Electronic smart locks are increasing in popularity with the rise of IoT and smart homes, as they provide convenience and a sense of security to consumers. Because they are typically battery-powered, energy efficiency to maximize battery life is crucial. The nature of these devices means they must also offer ease-of-use, stable operation, and the ability to withstand wide temperature ranges and ex...

Air purifiers and humidifiers must be able to reliably improve air quality for end users. The best designs also offer improved energy efficiency, convenience, and low noise. As more and more appliances are expected to be smart-home ready, consumers are demanding new features such as wireless connectivity for ease of control. To meet and exceed customer expectations, designers are challenged with f...

Ovens are a key household appliance, and one which consumers expect to be reliable, effective, convenient, and energy efficient. The rise of smart homes has added a new layer of design requirements to new generations of ovens, including durable and intuitive user interfaces, wireless connectivity, smart sensing, and predictive maintenance. IoT capabilities can help keep up with growing consumer ex...

Thermal imaging cameras sense and display infrared radiation as visible light, and many are designed to withstand extreme conditions such as high heat, dust, and smoke. These devices need to offer high performance and long battery life amid varying environments. Above all, they need to be reliable, as they are used in applications from examining electrical equipment to dangerous first-responder em...

Home remote controls — both infrared (IR) and remote frequency (RF) types — are being used for more and more smart home control systems, including televisions,sound systems, lighting, and other home environment controls. Advanced features are also being incorporated into these devices, such as non-line-of-sight operation, voice control, capacitive touch and haptic feedback, LED displays, and multi...

IP network cameras are quickly gaining traction over traditional analog security camera networks. Most IP network cameras serve the same function as analog security cameras but do not require local storage capacity and are connected to a users LAN network. Because of this, they are a popular part of smart home systems and security. Ever-growing user expectations and increasing concern about both d...

Portable points of service (POS) are tasked with delivering fast, secure payment transactions amid changing payment methods and growing customer expectations. They must offer high reliability, long battery life, ease-of-use, and quick processing speeds to accelerate checkout times. As retail and service spaces increasingly compete with online goods and service providers, efficiency and convenience...

Scanners are incorporating more features into new designs, such as wireless and wired connectivity, embedded processing and safety features, and convenient user interfaces. Todays scanners must be able to quickly image high-quality renditions of documents or photos, and energy-saving trends have increased the need for ultra-low standby power and reduced energy consumption. Our cutting-edge soluti...

3D printers are an increasingly popular tool for industrial and home use. Their ability to print objects, rather than simply images or documents, opens up a world of possibility for the user and a range of challenges for the designer. Accurate, precise motor control is more important than ever in these devices, and speed is a key differentiator for new designs. Consumer expectations are growing fo...

Multi-function printers typically offer printing, scanning, copying, and sometimes more features within one consumer device. Both inkjet and laser printers are incorporating more features, easier wireless connectivity, and smoother user interfaces into new designs. These all-in-one printers must be able to quickly print or image high-quality renditions of documents or photos, and energy-saving tre...