Linovision LPR / ANPR Camera System

Tom Yao

LPR (License Plate Recognition) cameras or ANPR (Automatic Number Plate Recognition) cameras are widely used in entrance/exits, parking lots and road traffic to automatically capture & recognize license plates.

Linovision provides a complete and easy to use LPR camera system, including multiple options of LPR/ANPR cameras, LPR box (gateway to LPP Cloud with centralized plate number management), as well as UPS & Solar power system for installationswithout power and Internet.

ded73478

Types of LPR Cameras

According to the functionalities, LPR cameras can be divided into 3 types.

License plate camera: it is the entry-level LPR camera that improves vehicle image quality and help users to manually view license plates in recorded videos. The lens and camera sensor are optimized to generate a very clear vehicle image including the license plate, it can also improve light conditions by equipping with white LEDs. But it does not support automatically license plate capture or recognition. It relies on NVR or VMS software to provide license plate recognition.
 
License plate capture camera: It will automatically capture license plates and save images locally or upload to cloud, but it does not support license plate recognition, so it will not record license plate numbers in the system. Users can be notified with clear vehicle images and read license plates manually. It does not support video search by license plate numbers.
 
License plate recognition camera: this is the most advanced LPR camera. It will not only capture license plate but also recognize the plate numbers and record into the system. It can be working indepedently, since the recognition software is built-in the camera. Users can define whitelist or blacklist database and set triggers when unauthorized vehicles are coming.

Selection Guide of LPR Cameras

IPC562-LPR

2 Megapixels LPR license plate camera with 6-22mm motorized Lens, optimized for vehicle license plate recognition by extra 4 white LEDs & 120dB WDR & 3D DNR & HLC, IK10 vandal-proof and IP67 water-proof design

Read More

IPC562-LPR

IPC664AI-LPR

4MP 2.7-13.5mm motorized bullet type vandal-proof camera that can accurately detect vehicle and automatically take a picture with clear license plate image

Read More

IPC664AI-LPR

IPC7A27-ANPR

The 2021 latest ALPR (Automated License Plate Recognition) Camera with vehicle attributes analysis is one of the most advanced ANPR cameras in the market. It supports both AI deep learning and OCR based recognition, with up to 98% recognition accuracy. It has different LPR databases/firmware for the United States, Europe and Middle East.

Read More

IPC7A27-ANPR

Features of Linovision ANPR Cameras

 

Powered by Deep Learning Algorithm  |  High Recognition Rate  |  Already Deployed in 50+ Countries  |  Works in all light conditions

icon1

IPC7026P-ANPR

License Plate Recognition Camera
High Accuracy License Plate Recognition Based on
Deep Learning Technology | Includes Wall-mount and
Protection Housing

Read More

IPC7026P-ANPR

IPC7V300-A6I (11-40mm)

3 MP IR ANPR Checkpoint Capture Unit
Based on deep learning algorithm architecture
Capture speed range: 5 to 250 km/h (5 to 155 m/h)

Read More

IPC7V300-A6I-(11-40mm)

LPR Box

Nayota LPR Box is an essential gateway for LPR cameras to upload license plates to Nayota LPR cloud, which is a centralized license plates management portal. Each LPR box can work with up to 16 license plate cameras.

Features of Nayota LPR Cloud
● Centralized management of license plates from many LPR cameras and many sites
● WEB access
● Deployed on Amazon AWS server in the United States.
● Multiple LPR cameras/Nayota-LPR box/Organizations/Users Management.
● Setup and and manage Whitelist/blacklist and apply to LPR cameras.
● Intuitive GUI interface, custom report.
● Optional IOT sensors management from ModBus, Lora ,LoraWan, NB-IOT, etc.

Read More

LPR-Box

UPS System

As many installations do not have stable power supply or wired internet, Linovision also provides 4G wireless UPS power system and 4G Solar power system.

 

4G Wireless UPS Power system
Industrial 4G router | High Capacity Lithium Battery | 110-240V AC Input

Read More

4G Wireless Solar Power system
Industrial 4G router | High Capacity Lithium Battery | Solar Power Controller | Easy Installation

Read More

UPS-System

Read more →

Vehicle Entrance & Exit Solution

Tom Yao

Linovision Vehicle Entrance & Exit Solution adopts advanced ANPR technology into a well coordinated vehicle management system, enabling a safe and efficient vehicle entrance and exit. Linovision offers convenient and efficient entrance & exit barriers to work with our LPR camera, which installed in industrial parks and fulfillment centers with or without a security booth at the gate.

Challenges

Parking lot without vehicle access management system

icon1

Unsafe

● Unauthorized vehicles can enter, posing potential danger.

● No available access record, making investigation difficult.

Inconvenient

● Unauthorized vehicles occupy parking spaces.

Outdated parking lot management device

icon2

Inefficient

● Swiping card slows down vehicle flow, which can cause congestion during rush hour.

● Wastes a lot of time when car owners forget their card.

icon3

Unsafe

● Lack of access records makes investigation difficult after an event.

● No means to check visitor’s status and record visiting time.

icon4

Inconvenient

● Needs a guard on site to monitor the area during emergency.

● Swiping parking card is inconvenient especially when it is raining or snowing.

Requirements

icon5

Build an ANPR vehicle access management system

icon6

Open and close the barrier automatically through plate recognition instead of swiping a card

icon7

Requires quick recognition and passage, and highly accurate recognition capability

icon8

Requires high reliability in order to avoid hitting people or cars

Solution Overview

Solution Value

icon9

Safe

● Restricts unauthorized vehicles

● Blocklist alarm

● Recording and backtracking

icon10

Economical

● Reduces operating costs

● No need for an on-site guard

icon11

Reliable

● 1-second recognition and fast passage

● Remote controlling via CMS

Application Scenarios

Residential Area Entrance

Residential Area Entrance

Office Building Entrance

Office Building Entrance

 

Apartment Entrance

Apartment Entrance

School Entrance

School Entrance

 

Hotel Entrance

Apartment Entrance

Industrial Park Entrance

Industrial Park Entrance

Recommended Models

Barrie1r

Barrier

Ra1dar-Detector

Radar Detector

Read more →

Underwater Camera Solution For Aquaculture Farm

Tom Yao

Linovision underwater camera solution is specially designed for aquaculture farms, featuring 316L stainless material, unique anti-corrosion coating and 10-levels adjustable light control. The design of while LEDs and advanced image processing technologies ensure a high definition video even in the muddy underwater environment. A variety of sensors can be integrated into this system, including dissolved oxygen sensor, water temperature sensor, etc. This system supports wired or wireless transmission, such as 4G LTE or CPE wireless transmission. This system can also be widely used in water treatment facilities, reservoirs, dams, marine aquariums, etc.

Features of Underwater Camera

Multiple Sensors Integration | Adjustable Light Control | 4G/CPE Wireless Transmission optional | Solar power | 316L Stainless material anti-corrosion | Up to 100m depth

IPC422UW-10

Underwater IP Camera with 316L Stainless Steel Case and 5 Pcs White LEDs
Designed for Aquaculture Farms

IPC608UW-10

4K POE IP Underwater Camera for Aquaculture and Underwater Inspection

IPC722OT-316L

Industrial Underwater Camera with Dissolved Oxygen and Temperature Sensors
Designed for Aquaculture Farms

System Topology Diagram

Read more →

Active Deterrence Cameras: Motion-Activated Strobe, Siren, and Vocal Warnings, our goal is to prevent crime from happening – not just record it.

Tom Yao

What Is Active Deterrence?

 

Do you like to install your security cameras in obvious locations to maximize their visibility? Do you often try to make your security cameras as obvious as possible? Have you ever wished your security cameras could warn intruders that they're being watched? Historically, the main purpose of a security camera is to capture evidence should an unfortunate event occur. Other than the deterrent of simply having one, however, security cameras don’t actively prevent these events. But not anymore! We have some new Active Deterrence cameras at LINOVISION. With visual and auditory warnings built right into these cameras, with their bright LED spotlight and loud siren, are designed to stop people in their tracks. you'll never have to worry about your surveillance going unnoticed by intruders again.

Before we jump into these cameras and their awesome features, let's start with the question you might be asking yourself right now: what even is active deterrence?

When you put up a security camera, it's probably because you want to make sure that the areas under your surveillance are crime-free. Because of this, any security camera install is considered an act of deterrence. However, most of the time the security cameras stand by, keeping a close yet silent eye on your property. It will surely capture any criminal activity on video. It may even alert you through a recorder or mobile notification. However, these cameras won't do anything on their own to prevent the crime from happening. They are passive.

Oppositely, active deterrence is any additional measure taken by a surveillance system to ward off potential intruders and to, well, actively deter crime. Our Active Deterrence Cameras will not sit idly by while an intruder appears on the scene. These cameras have the ability to warn potential criminals through a motion-actived strobe light, siren, and voice. It may sound simple at first, but for features like this to be useful, it takes some pretty advanced motion-detection technology.

Active Deterrence Features

When looking for an active deterrence security camera, there are a couple of things to look for. First, and most obviously, the camera needs a way to alert intruders of its presence. Second, and less obviously, the camera needs to be able to recognize human agency and distinguish relevant motion from the irrelevant. Our Deterrence Cameras knock both of these requirements out of the park. Let's take a closer look at how these cameras actively deter.

Visual Warning

When you take a look at the camera, the first thing you will notice is the strobe light right under the lens. When it detects motion, it will flash repeatedly, alerting anyone nearby of its presence. In the camera's web interface, you can adjust the strobe light's duration and frequency. Depending on how you have it set up, the strobe light will flash for anywhere between one second and one minute.

Less noticeable at first glance is the onboard speakers, located on the bottom of the camera. If the strobe light doesn't catch the attention of the intruder, then the audible warnings sure will. You can choose between several different sounds, including a siren, a voice, or a combination of the two.

Intelligent Motion Detection

This camera's motion-activated strobe light and audible warnings are fantastic. But on their own, they're really not that useful. This camera's intelligent motion detection features really hold everything together and make this camera stand out as one of the best active deterrence security cameras available. You see, cameras that use standard pixel-based motion detection are not super reliable, as the motion detection alarm is triggered anytime the pixels move around on the screen. These cameras will consider pretty much anything "motion," whether it's a burglar breaking into your home or a piece of dust floating by the camera's lens. For a normal surveillance solution, this isn't much of a big deal. It may fill up your hard drive with a ton of recordings, but it will still reliably capture all movement.

However, when it comes to active deterrence, these standard pixel-based motion detection cameras just won't hold up. Think about it. If you set your camera up to sound a siren and flash a light every time it senses movement, false alarms are a little bit more of a nuisance than if the camera was just recording video. For this reason, these active deterrence cameras bring a whole new motion-detection technology into our Active Deterrence cameras.

Active Deterrence Motion Detection

The intelligent motion detection on these active deterrence security cameras is pixel-based motion detection on steroids. It is still based on pixel motion, so unlike Passive Infrared motion detection (PIR), it can detect motion for as far as the camera can see. The difference between these cameras and a standard motion detection camera is its smart filters. Using a very high tech and complicated algorithm, these active deterrence cameras can actually tell the difference between human motion and other kinds of motion.

How does Active Deterrence Smart Motion Detection Work?

So let's say a bird hops across the parking lot, right down the middle of your deterrence camera's field of view. The camera will register the change in pixels and know that motion is happening. But before it does anything, it's going to analyze whatever it is that's causing the change in pixels. It will take the shape of whatever is moving, in this case, the bird. It will compare that shape to the thousands of shapes in its database. It will then classify the moving shape into one of three categories: human, vehicle, or other. Our little bird here will fall into the third category, and the camera will completely ignore the motion.

If, however, the camera decides that the moving object is either a human or a vehicle, it will register the motion as important. You can actually see this process directly from the live view on the camera's web interface. You can see in the images and video below that the green box around the human and the vehicle turn red once the camera registers the motion as important.

But wait, there's more! This amazing technology puts control in your hands. Would you like your camera to only target human motion and ignore vehicles? You can do that. The camera will still register vehicle motion as important, so the lines will still turn red. But the camera will not sound the alarm or start a recording. Want to target vehicles and not humans? Or both humans and vehicles? Whatever it is you have in mind for these cameras, you can easily accomplish in just a few clicks.

How Accurate is Active Deterrence Smart Motion Detection?

Here's the big question that I know you're probably asking right now. This technology sounds great and all, but does it work? How accurate is it? Will it really cut out all false alarms? Well, like all technology, it has its limitations. It's not going to give you accurate results 100% of the time. For instance, sometimes the active deterrence security camera installed in our back parking lot thought this yellow pole here was a human and registered some irrelevant motion as important. Sometimes it thought these people walking in front of cars were actually cars themselves. So I'm not going to sit here and tell you that you're never going to have a false alarm again. But here's what I can tell you with confidence. These active deterrence security cameras will reduce the amount of false alarms you experience from standard motion detection cameras by at least 90%.

Active Deterrence Camera Uses and Examples

So far, we've talked about the theory behind these cameras, their deterrence features, and their smart motion events. Now we're going to get practical. If you're wondering how you would use one of these cameras, here are a few ideas to get your creative juices pumping.

● Looking for a way to prevent copper theft from your air conditioner unit? Scare off copper thieves with your deterrence siren and strobe.

● Do you manage a no parking zone? Throw one of these cameras up there and watch the illegal parkers flee the scene.

● What about boat docks or other restricted areas? These cameras are a great way to keep people out.

But even if you're not interested in the deterrence features of these cameras, the smart motion detection still makes them insanely useful. If you disable the sounds and strobe, you can still benefit from these cameras.

● Want to set up a standalone camera with an SD card? Cameras can't hold as much space as a recorder. With their smart events, these cameras will save you tons of storage by only recording important motion.

● Looking for a way to receive push notifications to your cell phone based on activity on your property? Install one of these cameras and you'll only receive important push notifications. Install a standard motion detection camera and it'll blow up your phone day and night with false alarms.

● Do you want to see long distances in the dark? Okay, this doesn't have to do with smart motion detection. But our Active Deterrence bullet also has a super long IR range of 50m, perfect for any nighttime scenario.

Post time: May-11-2022

 

Read more →

We spend one-third of our lives in the workplace, and most of the time it’s in an office environment.

Tom Yao

Before COVID, employees usually cared only about maintaining a comfortable temperature and lighting in the office. Now, with the proven connection between air quality and transmission of viral diseases, office buildings are rushing to improve their HVAC systems to ensure their tenants have a safe working environment.

Monitoring and maintaining good air quality is more than a temporary practice. There are a whole variety of reasons why it should be routine. Air quality is an important factor in the improvement of the workspace, as it directly affects the health of employees, as well as their work productivity and mood.

The average person takes up to 23 thousand breaths and exhalations every day. According to studies, the air quality inside buildings can be up to 5-10 times worse than outside.

What pollutants are encountered in the office?

  • Fine particles PM2.5, ultrafine particles PM1: dust, smoke, fumes, pollen, mold, industrial emissions, crumb rubber from shredded tires over asphalt. They usually enter the office from outside;
  • Volatile organic compounds (VOC) are hazardous chemicals emitted from paints, adhesives, household chemicals, including air fresheners, disinfectants, construction and finishing materials, such as plywood, floor coverings, petroleum products, etc.;
  • Carbon dioxide (CO2) is a product of respiration, and its high level indicates insufficient operation of ventilation systems;

Does clean air improve our productivity?

The connection between indoor environments and people’s mental health has become a hot topic among leading academics. Several years ago, Harvard and Stanford launched new academic programs focused on “Healthy Buildings”. These programs study the intersection between buildings and health sciences and conduct various studies on the relationship between air quality and our cognitive abilities.

study conducted by a group of researchers led by Joseph Allan, a Harvard University professor and director of the “Healthy Buildings” program, showed that working in well-ventilated offices with low levels of indoor air pollution and CO2 leads to significantly higher cognitive functioning scores among employees. In 2015, for six days, 24 participants – designers, architects, engineers, marketing professionals, and programmers – worked in controlled office environments and passed cognitive tests.

Every day the conditions changed, but the participants weren’t aware of it. First, the researchers tested people's response to normal ventilation and doubled it, which is in line with the increased “gree” standards of buildings. On other days, they artificially increased the carbon dioxide and VOC levels. The VOC sources were common office items such as markers, building materials, cleaning products, and clothes after dry cleaning.

The results of the experiment were impressive. Volunteers performed 61% better on tests when air quality met “green” standards, and at higher standards, the so-called Green+, cognitive performance showed a 101% increase. Measuring different cognitive functions, the researchers observed the greatest effect on the areas of strategy, new information usage, and crisis response.

But to feel the negative impact of polluted air, there is no need to arrange experiments. These conditions often occur naturally. In meeting rooms and conference rooms, carbon dioxide levels skyrocket, as employees usually don’t open windows and doors so that noise from the street or nearby offices doesn’t interrupt work processes. As a result, people leave meeting rooms tired and with headaches.

In general, poor air quality is associated with increased fatigue and decreased concentration.

Does clean air in the office increase a company's profitability?

Higher productivity

Maintaining clean air has a direct economic effect on a company’s performance first of all due to its impact on employees’ productivity. The study found an increase in decision-making performance when the ventilation rate in offices was increased from 20 cfm/person to 40 cfm/person which would result in annual costs of less than $40 per person per year. This change in cognitive performance corresponded to a $6500 change in a typical office worker’s productivity: basic activity, information usage, breadth of approach, strategy, and crisis response.

Fewer sick leaves

Low levels of pollutants are associated with fewer triggers for people with asthma, allergies, and other respiratory conditions.

In the past, there were a number of studies regarding the effects of air pollution on influenza-like infections. Some of the studies pointed out that despite adults aged 25-59 being the most affected, all age groups are susceptible to flu during peak concentrations of PM2.5. In poorly ventilated buildings, the rate of respiratory diseases such as fluinfluenza, and pneumonia leads to an increased number of sick leaves.

The costs associated with implementing green building strategies at the workplace might become a potential barrier for employers. However, the School of Public Health at Harvard University discovered that medical costs fall by about $3.27 for every dollar spent on wellness programs and that absenteeism costs fall by about $2.73 for every dollar spent.

Companies that focus on employee well-being increase job satisfaction

Caring for air quality has a positive effect on employee retention, as it increases job satisfaction and improves the employer's image.

The World Green Building Council conducted a study on improving occupants’ satisfaction through realizing green practices such as working on acoustics, air quality, office materials, and lighting, which all affect economic performance.

For example, engineering and consulting company Cundall, with 170 employees in London, has focused on improving air quality, including regular monitoring of carbon dioxide and VOCs (volatile organic compounds). Together with other measures to reduce noise, it reduced absenteeism by 4 days per year per employee, reduced staff turnover by 27%, and, according to the company report, saved £ 200,000.

Post time: May-10-2022

Read more →

How do Wireless Sensors use LoRaWAN?

Tom Yao

LoRaWAN is defined as Long Range Wide Area Network and is a LoRa technology derived from LPWAN advancements and IoT’s need for reliable long distance networking capabilities.

LoRaWAN is considered a wireless communication standard that connects IoT devices to a network to communicate informational data sets over a long distance using minimal battery power. Consumer and industry demands for efficiency dictate the rate of LoRaWAN sensors expansion, the application of wireless sensors or IoT sensors grow as more devices come into demand to deliver more results effectively.

While the idea behind wireless sensor networks and IoT sensors are considered complex, we are going to break down the information and redeliver it in a clean and simple way.

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN LORA AND LORAWAN?

LoRa and LoRaWAN are technical terms oftentimes used interchangeably with another, but are not by definition the same. They different and we’ll explain how.

WHAT IS LORA?

LoRa alone stands for Long Range and is considered the physical (PHY) or first layer standard. Radio Bridge’s LoRa devices and wireless radio frequency technology is a long range, low power platform that has become a wireless standard for IoT sensors and networks globally.

LoRa technology enables the deployment of smart IoT applications that are tasked with solving worldwide challenges like energy efficiency, pollution control, infrastructure productivity, disaster prevention, and many other applications. LoRa refers to the physical implementation for transmitting radio signals using a multi-symbol chirped format to encode the information before transmission through a proprietary system. This is slightly different than LoRaWan.

WHAT IS LORAWAN?

LoRaWAN, on the other hand, uses LoRa and includes an additional MAC later consisting of application standards. LoRaWAN is a popular wireless communication standard that could be placed in a category with 3G, Bluetooth, GSM, LTE, etc., although it’s not the same. LoRaWAN has similar or greater range than a smartphone, the flexibility of Wi-Fi, the battery life comparable to a watch, and costs only a few bucks. LoRaWAN has many desirable features that make it an attractive standard for IoT sensors and devices.

What are the featured characteristics of LoRaWAN?

LoRaWAN is rooted in the physical LoRa layer and has a raw max data rate of 27 kbps. Given the low-power long-range capabilities of LoRaWAN wireless sensors, a single sensor or network of wireless IoT sensors can remain powered for roughly a decade before needing maintenance. Here are some key features of LoRaWAN:

· Bidirectional

· Long battery life (up to 10 years)

· Low cost

· Low data rate (0.27bps – 50kbps, avg. daily 10 kB)

· Long range (urban areas less than 5km, suburban areas less than 10km, VLOS less than 80km)

· Operates in unlicensed spectrum

· Secure (AES encryption)

WHERE IS LORAWAN USED?

As stated above, LoRa allows the three L’s, two of which are positive and the third subjective. The low power, long range, and low data rates allow wireless sensors and other LoRa technology to have many use cases in several industries. Gas/electricity/water wireless sensors metering can send current usage information a couple of times a day, while SMART parking can be configured to send messages when parking spots fill or open up, requires no cabling and is low maintenance.

LoRa technology can also be seen in SMART lighting to control and optimize traffic flows by observing streetlight status and operation. Environmental monitoring uses like observing humidity, pollution, radiation, sound, temperature, etc. This type of use can establish vital insights when coupled with geolocation.

This type of technology can also serve a purpose in asset management by reporting the status and location of certain specified assets like control lights, locks, etc. Tracking industries are able to streamline and effectively track goods, delivery vehicles as well as package status and delivery route alerts. Healthcare stands to see the benefits of LoRa networks.

Think about activity detection and fall monitoring sensors in hospitals and nursing homes. There is no charging needed, it’s long lasting and has strong network coverage.

HOW DOES LORAWAN WORK?

For sake of simplicity LoRaWAN networks can be primarily illustrated by the following diagram:

Devices<–>LoRa radio <–>Gateway<–>Network Server <–>End Application

Looks linear, simple, and yet confusing and mysterious. How does this work and what does it mean? Upstream messages (data sent from the device) are encrypted and sent over LoRa radio through transmissions. The message is received by one or more gateways who then transfer the encrypted data over a network (typically IP cellular/Ethernet) to a network server. The network server is the software that authenticates the device and decrypts the LoRaWAN payload. The server then delivers the data packet to the appropriate end application.

This process can also happen in the inverse, better explained, messages can be sent downstream which allows the application to reconfigure the end devices. With this being said, LoRa was designed to use low energy, which means some devices are limited when listening for incoming data transmission. This factor is device dependent as described in the next section.

WHAT ARE LORAWAN WIRELESS SENSOR DEVICES?

A LoRaWAN sensor device is anything that sends or receives informational data and is commonly carried out by devices like wireless sensors, detectors, and actuators. These devices come in 3 classes and are essentially a step up from the previous class.

For instance, a Class A device is only able to receive a message during a small window after it has sent an uplink message and then returns to a low power sleep state where it cannot receive new messages.

Class B is similar to A, but instead is able to listen for incoming messages following predetermined intervals.

Unlike Classes A and B, Class C is able to continuously listen for new incoming messages without entering sleep mode, however, this feature comes at the expense of higher energy usage and for that reason, many Class C devices are not battery operated.

The LoRaWAN standard uses two different message types: MAC messaging and data messaging. MAC messages are used as commands to control the radio and networking message. Data messages are the actual payload that is sent/received and is application or device specific. Since these sensors have limited messaging capabilities, MAC commands/messages are able to ride alongside data messages similar to piggybacking and numerous MAC messages can be released at one time.

WHAT IS THE LORA RADIO?

LoRa uses radio frequency (RF) signals to communicate and operate in the unlicensed ISM spectrum. This means that anyone can openly use this band without paying or getting a license so long as regulations are followed as determined by the FCC in the US. Although LoRa operates in the ISM (Industrial, Science, Medical) band, the ranges within ISM fields vary greatly depending on geographical region.

LoRa provides the necessary ranges and data rate within the following geographical frequencies for specified wireless sensors: Europe: 868Mhz and 433 Mhz, US: 915Mhz and AUS: 915-928 Mhz. These differences prevent US devices and gateways from being compatible with European or Australian devices. There are several techniques LoRa uses to improve data reliability, however, the two most important ones are Spread Spectrum and Adaptive Data Rate (ADR).

Spread Spectrum: Originally developed for military applications increasing resistance to interference from noise and jamming. It does this by taking raw information and is spread across a larger frequency.

ADR: This allows augmentation of the data rate and transmit power to adjust the functioning of signal quality and distance to the gateway. A slow transmission will have a higher spreading factor that achieves longer and more reliable ranges.

WHAT IS A LORA GATEWAY?

A gateway can be thought of as an access point or modem. It’s receiving all LoRa radio messages sent by devices within range. If the gateway has a network server built in it will process the data payload locally, and if the network server is located in the cloud the gateway will simply relay the encrypted packet to the server. 

WHAT DOES THE NETWORK SERVER DO?

Once a LoRa gateway has received a transmitted data packet (message), it will then continue upstream to a network server, considered the most intelligent or sophisticated area of the LoRaWAN network. Network servers are responsible for carrying out a list of various tasks that include:

· Decrypt LoRa payload data

· Provision devices to speak to the network

· Grouping incoming messages from all LoRaWAN gateways within its network and sensor range.

· Direct/advance incoming data to the appropriate end application.

· Regulate LoRa radio settings to the gateways.

· When there are multiple gateways, the best gateway within range is selected for downlink messages for that particular device.

· Data buffering: stores downlink data (messages) until a class A or B LoRa device is able to receive messages specified during configuration.

· Filter/Eliminate duplicate messages/data sent from a single device appearing across multiple gateways where devices are unknown by receiving gateways. Since there is no distinction, multiple gateways can receive the same data.

· Assess/monitor gateways and devices.

The network server in most instances will direct messages from a particular ID and port to a specified or predefined application. This typically happens by sending it to a web service (HTTP(S)) or by placing it in an MQTT queue to be sent to the right place at a determined interval.

WHAT DOES END APPLICATION MEAN?

The final step of data transmission in a LoRa network is the data sent to the actual end application. This is where manufacturers and developers will create code to parse messages received by devices relevant to the application being used. This is where the raw data is assembled into digestible information for the end user’s interpretation.

We’ve simplified the flow diagram so you can visually compare how these areas work with each other.

Lastly, security comes to mind. Since networks themselves do not need to be able to interpret the data received unless it pertains to network infrastructure or is relevant to the network itself. A network session key (NwkSKey) encrypts the messages and payloads in the event a MAC command is sent. This key signs the message allowing networks to verify the sender’s identity.

A second key is known as the application session key (AppSKey) and is responsible for encrypting the payload (actual data) and does not need to be recognized or known by the network server in order to forward the message where it needs to be. The application server will then decrypt the message to extract the information by using the same key.

There are two secure ways to join a LoRa network. They are referred to as Activation by Personalization (ABP) and Over the Air Activation (OTAA). This determines how LoRaWAN devices connect to networks, but does not involve upstream-downstream communication flow as we’ve detailed above.

Post time: May-10-2022

Read more →

Indoor Air Quality Monitoring

Tom Yao

Indoor Air Quality Monitoring, The Key to Unlock Productivity in Workspaces.

What is indoor air quality monitoring, and why does it matter?

The US government’s Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) defines indoor air quality as “the quality of air in a home, school, office, or other building environment.” According to the EPA’s research, concentrations of key pollutants are up to five times higher indoors than outdoors. The best indoor air quality monitors gather information about these contaminants, as well as conditions like CO2 Concentration, TVOC, temperature, air pressure, and humidity that determine the quality of the air we breathe, which in turn affects how we feel and how well we work.

Substances like VOCs have a pronounced impact on our health. Over the long term, VOCs contribute to short-term issues like headache, inflammation of the eyes, nose and throat, and flare-ups of respiratory complaints. meanwhile, Critically, studies show that good indoor air quality has a profound effect on performance among building users, boosting cognitive scores, and cutting absenteeism.

When we think of the indoor working space or inside environmental monitoring, all sorts of images will come to mind, such as the meeting rooms, HVAC systems, filtration, and other electronic systems. However, it is the case that the office environment has often been ignored as factors that affect human activities and work performance. Therefore, it’s necessary to know how to utilize IoT devices LINOVISION AM107 air quality Monitor in an office monitoring and improve your well-being and work productivity.

When you monitor indoor air quality, it can reveal a need for better ventilation in a building, which may pose an immediate problem for facility managers. The construction industry puts greater emphasis on energy efficiency these days and, as a result, modern buildings are increasingly air-tight. Potentially, there‘s a trade-off between energy costs and higher quality air. Equally, property owners may be anxious that, if indoor air quality monitoring uncovers a problem, they’ll be held responsible for putting it right. However, using tech with the right sensors and reporting tools also presents a significant opportunity to move away from thinking about the building and its requirements to thinking primarily about the users of the building. This type of investment offers the potential to increase productivity and ROI, make the environment in the property more appealing to tenants, and demonstrate the true value of facility managers. 

Core Benefit:

Boosting productivity:

There is clear and compelling evidence that a healthy indoor environment can improve the performance of workers: A study co-written by the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health reveals that improved indoor environmental quality could boost decision making scores by 101%. It calculates that cognitive improvements from better quality air resulted in each employee generating on average an extra $17,000 each year. In 2018, the World Green Building Council published a report that shows a healthier work environment could cut sick leave by 58%, or four days per year per worker.

The evidence shows that better air in your building makes for productive and healthier employees, who think more clearly and work more effectively to generate more income for their employers. Indoor air quality gives facility managers an opportunity to boost productivity and ROI in their buildings, to the benefit of tenants and owners alike.

Key Measuring Factors:

CO2 is a major source of complaints of poor indoor air quality. Normally, a CO2 concentration less than 1,000ppm is considered satisfactory, but in crowded or badly ventilated rooms concentrations can reach 5,000ppm. When levels of CO2 are high, it can result in drowsiness, lethargy, and poor decision making. Again, the solution is supplying more fresh air.

TVOCs, these substances exist in modern cleaning products, paints, solvents, carpets, and furniture. They contribute to long-term problems like cardiovascular diseases. They also cause short-term issues, like headaches, inflammation of the nose, throat and eyes and flare ups of pneumonia or bronchitis. Such ailments cause absence from work or prevent employees from working at full capacity. They can be combated by changing to healthier products and by effective HVAC.

Humidity, temperature, and air pressure, these conditions affect how we feel and how we perform. They’re linked to complaints like headaches and migraines, variations in blood pressure, and joint pain, which are likely to impact employees’ productivity.

Lighting Adjustment,The lighting in the office affects visual perception. With the AM107 sensor, you can make data-based decisions to optimize the lighting system by utilizing natural light to auto deliver the right light at the right time. Reasonable lighting can not only protect your eyes and reduce fatigue but also reduce mistakes in the work.

Motion (PIR) Detection,You can predicate meeting room occupancy in the office through behavior extraction, which saves your time and improve efficiency. AM107 sensor can be an energy saver as well by shutting off lights in a meeting room when it senses no motion anymore.

Why use LINOVISION Indoor Air Quality Monitor for Business Solution?

1: Speedy Deployment, LINOVISION Air Quality Monitor Business solution is easy to deploy, installing AM107 Wireless Monitor as simple just like Mounting it on the wall. All data transmission Via LoRaWAN Wireless so its separate from current WiFi Network, Low-Power-Consumption makes the battery life up to 2 years, speaking of first time configuration via NFC, it could be done within a minute!

2: Economical solution for business, LINOVISION LoRaWAN Indoor Air Quality Monitor supports from 2km to 15km away long distance wireless transmission, but without high power consumption, the built-in battery in the monitor support up to 10 years battery life, it means that there is no need to replace the battery during the years, meanwhile, one Gateway supports up to 2,000 connections of monitors in a ultra wide area or campus. Easy Installation saves considerable amount of cost, It’s so called, Long-Range with Low Power Consumption, High capacity with Easy-Installation, Long-Time use with Extreme Low-Cost of maintenance Indoor Air Monitor solution for any business deployment.

3: Safety and secured transmission, LINOVISION LoRaWAN Indoor Air Quality Monitoring Solution Features end-to-end AES128 encryption, mutual authentication, integrity protection, and confidentiality, All data transmission Via LoRaWAN Wireless so its separate from current WiFi Network, All the data from monitors are fully protected by Bank-Level AES128bit encryption method.

4: Compatibility, LINOVISION Indoor Air Quality Monitoring solution, Wireless transmission Powered by LoRaWAN, the core infrastructure is built-on industrial open standard, The monitor node and Gateways are compatible to any LoRaWAN sensor and hubs, It’s easy for future project extension.

5: 7 in 1 Monitor, LINOVISION S500AM107 is dedicated designed for Indoor Air Quality Monitoring Solution for any size of building and offices, The most fundamental and essential key measuring factors are included in S500AM107, as CO2 Concentration, TVOC, Barometric Pressure, Temperature, Humidity, and even Light Intensity and Motion detection, Those are the key factors which are affecting one’s healthy and productivity, Tailor-Made for office and school buildings.

Where can it be used?

Office Buildings.

A lot of workers and users attend public administration buildings. Keeping the quality of the air inside them is important not only to provide comfort and the best environmental conditions possible to the workers, but it is also a key factor in the prevention of occupational hazards. A bad air quality can provoke health problems, which implies less productivity and sick leaves.

Schools.

Students spend many hours daily inside classrooms, so indoor air quality in schools must reach the highest quality and comfort levels. The concentration of pollution agents spreading through the air can affect the health and the performance of teachers and students. Monitoring air quality helps with the ventilation strategy to reach a high air quality.

Key Advantages:

How the system works?

This IAQ sensor is required to connect to LoRaWAN Gateway and upload data to the cloud. One gateway supports 2,000 connections of sensors in an ultra wide area or campus. Administrators can then monitor and manage all of these sensors in one dashboard.

The LINOVISION IoT Air Quality Monitor solution for Business Gateway can connects up to 2000 battery operated monitors through LoRaWAN Wireless, a long range wireless data extraction technology that operates using very little power. This piece of kit allows monitors to be distributed throughout a large building so that indoor air quality data is available anytime and anywhere.

Wireless technology means that there is no need for a time-consuming installation, or ripping up walls and ceiling tiles. The latest indoor air quality monitors can be up and running in hours. They offer long battery life, so they don‘t take up valuable power outlets. And they use APIs, meaning that they can communicate wirelessly with other tech. Reporting and using the data they gather is as easy and seamless as possible.

The information generated by an indoor air quality monitor can be accessed remotely. It will provide genuine evidence to action work requests for HVAC or changes to your air quality regime. Data from the top sensors cover the following metrics.

 

This solution can be used in every size and shape of building, bringing sustainability and energy efficiency to any project at low cost. By installing the right indoor air quality monitoring system for your building, you’ve got the tools to improve indoor air quality and increase the health and well-being of all building users. The sensors will provide invaluable information that you can turn into insights and action.

Post time: May-09-2022

Read more →

What is the Internet of Things (IoT) and what does it mean for agriculture?

Tom Yao

IoT represents an ever-growing network of physical objects (“things”) connected to sensors capable of network connectivity. Sensor networks automate the collection and exchange of crucial operational data from the field. Using LINOVISION LoRaWAN IoT Sensor Solutions for Agriculture, growers can remotely monitor and manage corp, processing, and machinery systems from anywhere, anytime. This also means secure data recording and immediate alerts about issues before they become costly, time-consuming problems.

Business Insider.com reports that the agricultural industry is rapidly becoming more important than ever before. The report predicts a future population of more than 9 billion people by 2050, which dictates world growers will need to produce about 70 percent more food by that time.

This makes the Internet of Things an ag-industry growth factor,  as recognized by Deloitte, a leading audit, consulting, advisory and tax services firm in the U.S. who predicts a “millennial shift from family operations to smart food factories.” By employing automation technology and IoT solutions; operations can keep pace with “Agribusiness” trends and advantages.

Advantages Enabled by IoT Solutions.

1.Food Quality.

2.Operational Efficiencies.

3.Increase Machinery Life Cycle.

4.Food Safety/Regulatory Compliance.

5.Energy Savings.

Ag Sensing.

The opportunities for wireless IoT sensing in agriculture are innumerable, regardless, this section attempts to list a few of the most attractive applications for wireless sensing. A report published by the Broadband Commission for Sustainable Development 2016 identifies a plethora of IoT sensor solutions that have track records of saving money in areas such as crop production, food storage, distribution, air monitoring and soil monitoring (Temperature, salinity, PH and water levels). IoT solutions allow growers to leverage sensor data and increase yields and efficiency.

Features and Benefits of Wireless Sensor Solution.

1.Easy set-up and use.

2.Reliable, proven technology.

3.Low-cost.

4.Low battery consumption.

5.Wide-Range wireless coverage.

6.Scalable,Expandable, Industrial standard.

7.Cloud-based monitoring platform.

8.24/7 Access from anywhere.

Commercial Greenhouse:

Commercial greenhouses make up a massive and growing worldwide industry. Like any business, reducing overhead costs, managing facilities and equipment, integrating technology, and streamlining operations, can all be challenges for managers.

But to stay competitive, commercial greenhouse managers need to be on the leading edge of production and facility operations. See how LINOVISION LoRaWAN Sensor Pack for Greenhouse helps commercial growers and facility operations 24/7.

Challenges.

A produce grower saw plant growth variations throughout its new greenhouses. Managers needed to know what was hindering growth in certain areas. They had to do something fast to root out the risk to affected plants. The company wanted a  solution that could quickly assess the situation and get right to work to help fix the problem.

Additionally, they wanted a better overall greenhouse management solution to help them minimize energy use while preventing crop issues using basic yet robust climate controls for temperature, humidity, air quality, water detection, and lighting.

The company wanted to thoroughly monitor the climate in all of its greenhouses and avoid issues like growers unknowingly overcompensating across an entire greenhouse for any area they perceive to be outside of acceptable parameters. After some research, they felt confident that easy-to-use wireless sensors were key to all of their current challenges.

Solution

Results

ROI: Using LINOVISION LoRaWAN Wireless Sensor Pack for Greenhouse Solution, the grower can:

1.Track temperature, humidity, air quality, and water leaks.

2.Lower energy consumption on demand.

3.Maximize efficiency within its growing climates.

4.Increase crop yield in every greenhouse.

5.Lower operating costs across the company.

LINOVISION LoRaWAN Wireless Sensor for Greenhouse Product Portfolio:

Temperature Sensors: The LINOVISION Industrial Temperature Sensor will measure a range of conditions from   -30°C  to + 70°C   and deliever time-stamped readings for easy logging and  graphing.

Humidity Sensors: The scientific-grade Humidity Sensor remotely monitors relative humidity(RH) with a RH(±5%) accuracy, and measuring range between 0% - 100% RH, temperature, and dew point in greenhouse.

Carbon Dioxide Sensors: Carbon Dioxide is a must in greenhouses to fuel photosynthesis and growth. The LINOVISION Wireless CO2 Sensor will alert you if CO2 levels are above or below your ideal settings.

Light Meters: Ideal for measuring light for plants that need more than 12 hours of it, the LINOVISION Wireless Light Meters deliver readings on light intensity in lux(lx) from 0 - 100,000.

Water Detection Sensors: In greenhouses, there are many places a water leak can occur. A LINOVISION Wireless Water Detection Sensor along a pipe or wall can quickly alert you.

Soil Moisture, Temperature and Electrical Conductivity Sensor: The LINOVISION Wireless Soil Moisture Sensor  provides an external probe for receiving accurate and instantaneous information on soil moisture content, temperature, and salinity, it is an important tool for anyone involved with soil.

LINOVISION LoRaWAN G65 Indoor Gateway: With built-in WEB and compatible to multiple IoT Cloud platforms, IP65 rating, NXP Quad-Core processor, Semtech SX1302 LoRa chip, multiple backhaul connectivity, long range wireless transmission and global LoRaWAN frequency plans.

Initially, the grower found that temperature and humidity levels varied widely from one part of a greenhouse to another. Some areas were warmer (partly due to the angle of sunlight), while other areas were cooler with different humidity levels. With a graphical-aerial overview of greenhouse climate, grow managers could adjust each climate while minimizing the energy being used.

Through gateways, the sensors sent information to the LINOVISION G65 Gateway and Cloud. Using LINOVISION Cloud Maps,  the grow managers to drag and drop sensor tags onto the map with live data. Then, they could see the performance of their greenhouses.

The sensors were set to check the temperature every few minutes and record temperatures every 10 minutes. Notifications were set up to alert staff if temperature and humidity levels fell outside of a nominal range, allowing them to adjust the greenhouse climate appropriately.

Post time: May-09-2022

Read more →

Compact Zoom Camera Module to Build Your Own Explosion-Proof Camera or Robotic Machines

Tom Yao

Are you looking for a long-range zoom network camera module to build your own explosion proof cameras or robotic machines? This module is probably a perfect fit.

● Up to 2 Megapixels (1920×1080) resolution @ 30fps, H.265/H.264 encoding;
● 33x optical zoom (5.5-180mm), 16x digital zoom
● Starlight low light performance, defog, WDR
● Support local SD card storage, up to 256GB
● Compact dimension (97.5mm x 61.5mm x 50mm or 3.84″ x 2.42” x 1.97”), working with most PTZs / explosion proof PTZs / bullet enclosures
● Intuitive WEB GUI and free CMS software, flexible OEM service
● Optional LVDS digital output

Please check demo video here.

Integration support

● Provide complete SDK/ISAPI protocols to be integrated into your system
● Customize WEB GUI / VMS Software / Mobile App
● Optional Wi-Fi / 4G LTE wireless functions
● Free consulting and integration support service

 

Typical Applications

● For camera manufacturers to introduce a reliable and affordable zoom network camera
● For explosion-proof enclosure manufacturers to assemble professional explosion-proof cameras without expertise required
● For robotic machine manufacturers to add a super compact zoom camera module with full integration support
● For UAV suppliers to add long-range zoom camera modules
● For vertical projects that requires super long-range zoom module and full OEM services, like military use, air port use, border protection use, etc.

Linovision 33x Zoom Network Camera module

 

 

 

Please click this link to see more options of long-range network zoom camera modules.

https://global.linovision.com/collections/zoom-camera-module/products/2-megapixels-33x-optical-zoom-network-starlight-camera-module

Post time: May-07-2022

Read more →

LINOVISION PoE and Long Distance PoE Solutions

Tom Yao

Power over Ethernet (PoE) technology has been using Cat 5e/Cat 6 Ethernet cables to transport electric power over a single data connection for years. This technology allows for a safe and responsive installation that does a great job collecting data as well as transmitting power, all at a reasonable cost.

PoE helps power such nodes and devices as VoIP phones, wireless access points, LED lighting systems, surveillance products, industrial controls, and network switches, using just one Ethernet cable. In fact, PoE powers at least a third of Internet of Things (IOT) devices, which today number in the billions. Smart homes, IP security systems, digital signs, and accuracy monitoring sensors in industrial settings all benefit from PoE technology. One of the main benefits of PoE is the labor cost savings experienced by not having to run separate electrical lines and outlets everywhere a device needs to be powered.  And many people or businesses use PoE when they need to connect to an outdoor power source since it’s safer than standard electrical cabling.

PoE does have some limitations, however. These primarily relate to transmission distance, device compatibility workarounds, and power delivery rates. PoE’s transmission distance is limited to 100 meters (about 328 feet), which often proves ineffective for the needs of many potential users. The problem with short transmission distances doesn’t arise with the powered cable itself.  An Ethernet cable can transmit power much further than 100 meters.  A typical 23 or 24 AWG copper cable is actually limited by the test equipment used.  Testers are designed to test only up to 328 feet (100 meters) and not exceed that limit.  They will indicate a failure if the transmission distance exceeds that length, even if the signal continues to transmit beyond this limit.  Therefore, a limiting factor in short transmission distances is also the test equipment itself. 

So distance limitations come from the Ethernet cabling standards and the test equipment itself, as well as poor quality cable. These limitations require users to be creative and find new powered cable solutions for extended distance cabling.

How Far Can a PoE Cable Run?

A single PoE cable is limited to 100 meters, but PoE itself can power any device at any distance, provided enough power is generated at the source to operate the unit on the other end of the cable run. The true distance a PoE cable can run depends on the voltage required to operate the device to be powered and the quality of the cable itself. Most users rely on a Cat 6 cable for longer runs and a Cat 5 for shorter ones. The power supply for a short run typically needs to be 24V, while a long run usually needs 48V. Otherwise, the cable will not carry enough power to operate the desired device.

Do You Need Special Cables for PoE?

Regular and PoE-enabled local area networks both use the same kinds of cables, so special cables are not required when using PoE technology. Usually, a Cat 5e or better standard cable that includes four twisted pairs of copper cable will work. For comparison, electricity only needs two pairs of cable—a negative pair and a positive pair.

PoE cables also need temperature ratings higher than 60 degrees Celsius. Acceptable cables come in 60-, 75-, or 90-degree ratings, with the ratings referring to the temperatures the insulation can withstand. A higher rated cable can power a larger device, as it can effectively withstand the heat generated by the additional power transmission. Acceptable cables may also use different conductor sizes. As with the heat ratings, the bigger the conductor, the more power the cable can relay.

What Wires Carry Power over PoE?

The magic of PoE is basically this—the wires within the cable can carry data and power simultaneously without you as the user needing to modify the existing Cat 5 Ethernet infrastructure. With 10Base-T and 100Base-TX cables, two of the four wires get used. This means power moves along the same wires as data, similar to the phantom power technique in which a common voltage gets applied to each pair. In 1000Base-TX cabling, sometimes referred to as gigabyte Ethernet, all four wires transport data.

What Is a PoE Extender?

If you need to run Ethernet LAN signals farther than 328 feet, one option is to use a PoE extender. These were developed in 2005 in order to extend long distance power to devices such as PoE Wi-Fi access points and PoE IP cameras. Consumers liked these extenders because they helped lower the cost of installing PoE Ethernet devices. PoE extender solutions usually stretch up to about 4,100 feet from your source, or more than 12 times as far as a single cable alone. Fortunately, PoE extenders are not difficult to use. In general, it’s just plug-and-go technology. The extenders usually work so seamlessly that the user may never know it’s there.

Problems with PoE Extenders

While PoE extenders seem to be a great solution, one significant issue related to their use is the addition of another termination point (connector) to the channel.  This can create one too many points in the channel, resulting in excessive noise and insertion loss, which will degrade the signal and render the cable inoperable.

BICSI installation standards are defined by TIA/EIA-568-C which defines a limit on the number of connectors used in the channel between the MDU (rack) and the connected device. 

Introducing LINOVISION Long Distance 1000m PoE Solution.

A newer, more exciting trend to extend distances beyond PoE’s 100-meter limit is to use powered cabling solutions instead of an extender. That’s why we’ve introduced LINOVISION Long Distance PoE solutions help you extend power across extended distances. Our solutions can work in large-scale settings, including large buildings, government facilities, transportation facilities, and college campuses. In these environments, here as below are 3 Long Distance PoE solution in detail:

Solution 1: PoE Power + Data Transmission over twist pair cables:

Solution 2: Ultra long reach POE power + Data transmission over Cat5e or Cat6 cable:

There are some situations that users need to transmit PoE power and data over ultra long distance, for example, power a remote security camera from 500 meters (or 1,640ft) away (from one building to another building), or supply power to a PoE IoT device from one side to another side of an underwater tube. The regular PoE extender will extend 100 meters only. With LINOVISION innovative EOC solution, it makes this possible to transmit PoE power and data over max. 1,000 meters (or 3,300ft) through regular Cat5e or Cat6 cable, this will reduce thousands of dollars in cabling cost.

Solution 3: Combine with EOC & POE Hybrid Switch to provide ultra long reach POE power + Data transmission for multiple POE/IoT device:

For the sites that require multiple ports of long reach POE transmission or POE IP over coax transmission, it is strongly recommended to use EOC Transmitter and EOC-Switch, which is an EOC & POE Hybrid Switch. EOC Switch is an industrial POE Switch with built-in EOC receiver modules. It will auto detect the PoE load device and determine the EOC mode of regular POE mode. When the port is in EOC mode, it will transmit PoE power and data over max. 1,000 meters (or 3,300ft) through regular Cat5e or coaxial cable (EOC adapter is required), this will reduce thousands of dollars in cabling cost. 

Post time: May-07-2022

Read more →