Robust and power-efficient 4-in-1 MEMS air quality sensor for indoor use

Bosch Sensortec offers the BME690, the latest-generation gas sensor for the monitoring of gases, temperature, pressure and humidity, coupled with innovative AI capabilities. The device is further developed on the company’s BME688 and BME680 sensors, building on this time-proven platform. It remains pin-compatible and has the same compact 3mm x 3mm x 0.93mm3 dimensions, making it easy to design-in as a drop-in upgrade.

The device is ideal for monitoring indoor air quality, including detecting high levels of VOC generated by cleaning products, cooking fumes, or other common VOC sources. It is also ideal for breath analysis (monitoring of VOCs and hydrogen sulfide) and food freshness detection, where food wastage is prevented through timely spoilage detection.

While the device offers plug-and-play operation, it also includes powerful AI features enabled by the company’s BME AI-Studio software tool. Customers can easily develop their own custom solutions and quickly get ahead of the competition.

Compared to the previous generation BME688 sensor, the new device has slashed power consumption by up to 50%, making it ideal for portable, battery-powered applications such as wearables and asset tracking.

The sensor has been specifically designed for increased robustness in high-condensation indoor environments, such as products such as white goods and kitchen range hoods. It aligns with the WELL Building Standard and RESET Air standard.

“A high standard of indoor air quality is vital for keeping us healthy and happy,” said Stefan Finkbeiner, CEO at Bosch Sensortec. “The BME690 acts as a digital nose, providing actionable data for use in our homes, factories and offices.”

The new sensor responds noticeably faster to humidity changes, which provides substantial improvement in controlling connected smart home devices and HVAC systems.