Capacitive Sensors Market

Market Overview

The global capacitive sensors market size was valued at USD 26.68 billion in 2021. It is expected to reach USD 42.50 billion by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 5.31% during the forecast period (2022–2030). The presence or absence of almost any object, regardless of substance, may be detected using capacitive proximity sensors, which are non-contact devices. They use the electrical property of capacitance and its ability to alter in response to a shift in the electrical field surrounding the sensor's active face. A proximity sensor known as a capacitive sensor may determine whether an object has electrically charged components by measuring its capacitance. Owing to their increased sensitivity, endurance, and measurement accuracy compared to inductive or resistive sensors, capacitive sensors are becoming more and more common. These sensors are undergoing fast development to match the sophisticated user interface requirements of current applications.

Additionally, the market for consumer electronics is anticipated to rise due to the growing demand for multi-touch screens with functions like pinch to zoom. One of the main factors supporting the market expansion is the rising demand for capacitive sensors in consumer electronics goods such as multi-touch screens, multi-media players, tablets, smartphones, and gaming consoles. Furthermore, the increasing demand for capacitive touch sensors is fueled by the growing popularity of these gadgets with touch displays.

Market Dynamics

Global Capacitive Sensors Market Drivers

Growing Popularity of Touch Screen Displays as Human-Machine Interfaces

The quality and usefulness of a human-machine interface (HMI) significantly affect the price of a product. In embedded device HMIs, touch keys are becoming more and more critical. Capacitive touch technology may offer an easy user interface by allowing users to choose numbers with a touch or manipulate overlays with swipes.

The area of vehicle design known as the human-machine interface (HMI) has lately risen in importance. Apple's Touch ID fingerprint sensor is an important feature, which scans, reads, and identifies fingerprints. The feature was initially demonstrated on the iPhone 5S, but it has since been included in several more current iPhone models, including the iPhone SE (2020), iPads, and MacBooks. Using advanced capacitive touch, the sensor takes high-definition pictures of the fingerprint.

Prevalence of Scratch-Resistant Non-Glass Surfaces

Capacitive touch sensors with scratch resistance are available from various providers on the market. For instance, Ifm Electronic provides a Capacitive Touch Sensor KT5050 that is impact-resistant, scratch-resistant, wear-resistant, non-contact switching, and low-maintenance. This vendor's product has raised the demand for scratch resistance sensors. High-hardness overlay material is provided to ensure the surface remains optically smooth and scratch-free throughout its life cycle in applications where a capacitive touch HSR comes into contact with other instruments or is subjected to many chemical wipe-downs is driving the usage.

Global Capacitive Sensors Market Restraint

Shortage of Indium Tin Oxide

The bulk of the indium used globally is consumed by ITO (indium-tin-oxide), which is used as a transparent conductor in modern flat-panel LCD (liquid crystal display) panels. Due to the growth of the LCD industry over the past ten years, many people are worried about the supply of indium metal in the future. Touchscreens and other smart gadgets are made with indium, but their supply is not long-term assured. Numerous high-tech devices, such as touch screens, cellphones, solar panels, and bright windows, use indium tin oxide. This material has the optical transparency and electrical conductivity required for touch screens to work correctly. Indium tin oxide (ITO) is frequently used for transparent electrode applications due to its electrical conductivity and straightforward deposition process.

Regional Analysis

Asia-Pacific Commands the Market

By region, the global capacitive sensors market is segmented into North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, and the Middle East and Africa.

Asia-Pacific holds the largest market share and is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 6.82% during the forecast period. The market for capacitive sensors is significantly influenced by China, which leads in production and has a sizable electronic consumer base. The nation has sizable industrial bases in automotive, electronics, aerospace and military, food and beverage, and other sectors, which are considered to help further accelerate the market growth rate. Japan is expected to have a sizable market share since it is a large supplier of semiconductors, computers, electronics, and other goods. India is one of the key nations that dominate the manufacture of electronics and automobiles. One of the biggest markets for consumer electronics in the Asia-Pacific region is India. South Korea has made significant progress. Mobile devices, semiconductors, automobiles, chemicals, and steel production have demonstrated the nation's ability to compete internationally.

North America holds the second-largest market share and is projected to reach USD 11.25 billion by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 5.12%. The principal reason behind this is the robust innovation ecosystem that has fueled the development of capacitive sensors in various applications. This ecosystem is supported by strategic federal investments in cutting-edge technology, as well as the presence of visionary scientists and entrepreneurs who have gathered from around the world. Due to the widespread use of gadgets like smartphones, laptops, and other devices with embedded capacitive sensors, the United States now owns most of the market share. As a further factor in the market growth rate, sizable production bases in the consumer electronics, automotive, aerospace, and food and beverage industries are examined.

Leading European economies, including the UK, Germany, France, Italy, and others, control a sizable portion of the market. According to the European Union, the production of high-tech goods was dominated by the pharmaceutical industry in 2020, accounting for 31% of all output. Electronics and telecommunications, scientific instruments, and aircraft made up the other sectors with shares above 10%. Adopting modern manufacturing technologies would impact the market growth rate the most during the projected period.

Segmental Analysis

The global capacitive sensors market is segmented by type, end-user, and region.

On the Basis of Type

By type, the global capacitive sensors market is categorized into Touch Sensors, Motion Sensors, Position Sensors, and Others.

The Touch Sensors segment holds the largest market share and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 5.52% during the forecast period. Capacitive touch technology offers an intuitive user interface by enabling features like an overlay to be controlled with a swiping motion or a number to be selected with a touch. Capacitive touch sensing technology use is steadily rising. End users have come to anticipate simple, slick, and attractive interface designs without any jagged edges. Home appliances and medical devices frequently use touch sensor interfaces since they are so simple to clean. Consumer goods, including MP3 players, cell phones, and portable electronics, frequently use capacitive touch sensors.

Capacitive Motion Sensors are non-contact devices that can detect the presence or absence of virtually any object, regardless of material. They do this by using capacitance as an electric resource, and capacitance change is dependent entirely on change within the electric region across the active face of the sensor. The sensors are employed for several systems, including the infotainment system, keyless entry system, 3D gesture, and interior lighting management. Demand for various sensors, particularly the capacitive sensor, will rise as global automobile penetration rises during the predicted period.

Capacitive Position Sensors are superior to other precision position sensors in many ways. Capacitive sensors, which typically measure distances between 10 micrometers and 2 millimeters, provide nanometer-level resolution across short distances. Depending on the type, these sensors offer high measurement bandwidth of up to 10 kHz, 20 kHz, or 100 kHz and are entirely non-contact.

On the Basis of End-User

By end-user, the global capacitive sensors market is classified into Consumer Electronics, Automotive, Aerospace & Defence, Healthcare, Food & Beverages, Oil & Gas, and Others.

The Consumer Electronics segment holds the largest share in the market and is anticipated to grow at a CAGR of 5.52% during the forecast period. Capacitive sensors are widely used in consumer electronics, including washing machines, vacuum cleaners, water purifiers, coffee makers, and air purifiers. In a wide range of consumer electrical applications, capacitive sensing is being used to replace mechanical buttons and switches with a slick, reliable touch interface. This sector has adopted capacitive touch sensing quickly because of the flexibility and cost benefits of touch-based interfaces and the improved interfaces made possible by gesture detection.

Numerous capacitive sensing applications, such as touchscreen controls, are present in contemporary Automobiles. Capacitive sensing is measured by closeness, pressure, humidity, and other physical qualities. The numerous capacitive sensing technologies utilized in automobiles are based on human interfaces like touchscreens and trackpads. Sensors and programmable mixed-signal controllers can work together. Capacitive touch controls are becoming increasingly widespread among customers, to the point that they have primarily replaced mechanical buttons in automobiles.

In the broad spectrum of the Aerospace & Defense industries, pressure sensing, level, and temperature sensors technology are essential. This industry has stringent criteria for the pressure sensors it uses. These sensors provide precise and consistent readings of crucial pressure levels. The revolution has dramatically improved the field of flexible and wearable electronics in the design and fabrication methodology of flexible capacitive pressure sensors using various inorganic/organic materials, with a wide range of applications in aerospace.

Recent Developments

• August 2022- Renesas Introduced 32-Bit 5V RX660 MCUs with Outstanding Noise Resistance for Industrial and Home Appliance Applications.
• August 2022- New CXLTM Smart Memory Controllers from Microchip were released in data centers, enabling contemporary CPUs to optimize application workloads.
• July 2022- Fujitsu invented a new technology that uses millimeter-wave sensors to precisely estimate human body positions from point cloud data.
• July 2022- The development of platforms for a new generation of intelligent connected vehicles will be done in collaboration, according to a memorandum of understanding signed by NXP Semiconductors and Hon Hai Technology Group (also known as "Foxconn").
• July 2022- Baumer announced that Drinktec Munich would feature the company's latest intelligent sensor technologies for the beverage and liquid food industries. 
• May 2022- For Magic Leap 2, Infineon and PMD Technologies created 3D depth-sensing technology, allowing cutting-edge industrial and medical applications.