Infineon introduces KP200 pressure sensor for autombiles

The KP200 pressure sensor from Infineon Technologies plays an important role in the event of an automobile collision increasing the protection of pedestrians and car occupants. The sensor is part of a new safety system that automotive-system supplier Continental has developed in collaboration with a well-known automobile manufacturer. The first-generation system is already available in various premium vehicles. Continental chose Infineon pressure sensors because they measure air pressure pulse very reliably and rapidly - regardless of the ambient air pressure. The sensors have proven themselves for years in another safety automotive application: the side airbag sensor. ?? Improved pedestrian protection ?? For the pedestrian protection system that Continental developed together with the vehicle manufacturer, an air hose is built into the front bumper of the car. This air hose contains two KP200 pressure sensors, one at either end, for reasons of redundancy. In the event of an impact, they measure the change in pressure in the air hose, evaluate this data in real time and transmit the pressure data every 500 ?s to a central airbag control unit. A KP200 sensor takes an average of less than 40 ?s to record these measurements and prepare the data. The central control unit then activates the mechanism that raises the hood, lessening the impact on the pedestrian. During the data measurement period, the KP200 pressure sensor independently accounts for changes in ambient air pressure. This is necessary for reliable impact detection, regardless of the weather or the altitude. ?? Proven success in side airbags The monolithic KP200 sensor is already used in the side airbags of vehicles. It enables fast, reliable ignition of these airbags, which reduces the risk of injury to car occupants. The sensor measures the pressure pulse in the side door of the vehicle independently of the prevailing ambient air pressure. It processes the sensor data in real time and sends the data to the central control unit, which then triggers the side airbags. ??Infineon offers a broad product family of pressure sensors, including customer-specific devices, that meet the newest side-airbag standards, PSI5 and AK-LV 29. The company manufactures devices in each of three sensor groups—measurement of pressure, acceleration, and magnetic fields—for safety, powertrain, body, and convenience-electronics applications. ?? KP200 pressure-sensor technical details?? The KP200 is offered in the 7 x 7 mm PG-DSOF-8 SMD package. The sensor IC measures pressure in the range of 50.9 to 126.5 kPa (509 to 1265 mbar; 7.4 to 18.3 psi) at temperatures from -40 to +85 °C. The sensor draws 8 mA (typ) from a 4.5 to 11 V supply. It's measurement sensitivity is 0.05% pressure change per LSB. Communication with the central computer occurs through the two-wire PSI5 protocol by modulating the data on the on the power-supply line. Consequently, the KP200 is compatible with the AK-LV 29 automotive standard. Infineon Technologies