The Miniature Reflowable Sensor That Shrunk the Rules of Design

What if you could replace the last through-hole sensor on your board with something smaller, surface-mountable, and smart? That’s exactly what Murata has pulled off with their miniature reflowable IR sensor—a game-changing passive infrared (PIR) device that combines size, intelligence, and surface-mount convenience in one deceptively small package.

The engineering team at Murata created this sensor with modern product design in mind. Gone are the days of clunky leaded packages with bulky lenses sticking out of your PCBA. This miniature reflowable IR sensor fits right in with your other surface-mount components and goes through standard reflow soldering, no special assembly required. That means simpler production lines, faster assembly, and a sleeker device.

One of the standout features of this Murata sensor is its incredibly low Z-height. Compared to traditional leaded PIR sensors, this one’s flatter and easier to integrate into ultra-slim products. With its low-profile housing and compact footprint, the miniature reflowable IR sensor is ideal for wearables, smart home gadgets, and embedded devices where every millimetre counts.

But it’s not just small—it’s smart. This isn’t your typical analog PIR. The sensor supports a digital I²C interface, reducing BOM complexity and making integration into MCUs a breeze. On top of that, Murata has included configurable thresholds and window times to reduce false detections and unnecessary wakeups. This makes the miniature reflowable IR sensor perfectly suited for battery-powered motion detection applications.

Another issue with many PIR sensors is radio interference—something Murata engineers tackled head-on. They’ve rigorously tested this component against 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz emissions, meaning the miniature reflowable IR sensorcan sit close to Bluetooth or Wi-Fi antennas without false triggering. That’s a huge win for compact IoT designs where RF and sensors often need to live side by side.

And if you’re wondering how it handles optics—yes, it still requires a lens, but Murata offers plenty of design support to help you pick or customise the right one. Whether you’re targeting short-range human presence detection or longer-range outdoor sensing, the miniature reflowable IR sensor can be tuned for the job.

This is not just a shrink-rayed PIR sensor. It’s a rethink of what motion detection should be in modern embedded designs. Thanks to Murata, engineers now have a smarter, smaller option that’s just as comfortable in a smart thermostat as it is in a next-gen wearable.