Thermal imaging and sensing market include devices relying on microbolometer arrays, thermopiles, or pyroelectric sensors. Between 2019 and 2022, demand peaked pulled by fever detection systems used to fight Covid-19 pandemic and remained significant in years after despite lower sales in 2022 due to global chip shortage situation. After ramping-up their production in 2020, Chinese players eventually doubled there share of thermal imager global shipments and managed to stabilize it by adapting their offer. Next wave of demand for thermal imagers might come from automotive for AEB (Autonomous Emergency Braking), with the potential help of safety regulations. Meanwhile thermopiles have been recently integrated in a new model of consumer smartwatch.
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