'Non-contact Thermometer Sensor' Technology Self-Reliance Achieved... Opening Export Path to the United States

[Asia Economy Reporter Hwang Junho] A domestic small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) has secured the technology to mass-produce micro infrared sensors, the core technology of non-contact thermometers, through collaboration with public research institutions. This technology not only enables price competitiveness through mass production but also allows the production of products with 3 to 5 times higher sensitivity compared to competing products. Amid the surge in demand for non-contact thermometers due to the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19), the company has completed export registration to the United States, bringing global market entry within reach.

On the 17th, the Ministry of Science and ICT announced that Tempus, a domestic SME, completed the official export registration with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the 'Micro Infrared Sensor for Non-Contact Thermometers (TU04),' jointly developed with the National NanoFab Center, a national semiconductor test bed, on the 15th.

Tempus opened the path to mass-produce the TU04 through joint research with the National NanoFab Center. By integrating semiconductor manufacturing processes (CMOS) with microelectromechanical systems (MEMS)-based processes, they established a way to mass-produce sensors with up to 5 times higher sensitivity than competitors.

Since the technology development, Tempus has supplied over 5 million temperature sensors to domestic and international thermometer manufacturers and has now paved the way for exports to the United States. The micro infrared sensor market is dominated by advanced countries such as the U.S. and Germany, and this achievement lays the foundation for the global market entry of domestically produced sensors.

Shin Baek-gyu, CEO of Tempus, stated, "Through Tempus's infrared sensor technology capable of detecting wavelengths in the 1 to 25 μm range and the collaboration with the National NanoFab Center, which can support semiconductor and sensor process technologies, mass production and expansion of various applications have become possible. We plan to actively target the domestic and international non-contact thermometer markets."

Ko Seo-gon, Director of Basic and Fundamental Research Policy at the Ministry of Science and ICT, said, "To achieve technological independence in system semiconductors and sensors, as well as materials, parts, and equipment, and to foster promising companies, we will continue to strengthen connections between nano-infrastructure institutions like the National NanoFab Center and demand companies and expand support."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.