Melexis has introduced the MLX90830, an industry-first miniature MEMS pressure sensor, designed for precise gas and liquid media measurements ranging from 2 to 70 bar. Featuring Melexis’ own patented Triphibian technology, this factory-calibrated sensor delivers accurate absolute pressure readings with a proportional analog output signal.
At the heart of the MLX90830 lies Melexis’ groundbreaking Triphibian technology, allowing the MEMS sensor to achieve accurate measurements exceeding 5 bar while in contact with liquid media. This innovation is realized through a unique construction featuring a suspended cantilever inside an SO16 package with the diaphragm at its tip.
The suspended cantilever design provides added robustness, offering pressure spike immunity up to 2000 bar/msec and static burst resistance up to 210 bar. With two calibrated ranges available (10 or 35 bar), the MLX90830 is tailored to meet the specific demands of electric vehicle (EV) thermal management systems, including low/high-pressure refrigeration loops.
As compared to non-MEMS-based pressure sensor designs, the MLX90830 offers superior accuracy and robustness, thereby optimizing electric vehicle thermal management efficiencies for extended range. In addition, its compact embedded package minimizes sensor volume, as compared to standalone modules.
Equipped with a sensor readout circuit, digital hardware, voltage regulators, and analog output drivers, the MLX90830 utilizes piezoresistive elements to generate an output signal through a Wheatstone bridge. The signal is then amplified and converted into a digital format for 16-bit Digital Signal Processing (DSP), which applies temperature compensation before providing the result as an analog output.
In addition, with its advanced protective mechanisms against overvoltage and reverse voltage, the MLX90830 is also suitable for use in truck applications. The pressure sensor complies with ISO 26262 standards, enabling up to ASIL B system integration.
Karel Claesen, Melexis’ Product Manager for Pressure Sensors, emphasizes the impact of the MLX90830 on EV thermal management, stating, “Access to miniaturized and accurate factory calibrated MEMS pressure sensors based on the Triphibian technology enable centralization of thermal management systems in EVs, reducing the size and increasing the reliability of the system,” states Karel Claesen, Product Manager Pressure Sensors. “The MLX90830 can easily be integrated by customers as a standalone device or embedded within the system.”
Added Senior Product Line Manager, Laurent Otte, “With the Triphibian technology, MEMS sensors can increase the pressure levels they measure while also expanding the type of media they face,” explains . “Determining pressures of liquid media opens the door to applications both within the automotive industry and beyond, which historically could not be addressed by MEMS technologies.”
Discover more at www.melexis.com/MLX90830 or contact us directly via www.melexis.com/contact.
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