The Internet of Things (IoT) is the technology that connects electronic devices to the Internet. Today, IoT devices are used in various applications, including consumer appliances, health monitoring, industrial automation/monitoring, automotive, agricultural sciences, smart buildings, etc. In fact, the number of connected IoT devices will likely cross the 30 billion figure by 2025.

The main backbone of any IoT device is a combination of a few electronic components that drive the whole operation. Therefore, this article will talk deeply about the key role of electronic components in IoT devices.

How Does an IoT Device Work?

Before we discuss the role of electronic components in detail, it's important to clarify our concepts around the working principle of IoT devices using electronic components.

IoT technology is all about using interconnected devices and systems to gather, transfer, and act on the collected data without any major human intervention. Below are the general steps on how a typical IoT device works:

1. An IoT device begins operation by capturing real-world data using sensors, like light, temperature, motion, or any other, and converting it into electric signals for further processing.

2. The sensor data is then fed to the electronic brain of the device, the microprocessor. Here, the raw data becomes more meaningful information.

3. The refined information is now fed to the cloud through wireless communication technologies, like Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, etc.

4. The received data gets stored and further processed in the cloud for deeper insights and generating actionable outcomes.

5. The outcomes are sent back to the IoT device so that it can perform the required task, alert the person, or communicate with other devices.

This way, a typical IoT device keeps working continuously. All the above steps are completed in seconds for efficient operations. However, you can clearly see the dominance of electronic components during the whole process. So, let's now discuss in detail the role of electronic components in IoT devices.

Electronic Components & Their Key Role in IoT Devices

Electronic components are the main building blocks of IoT devices. Every step of an IoT device needs different electronic components to perform. So, below are some of the main electronic components and their key role in IoT devices:

Sensors

Sensors are electronic components that bridge the physical world to the digital world. The main job of sensors is to detect the changes in their surroundings and collect data. Some of the common types of sensors used in IoT devices include:

· Temperature Sensors – Thermocouples, thermistors, resistor temperature detectors (RTD), etc.

· Pressure Sensors – Tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS), BMP180, etc.

· Proximity Sensors – Ultrasonic, photoelectric, capacitive, inductive sensors, etc.

· Humidity Sensors – Smart thermostats, etc.

· Accelerometer Sensors – Hall-effect accelerometers, capacitive accelerometers, etc.

· Motion Sensors – Passive infrared (PIR), ultrasonic, etc.

Besides the above sensors, many other sensors are used in IoT devices, such as infrared, smoke, level, gyroscope, optical, etc. All these sensors detect the changes and then convert them into electric signals for further processing.

Microcontrollers

A microcontroller is a single integrated circuit or microchip embedded inside an IoT device and provides processing power, intelligence, input/output peripherals, and memory. It is meant to manage and control sensors and linked devices in an IoT device. ESP32, Arduino MKR series, and Raspberry Pi Pico are a few examples of microcontrollers.

A microcontroller processes and analyzes the raw data sensors collect and turns them into meaningful information using built-in algorithms. To help better understand this, let's consider an example.

Suppose a proximity sensor has sent an electric signal to the microcontroller. After receiving the signal, it will interpret it and determine the proximity level, i.e., far or near. If a certain threshold is passed, it triggers the specified response, like turning on the light, activating the motor, sending a notification, etc. Besides that, it can also send the sensor's data to the cloud or other connected devices for real-time monitoring or remote control.

Besides processing sensor data, the microcontroller manages communication modules, controls connected devices, responds to user interface requests, and performs similar activities. In short, it is the brain of an IoT device.

Communication Modules

Communication modules are another essential electronic component in IoT devices that provide a route for IoT devices to communicate and exchange data with external systems. They make it possible for IoT devices to connect to the internet, share sensor data in the cloud, receive data from the cloud or other devices, and enable real-time monitoring.

Some of the commonly used communication modules in IoT devices include:

· Wi-Fi modules

· Bluetooth modules

· Cellular modules

· RFID modules

· ZigBee modules

· Ethernet modules

· And many more.

Different IoT devices need different communication modules. So, choosing the right communication module mainly depends on the use case, communication needs, range, data rate, and similar other factors.

Power Management Components

Many IoT devices need a consistent power supply to remain operational for extensive periods. Besides that, they also need protection from overcurrent and overvoltage. Therefore, power management components also have a key role in IoT devices.

Power management components regulate, distribute, and optimize electric supply. For example, a voltage regulator, like a MAX8863, provides the device's consistent voltage supply and protects it from voltage fluctuations.

Similarly, many IoT devices use power management components to optimize their energy use as per the requirements. Besides that, optimizing energy consumption, enabling sleep and wake modes, scaling voltage dynamically, and similar others are additional crucial functionalities of power management components in IoT devices.

Storage Components

IoT devices need built-in storage to store operating system data, user settings, firmware, activity logs, etc. This is where storage components come to the rescue.

Storage components are meant to provide the needed storage space for IoT devices to store the essential data required for their operation. This way, they can retain and manage data even during power cuts. Some of the common storage components used in IoT devices include:

· EEPROM

· MicroSD cards

· FRAM

· NAND flash

· eMMC

· And many more.

These storage components are integrated within the IoT devices to empower them to store important information, maintain functionality, and operate autonomously.

Interface Components

Interface components are used in IoT devices to get input from users and display different types of information. These components help users easily interact, monitor, and control IoT devices. For example, a touchscreen on an IoT device helps to view real-time updates or give specific commands to the device.

Different IoT devices need different types of interface components. Some of the common interface components include:

· Touchscreens

· LCD or OLED display screens

· LED indicators

· Microphones

· Camera

· Biometric sensors

· Buttons

· And many more.

All these components make IoT devices easy to use and intuitive. In short, they have a key role to play in user experience with the IoT device.

Actuators

Actuators are similar to sensors, but their role is to take digital signals from the microcontroller and perform the required physical actions. For example, assume that you have set up an IoT device to turn on the light automatically when someone enters the room. So, let's suppose a proximity sensor detects someone's presence and sends the electric signal to the microcontroller. The microcontroller then instructs the LED (visual actuator) to turn on. This way, a typical actuator works with an IoT device.

Actuators are essential components in most IoT devices. Some of the common actuators include:

· Electric motors

· Stepper motors

· Solenoids

· Pumps

· Piezoelectric actuators

· Speakers

· Heaters & coolers

· Valves

· And many more.

In short, actuators play a vital role in making IoT devices perform the desired functions they are told or when certain conditions are met.

Wrapping Up

IoT devices are growing at an astonishing rate. During 2023-2030, the IoT market is projected to grow by 26.1%. Owing to that, the role of electronic components will keep getting more sophisticated and crucial. This will also trigger innovation in electronic components to become even more efficient and smarter. So, the upcoming years will likely witness new innovations in electronic components and their deep involvement in IoT devices.