At CEATEC 2026, TDK showcased several innovations, including its tiny meta-optic mirror designed to make display-equipped smart glasses thinner and lighter, which we covered earlier this week.

Another interesting technology at TDK’s booth was Nivio-S xMR Compact, a high-sensitivity magnetic sensor that can detect extremely weak magnetic fields. Ubergizmo attended two demonstrations and spoke with a TDK representative about its potential applications, including a prototype scanner that can reveal objects hidden inside walls without damaging them.

The first demonstration illustrated TDK’s magnetic positioning technology. Using a 9-axis magnetic sensor system made of multiple Nivio-S xMR sensors, it tracked a moving object’s position and displayed it on a screen in real time (see photo above).

The second demonstration focused on Nivio-S xMR and its potential use in construction and infrastructure inspections.

TDK demonstrated a portable scanner that can detect reinforcing steel bars (rebar) concealed inside a wall. As the operator moved the scanner across the surface, a display progressively revealed the position and arrangement of the hidden metal structures.

The live mapping screen clearly showed the precise positioning of the reinforcing bars, including their vertical and horizontal arrangement. According to the TDK representative, this mapping is more accurate than other inspection technologies.

According to TDK, the system produced similar results when scanning directly over the rebar and through a layer of drywall. Measurements appeared in real time, mapping the entire demonstration area in just a few minutes.

Measuring just 10 × 10 × 26 mm, Nivio-S xMR is a magnetic sensor designed to detect extremely weak magnetic fields without requiring magnetic shielding.

During our demonstration, the TDK representative explained that the wall scanner generates an electric field that interacts with materials beneath the surface. Differences in their electrical properties produce variations in extremely weak magnetic signals, which the sensor measures to create an impedance map. Beyond steel, the system can detect copper, aluminum, water, and air pockets.

The key technical achievement is capturing these faint signals without direct electrical contact with the wall, made possible by the sensor’s high sensitivity and high-frequency measurement capabilities.

Construction professionals already use several technologies to inspect walls without opening them.

Basic stud finders locate framing elements, while professional scanners such as the Bosch D-tect 200 C use radar to detect hidden objects. Specialized systems such as the Hilti Ferroscan map reinforcing steel inside concrete, while ground-penetrating radar can identify various concealed structural features.

TDK’s approach differs by measuring magnetic signals associated with electrical impedance, rather than analyzing reflected radar signals. This could provide complementary information about materials hidden within structures.

Beyond inspecting aging buildings and infrastructure, TDK identifies several potential applications for Nivio-S xMR, including locating underground objects, security screening for concealed metal objects, and precise medical catheter positioning.

Its small size and ability to operate without magnetic shielding could make the technology suitable for compact inspection equipment.

For now, Nivio-S xMR remains under development, with no announced commercial availability or pricing. Its practical value will depend on whether manufacturers can turn these promising demonstrations into products that offer measurable advantages over existing inspection tools.

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