TECHNOLOGY ROUNDUP

Sensing Sound, Speed, Position, Angle and Airflow

Sensor technology finds application in a vast range of applications, from consumer to transport and from industrial equipment to medical systems. In this technology roundup, we look at just a few of the sensor technologies that have featured in recent issues of Arrow Innovation.

Analog Devices’ ADXRS and ADIS MEMS gyros provide reliable, power-efficient and robust single device solutions to sense angular rate in applications such as aerospace, consumer navigation and industrial instrumentation products. Fully integrated, the devices combine mechanical structures with signal processing circuitry in a monolithic IC. The ADIS16250 is a new device that Analog Devices believes is the first MEMS gyroscope to provide both digital range-scaling and embedded programmability, overcoming a significant barrier to integrating gyroscopes into industrial systems.



Features: ADXRS Gyros

• Integrated MEMS gyros
• Choice of angular rate range: ±75°/s to 300°/s
• Wide range of sensitivities
• DC to 2kHz bandwidth
• Noise density as low as 0.04°/s/√Hz
• Nonlinearity 0.1% full scale
• Integrated temperature sensor
• Optional voltage reference
• Single supply voltage
• Temperature range options: -40°C to +85°C; -40°C to +105°C

Features: ADIS Sensors

• MEMS gyros with integrated programmable control
• Choice of digital or analogue outputs
• Optional programmable functions
  • Sample rate
  • Sensitivity
  • Filtering
  • Self test
  • Rate alarms
  • Power management
• Optional DAC and ADC ports
• Bandwidth up to 350Hz
• Integrated temperature sensor and reference
• Standby mode for power saving
• Temperature range -40°C to +85°C

Honeywell offers an extensive portfolio of sensors for off-highway and automotive installations, containing a wide range of sensing technologies, styles, specifications, packages, housings, connectors and power requirements. The SNDJ-H3C and SNDJ-H3L Hall effect zero speed sensors generate impulse frequencies proportional to ferrous targets’ speed for detecting over-speed, rotary shaft or gear position, engine timing and gear teeth.



Sensor Types:

• Speed and direction
• Magnetoresistive/Hall effect
• Linear and rotary position
• Contact and non-contact
• Camshaft, crankshaft
• Pressure
• Exhaust-gas recirculation
• Temperature

Infineon Technologies’ SMM310 MEMS microphone has the same acoustic and electrical properties, but is heat resistant, more rugged and half the size of microphones based on Electret Condenser Microphone technology. Its heat resistance permits automated SMT manufacture and reflow soldering up to +260°C. The microphone consists of the MEMS chip and an Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC) in the same package, a perforated, rigid back electrode and flexible silicon membrane serves as a capacitor, transforming acoustic waves into capacity variations. The ASIC converts these into electrical signals.



Features:

• SMD MEMS microphone for automated SMT assembly
• Reflow soldering up to +260°C (lead free)
• High long-term temperature stability
• Stable sensitivity over power-supply range 1.5V to 3.3V
• Low current consumption of 80μA
• Excellent power-supply rejection of -55dB
• High integrated immunity to EMI
• RoHS compliant package with small footprint and low height: 1.25mm

Small, low cost, MEMS air velocity sensors from Omron enable repeatable detection of clogged air intake filters and air velocity flows and suit applications from PC workstation ventilation to domestic air purifiers and dehumidifiers. The D6F-V is less than half the size of existing solutions, at 24mm x 14mm x 8mm, and around half the cost. It detects unidirectional air velocities from 0m/s to 3m/s and incorporates some patent-pending dust management technology.



Features:

• Compact, intelligent MEMS air-flow sensors
• Below the cost of a single-point Pitot tube
• Half existing solutions’ size: 24mm x 14mm x 8mm
• Air velocities from 0m/s to 3m/s
• Integral dust segregation system
• D6F-W alternative
• Air flows from 0m/s to 1m/s and 0m/s to 4m/s
• Temperature compensation
• Accuracy of ±5% full-scale deflection

For further information about featured products, please click here