Acoustic Wave Sensor Market - Size, Industry Share, Growth Trends and Forecasts (2023 - 2030)

By Material :

Based on the material, the market is segregated into quartz, gallium arsenide, silicon carbide, and others. The Silicon Carbide segment accounted for the largest revenue of 30.87% in the year 2022 of the global acoustic wave sensor market. Silicon Carbide (SiC) has great importance as a material for Micro-Electromechanical Systems (MEMS) due to its high mechanical properties such as excellent wear resistance, high hardness, and the ability to operate at high temperatures of up to 500 °C. Therefore, SiC is well-suited for manufacturing acoustic sensors, as the material is available in bulk or as a thin film of silicon (Si) substrate.

The Gallium Arsenide segment is expected to register the fastest CAGR during the forecast period. It is a widely used semiconductor material used for manufacturing acoustic sensors to sense various parameters such as temperature, pressure, and mass. Moreover, GaAs acoustic sensors offer high sensitivity, low noise, and high-frequency response well-suited for gas sensing, biosensing, and chemical sensing applications. Consequently, the segment trends analysis shows that the ability of GaAs sensors to detect the aforementioned parameters with high accuracy and sensitivity is driving the acoustic wave sensor market trends.

By Sensing Parameter :

Based on the sensing parameter, the market is segmented into temperature, pressure, humidity, torque, viscosity, and others. Temperature segment accounted for the largest revenue share in 2022 of the total acoustic wave sensor market share. Temperature acoustic sensors are used for sensing temperature by detecting the speed of sound in a material as the temperature changes. The sensors measure the time of flight of acoustic pulses to detect temperature variations in an object or a material. Therefore, analysis of segment trends shows that the ability of temperature sensors to detect temperature variations with high accuracy and precision is proliferating acoustic wave sensor market demand.

The humidity segment is anticipated to register the fastest CAGR during the forecast period. Acoustic sensors play a crucial role in measuring humidity in the manufacturing industry, especially in the paper and textiles industry. Sound waves are highly affected by the humidity in the air. As a result, researchers are performing experiments for comparative analysis of humidity by transferring sound pulse through the air. Moreover, the sensors are made to be integrated into a humidity control system that measures humidity accurately and efficiently. For instance, in January 2023, Sensirion AG launched an analog humidity sensor for industrial applications and harsh environments where high noise levels are used to measure the level of humidity. Therefore, the application of sensors in environment monitoring applications is driving the acoustic wave sensor market trends.

By Wave Type :

Based on the wave type, the market is bifurcated into surface wave acoustic sensors and bulk wave acoustic sensors. The surface wave acoustic sensor segment accounted for the largest revenue share in 2022 of the acoustic wave sensor market share. Surface wave acoustic sensors utilize acoustic waves that propagate along the surface of a solid material, such as a piezoelectric substrate. As a result, surface wave sensors are widely used in wireless communication systems, such as filters, resonators, and delay lines. Moreover, the ability of surface wave acoustic sensors to operate at high frequencies and offer high sensitivity in the aforementioned applications is accelerating the acoustic wave sensor market expansion.

The bulk wave acoustic sensor segment is anticipated to emerge as the fastest-growing segment during the forecast period. The ability of bulk acoustic sensors to handle high power levels and operate at lower frequencies is driving the segment. It involves the propagation of acoustic waves through the bulk or volume of a material. Moreover, they are characterized by their ability to handle high power levels and operate at lower frequencies. Furthermore, the application of bulk wave acoustic in NDT applications for flaw detection, material characterization, and thickness measurement is proliferating the acoustic wave sensor market.

By End-User :

Based on the end-user, the market is divided into automotive, aerospace & defense, consumer electronics, healthcare, industrial, and others. The consumer electronics segment accounted for the largest revenue share in the year 2022. Consumer electronics devices such as smartphones, tablets, headphones, smart speakers, and gaming consoles, utilize acoustic sensors for voice control, audio recording, noise cancellation, and sound enhancement. Moreover, the application of acoustic sensors in camera systems to locate and characterize sound sources is accelerating the growth of the market. For instance, in March 2023, Sony Semiconductor Solutions Corporation (SSS) announced to launch of a new direct time-of-flight depth sensor called IMX611 to improve photon detection efficiency for distance measurement applications. Therefore, the growing demand for voice-controlled devices and immersive audio experiences drives the adoption of acoustic sensors in consumer electronics devices.

The automotive segment is expected to register the fastest CAGR during the forecast period. Acoustic sensors are utilized in vehicles for various applications, including noise cancellation, voice recognition, in-cabin communication, and advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS). Therefore, acoustic sensors contribute to improving sound quality, enhancing communication capabilities, and enhancing safety features in vehicles.

By Region :

The regional segment includes North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, the Middle East and Africa, and Latin America.

North America accounted for the largest revenue share in the year 2022. The increasing adoption of acoustic wave sensors in the healthcare industry in North America is driving the acoustic wave sensor market. As per the acoustic wave sensor market analysis, they are utilized in medical devices, telehealth systems, and healthcare facilities for applications such as patient monitoring, telemedicine, and diagnostic imaging. Moreover, the deployment of advanced sensing technologies in the region is driving the market. For instance, in April 2021, AP Sensing launched next-generation acoustic sensing technology called Distributed Acoustic Sensing (DAS) for monitoring infrastructures such as power cables, pipelines, and railways. Thus, continuous advancements in sensing technology are driving the growth of the regional market.

The Asia-Pacific region accounted for a revenue share of USD 219.82 million in 2022 and is expected to reach USD 520.76 million in 2030, registering a CAGR of 11.7% during the forecast period. Additionally, in the region, China accounted for the largest revenue of 29.3% in the year 2022. The Asia-Pacific region has a strong industrial base with a focus on automation and manufacturing. Acoustic sensors are widely used in industries for condition monitoring, fault detection, and process control applications. Additionally, the growing adoption of consumer electronics devices such as smartphones, laptops, and tablets in the region is driving the growth of the acoustic wave sensor market. They play a crucial role in voice control systems in consumer electronics, resulting in the growth of the acoustic wave sensor market.