portable color meters, variable-angle photometers, spectral haze meters, and drainage analyzers. These products are used to measure the transmittance and reflectance of solids, liquids, powders, and film samples, as well as identify samples and characterize materials. Drainage analyzers and water analyzers are used to monitor the coloration, turbidity, and chromaticity of liquid waste and waste water. It serves scientific and research organizations in industries that include biology, chemistry, agriculture, pharmaceuticals, and food.
Kodenshi Corp. is an ISO 14001 and IATF 16949-certified manufacturer of optical devices that was established in 1972 in Kyoto, Japan. The company’s product lineup includes photointerrupters for sensing motion or positioning, photodiodes for converting light into electrical currents, and phototransistors for amplifying currents generated by photodiodes. It also offers encoders for converting motion into digital signals, and photo couplers for noise reduction or signal isolation. The company’s products are commonly used within the private security and transportation sectors, and have additional applications in the automotive industry.
Ranking as of November 2024
Derivation MethodRank | Company | Click Share |
---|---|---|
1 | Lonza Group Ltd |
14.8%
|
2 | DTK Water |
12.3%
|
3 | MSE Supplies |
12.3%
|
4 | Vitl Life Science Solutions |
9.9%
|
5 | Promega Corporation |
9.9%
|
6 | Preferred Cell Systems |
7.4%
|
7 | Hamamatsu Photonics K.K. |
7.4%
|
8 | Hygiena, LLC |
4.9%
|
9 | Nippon Director |
4.9%
|
10 | ams-OSRAM AG |
4.9%
|
Derivation Method
The ranking is calculated based on the click share within the luminometer page as of November 2024. Click share is defined as the total number of clicks for all companies during the period divided by the number of clicks for each company.Number of Employees
Newly Established Company
Company with a History
*Including some distributors, etc.
*Including some distributors, etc.
Country | Number of Companies | Share (%) |
---|---|---|
United States of America | 4 | 36.4% |
Japan | 2 | 18.2% |
China | 1 | 9.1% |
Taiwan | 1 | 9.1% |
Belgium | 1 | 9.1% |
Austria | 1 | 9.1% |
United Kingdom | 1 | 9.1% |
2 products are listed.
I Tec
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The energy required for operation is self -sufficient. Wireless illuminance sensor using "environmental power generation" technology ・ Wireless il...
I Tec
50+ people viewing
The energy required for operation is self -sufficient. Wireless illuminance sensor using "environmental power generation" technology ・ Wireless il...