New Tyre Pressure Sensor From Infineon

Infineon Technologies has introduced the SP35 Tyre Pressure Sensor, said to be the first device to incorporate all the major active functions of a wheel-mounted Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) module into a single package. The highly integrated device, which is mounted on a PCB (printed circuit board) with a battery and antenna to form a complete TPMS module, enables automotive industry suppliers to cost-effectively meet the requirements of U.S. safety regulations, and to address the growing worldwide demand for TPMS in new passenger cars and light trucks.

By eliminating the need for separate communications chips in the TPMS module, the SP35 reduces the complexity and cost of the module by approximately 10 per cent. The single-package device integrates a MEMS (Micro Electro-Mechanical System) pressure, acceleration and temperature sensor with an 8-bit microcontroller (MCU) and wireless communication between the TPMS module and the electronic control unit via an AM/FM (Amplitude Modulation/Frequency Modulation) RF transmitter and LF (low-frequency) receiver. The MCU silicon also includes memory, a battery voltage monitor, and advanced power control elements.

Infineon is a leading supplier of sensors and related integrated circuits for automotive safety applications, including TPMS, air bag, ABS and electronic stability control and roll-over sensors. The company says that every new car worldwide contains on average five sensors from Infineon supporting safety applications.