MEMS absolute pressure sensor for automotive and EV thermal management apps

Mouser now stocks the Melexis MLX90834 Triphibian absolute pressure sensor. Expanding upon the company's highly comprehensive family of MLX9083x Triphibian pressure sensors, the new sensor delivers a flexible, robust factory-calibrated MEMS solution that accurately measures absolute pressure in gas and liquid media, compliant with chemical refrigerants from 2 to 70 bar. Maximising system performance, programmability and reliability, this intelligent sensor includes a digital SENT output that helps deliver absolute pressure information diagnostics and temperature data for different automotive applications.

The pressure sensor's robust design helps avoid any pressure differential between a glass pedestal and the wire bonding side (as in rear-side exposed solutions), enabling the device to survive in frozen media conditions due to superb pressure equalisation. Utilising the optional input for external NTC thermistors and interfacing with the supplied factory calibration of the sensor, the device can achieve accuracy better than ±1C in extended temperature ranges.

The sensor incorporates a sensor readout circuit, digital hardware, voltage regulators, and digital output drivers. Piezo-resistive elements are implanted into the membrane to create a Wheatstone bridge that generates an input signal, which in turn is amplified and converted into a digital format. This format allows the 16-bit DSP to apply temperature compensation before providing the result as a digital output (SENT). The sensor is AEC-Q100 and AEC-Q103-002 certified and ASIL compliant (developed as an ASIL B SEooC per ISO 26262) for safety.

The MLX90834 sensor is obtainable in a RoHS-compliant SOIC16 WB (XG) package and is specified over a wide automotive temperature range of -40C up to +150C. The sensor is ideal for applications needing absolute pressures from 2 to 70 bar (with gas or liquid media), HVAC-R systems, transmission oil monitoring, engine oil monitoring and the thermal management of EVs, including standalone sensors, embedded sensors in smart expansion valves, embedded sensors in e-compressors, and embedded sensors in pumps. To support customised calibration curves over the pre-existing factory calibration settings, the MLX90834 sensor is supported by a programming tool (PTC-04), also available from Mouser.