Sensors

Demonstrations of automotive technology at CES paved the way for autonomous driving and emphasised the role of sensors and AI in vehicle systems, reports Caroline Hayes. Automotive radar has been described as one of the most significant additions to vehicles in the past two decades. In a 3D form, measuring azimuth (horizontal angle) distance and velocity, radar is used in ...

Allegro MicroSystems has introduced a pair of surface-mount current sensors that work from dc to 5MHz. Variants allow six sensitivities between 66mV/A (±20A range) and 20.3mV/A (±65A). Response time is typically 40ns. They are “fast enough for SiC and GaN protection, while also providing low-frequency content for power-conversion control”, said Allegro product manger Matt Hein. ACS37030 and ACS37032 employ dual ...

LEM and Semikron Danfoss have teamed up to monitor current in automotive silicon carbide power mosfet modules. The result is ‘Nano’, a current sensor that is compatible with Semikron’s DCM SiC power modules, which are rated at 750 or 1,200V and 200 to 1,000A. “The idea behind the Nano concept was to design a core-based current sensor that could fit ...

Würth Elektronik has shrunk a humidity sensor into a 1.5 x 1.5 x 0.5mm 5pad DFN package. Called 2525020210002, it works over 0 – 100% relative humidity, typically to within ±1.8%RH (±3.5%RHmax) over 20 – 80%. Also in the device is a -40 to +125°C temperature sensor, accurate to ±0.2°C across 0 to 60°C, and ±0.6°C over its full range. ...

The soil sensor impressed judges with a design that overcomes the typical limitations of EC sensors that are impacted by the amount of water and ions (fertiliser) in soil. Its algorithms exclusively measure the amount of fertiliser without being affected by moisture to avoid contamination. Shortlist * ams Osram – AS5911 CT detect ADC * Catapult – Secure 5G * ...

Microchip has announced 10 automotive-grade multi-channel temperature monitoring ICs that use external diodes, transistors or substrate diodes (MCU or other die) as sensors. Called the MCP998x family, they communicate over a serial bus and a pair of discrete output pins. Accuracy is ±1°C max (±0.2°C typ) with the IC and probe diodes anywhere in the range +20°C to +85°C – ...

Infineon has introduced a magnetic sensor for micron-level movement measurement. Called TLI5590-A6W, it has two TMR (tunnel magneto-resistance) Wheatstone bridges inside (see diagram), spaced 500μm apart so that they deliver sine and cosine voltages when moved relative to long magnets, or circular magnets, whose poles change every 500μm in the working direction. “Qualified for industrial and consumer applications to JEDEC ...

Littelfuse has invented an AEC-Q200-qualified temperature monitoring tape for electric vehicle batteries. Branded TTape, it detects local over-heating via thermally sensitive spots spaced along its length, all connected in series. The spots are positive temperature coefficient thermistors. “Distinguishing itself from NTCs [negative temperature coefficient thermistors], the profound advantage of localised cell overheating detection ensures quicker alerts to the battery management ...

STMicroelectronics has made a custom 316Mpixel 18K image sensor for a company with a super-high resolution cinema in Las Vegas. The die measures 99 x 83mm (82.4cm2) – four fit onto a 300mm wafer (right). It can capture images at 120frame/s and transfer data at 60Gbyte/s. “Building a custom sensor of this size, resolution and speed, with low noise, high ...

Bosch Sensortec says it has launched the world’s smallest MEMS accelerometers – the BMA530 and BMA580. BMA530 tracks activities with its step counter and is  suitable for wearables, and BMA580 targets hearables with voice activity detection. Compared to Bosch’s current generation accelerometer (BMA253), the BMA530 and BMA580 have a 76 percent smaller footprint and have been reduced in height from 0.95 mm ...