California-based Semtech is collaborating with Japanese chemical firm DIC on its line of HatteTotte sensors that operate via LoRaWan and can measure temperature, humidity and the amount of light in a space.

Its integration with LoRaWan allows for low power consumption and long-distance communication, making the sensors suitable for smart building application in malls, workspaces, homes, apartments and more.

“DIC Group strives to help create a society that adds rich colour and comfort to people’s lives,” said Hidefumi Nishi, technology and marketing supervisor at DIC. “Simplicity and design that blend into the space were top of mind when the HatteTotte sensor was in development. The sleek design of the sensor and flexibility of installation to nearly anywhere within a building not only offers cost-saving benefits to building managers, but also potential life-saving ones to those most susceptible to dangerous fluxes of temperature. The unique, resilient and soft housing minimises the risk in drops. HatteTotte sensors are able to adapt to all uses and provide peace of mind for building owners to ensure all occupants are safe at all times.”

The ease of installation comes from the thin, peel and stick design, allowing the sensor to be installed nearly anywhere in a smart building. Once installed, deployment is simple with easy set up via a personal computer where the end user can monitor the temperature, humidity and light inside a space and automate accordingly for comfort.

The sensors are thin, available in a normal or waterproof versions, and last up to five years with a built-in battery.

“As we move post-pandemic, monitoring the environment within an area is important to create a safe and healthy space for all,” said Marc Pégulu, vice president of Semtech. “DIC’s utilisation of LoRaWan for its HatteTotte sensors showcases the remarkable ease of use and deployment of internet of things to create a smarter planet for its customers.”

Semtech’s LoRa device-to-cloud platform is a globally adopted long range, low power option for IoT applications. The firm’s LoRa devices provide the communication layer for the LoRaWan standard, which is maintained by the LoRa Alliance. Semtech is a founding member of the alliance.

DIC is one of Japan’s most diversified fine chemical companies and the heart of the DIC Group. Worldwide, the DIC Group has more than 170 subsidiaries, including Sun Chemical, across over 60 countries. Combined annual sales top $7bn and it has 22,000 employees worldwide.