Pressure sensors

Analog and digital interfaces ensure for high design flexibility

Infineon’s family of XENSIV™ pressure sensors come with both analog and digital interfaces – a design flexibility guaranteed to fit the varying needs of our customers. An analog pressure sensor provides a ratiometric voltage level to the measured pressure on the sensor output. Based on the sensor-specific transfer function, the voltage level of the analog pressure transducer needs to be interpreted by a microcontroller or computer. The analog interface offers a robust and simple integration of the pressure sensor into the system. Unlike analog pressure sensors, the ICs in a digital pressure sensor allows it to sense pressure, transduce this reading to an internal electrical voltage, and convert that voltage directly to a digital output signal. The digital pressure transducer converts the pressure signal into standard and easy-to-integrate digital protocols. Due to the digital signal, additional information, and features, such as sensor temperature, diagnosis functionalities, and power modes are available and can be controlled via commands.

Tiny pressure sensors offering high functionality and low consumption

The common modern standard for pressure sensing is Micro Electro-Mechanical System (MEMS). These pressure sensor elements along with MEMS pressure transducers and logic are composed of small electric and mechanical components on one silicon chip. These tiny pressure sensors offer high functionality and low power consumption. Typical applications for MEMS include barometric air pressure sensors and XENSIV™ suite of MEMS microphones, which bring professional audio capacity to smartphones and earbuds, enhance audio inside a car cabin, and secure road safety by improving autonomous driving features.

Pressure sensing plays a vital role in the automotive industry

The constantly changing conditions that affect automobiles make pressure sensors a vital tool for the automotive industry. Analog and digital barometric air pressure sensors deliver information on local air conditions to car engines so they can adjust accordingly in real time. XENSIV™ tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) automotive pressure sensors observe tire pressure while meeting green package compliance standards. XENSIV™ sensors designed for side crash and pedestrian impact detection increase safety for vehicle occupants as well as for pedestrians. Manifold air pressure (MAP) sensors deliver the pressure level of the intake air to the car engine, which helps it optimize its combustion and thereby lower its carbon dioxide and other gaseous emissions. Barometric air pressure (BAP) sensors are widely used in typical powertrain applications, such as in ECUs and seat comfort, but also in emerging applications, such as battery pressure monitoring for electric vehicle safety.

Pressure sensors tailored to the industrial and consumer sectors

Once restricted to weather stations, BAP applications widened their scope to serve an essential purpose across multiple consumer applications. Their compact size and energy-saving design are an ideal fit, not only for wearable devices, health, and fitness trackers (smart watches), outdoor and indoor navigation systems, but also for air flow control in smart home appliances and smart inhalers. These barometric air sensors stay precise and accurate between a wide range of temperatures. Their low power consumption ensures long-lasting performance. They are a foundational piece of IoT devices directed towards a market with billions of consumers who live life on the go. Their ability to sense and regulate gas and liquid flow makes pressure sensors and transducers essential to sectors that go beyond automotive. Industrial pressure sensors can switch processes and controls on and off according to the flow of gases and liquids, and they can also be used to operate entire engine management systems. Pressure sensors are also popular in the healthcare space due to their utility in medical equipment and their capacity to show needed atmospheric conditions during certain surgeries.