Pressure sensors
Infineon XENSIV™ pressure sensors for automotive, industrial and consumer applications - ensure the perfect fit for all performance and integrity needs
Pressure sensors subcategories
Infineon XENSIV™ pressure sensors measure the pressure of air and gases across various industries and applications. In their function as a pressure transducer sensor, they convert physical pressure into an electric signal. Infineon XENSIV™ pressure sensors combine the functions of sensing (via a pressure sensor element) and conversion into an electrical signal (via an absolute pressure transducer and signal processing) in one integrated silicon device.
The sensor element and its integrated circuits (IC) are the heart of pressure sensor technology. Infineon’s small pressure sensor IC chips support various applications with best-in-class performance. Infineon is one of the world’s largest semiconductor pressure sensor and transducer manufacturers, thanks to a varied portfolio of absolute air pressure sensor ICs. Our comprehensive family of XENSIV™ sensors includes a wide selection of pressure-sensitive sensors tailored specifically to the automotive, industrial and consumer sectors. XENSIV™ sensors are compact, designed to save energy, and offer a rapid time-to-market – a perfect fit for any performance and integrity need.
Pressure sensor subcategories
- Barometric (BAP) & Manifold (MAP) sensors
- Pressure Sensors for IoT
- Pressure Sensors for Side Crash Detection (SAB)
- Tire Pressure Sensors (TPMS)
For more information on Infineon’s family of XENSIV™ pressure sensors and their impact on multiple industries, contact our support center.
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.
Analog pressure sensors
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.
Digital pressure sensors
Unlike analog pressure sensors, the IC 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.
The common modern standard for pressure sensing is a Micro Electro-Mechanical System, or 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 a low power consumption. Typical applications for MEMS include, among others, Barometric Air Pressure Sensors, as well as the 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.
Barometric pressure sensors
The function of an absolute barometric pressure (BAP) sensor is to sense atmospheric pressure levels. Historically, barometric pressure sensor applications generally involved weather forecasting, but nowadays BAP sensors are also present in consumer electronics, automotive applications, and more.
Manifold (MAP) sensors
The Infineon XENSIV™ family of products includes Manifold Air Pressure (MAP) sensors. These pressure sensors are characterized by their high-precision sensing capabilities and are commonly used across a wide range of automotive applications, specifically within diesel, gasoline, and 2-wheeler (motorcycle) engines. They measure the pressure of air taken in by the combustion engine in order to optimize fuel injection, subsequently providing this information to the electronic control unit (ECU). Although most often used in the automotive industry, MAP sensors can also be found in both industrial and consumer applications.
Automotive pressure sensor applications
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 on the other hand, 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 engine control units (ECU) and seat comfort, but also in emerging applications, such as battery pressure monitoring for electric vehicle safety.
Consumer pressure sensor applications
Once restricted to weather stations, barometric pressure sensor applications have now widened their scope to serve an essential purpose across a range of consumer applications. Thanks to their compact size and energy-saving design, small XENSIV™ pressure sensors, are an ideal fit, not only for wearable devices, health and fitness trackers (smart watches), , and outdoor and indoor navigation systems, but also for air flow control in smart home appliances and smart inhalers. These barometric air pressure sensors stay precise and accurate between a wide range of temperatures, and 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.
Industrial pressure sensor applications
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 increasingly popular in the healthcare space, due to their utility in medical equipment and their capacity to show needed atmospheric conditions during certain surgeries. Absolute pressure sensor applications include their traditional role in forecasting as well as an increasing integration into consumer electronics.
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Welcome to our new interactive sensor selection tool, designed to connect you with the best fit for your design as quickly and effortlessly as possible. Simply select the overarching industry (automotive or industrial/consumer) and drill down on the applications till you find your target use case. The selection tool will then tell you what Infineon XENSIV™ sensor is the best choice for your design. It couldn’t be easier.