April 13, 2012 The RD6R1A from Alps Electric Europe is a high-precision, long-life resistive rotary sensor for position detection in automotive applications. Available with three solder terminals, the component measures 41.5x16.0x3.5mm. Read more

April 12, 2012 ALPS Electric Europe GmbH has introduced the RD6R1A a high-precision, long-life resistive rotary sensor for position detection in automotive applications. Read more

April 3, 2012 A new range of piezo-electric voltage accelerometers has been unveiled by from DJB Instruments that works in high temperature environments at 185°C and the company describes as representing a breakthrough in vibration sensor technology. Read more

March 5, 2012 Automotive supplier Bosch Group plans to manufacture wheel-speed and crankshaft sensors for the automotive industry in its Plant in Blaj, Romania. The company plans to invest some 43 million euros up to the end of 2013 in a plant extension and new manufacturing equipment. Construction will start in the spring of 2012. Read more

February 22, 2012 Honeywell has introduced its RTY series Hall-effect rotary position sensors that provide a cost-effective rotary position sensor solution with a variety of options (e.g., sensing range, pinout, voltage) that allow customers to customize the sensor configuration to meet their specific application needs, especially those in harsh environments. Read more

February 15, 2012 Nine racing teams are using the IVT-F current sensor made by Isabellenhütte Heusler GmbH, during the 2012 Formula 1 season, which will start on March 18th in Melbourne, Australia. The module has been integrated in the so-called E-KER systems: E-KERS is an Electric Kinetic Energy Recovery System that was used for the first time in 2009 and which was integrated in Formula 1 cars again for the 2011 season. Read more

February 7, 2012 The reduction of CO2 emissions is the long-term goal of the research project SOI-HITS (Silicon on Insulator - High Temperature Systems). The project's contribution to this goal is developing CMOS-compatible high-temperature sensors for use in automotive combustion systems as well as in domestic or industrial boilers. Read more

February 2, 2012 ALPS ELECTRIC EUROPE GmbH has developed the HGPRDT Series high-precision latch 2-phase output type magnetic sensor for use in automotive equipment, supporting a wide operating temperature range between –40 and +140°C, and high voltages up to 30 V. Mass production commenced in January 2012. Read more

January 18, 2012 Renesas Electronics has developed a new 32-bit microcontroller (MCU), the V850E2/PJ4-E, which incorporates an on-chip resolver sensor interface. The new MCU realizes both higher performance and lower system cost for automotive control systems including motor control for HEV/EV and other automotive applications. Read more

January 10, 2012 EngineSens Motorsensor GmbH has developed a resistance thermometer with an immersion depth of up to 135 mm. With the product, the company targets particulate filter control applications for Diesel engines for off-highway vehicles. Read more

January 5, 2012 Linear Technology Corporation has acquired Dust Networks, Inc., a leading provider of low power wireless sensor network (WSN) technology. The acquisition of Dust Networks, based in Hayward, California, will enable Linear to offer a complete high performance wireless sensor networking solution. Read more

January 4, 2012 Maxim Integrated Products' MAX44000 is a digital ambient-light and infrared proximity sensor that detects light like a human eye. Designed using the company’s proprietary BiCMOS technology, this IC integrates three optical sensors, two ADCs, and digital functionality into a single package measuring only 2x2x0.6mm. Read more

January 2, 2012 The openPICUS open source platform for embedded applications is a standalone internet-enabled module designed for smart sensor networks and M2M communications. The platform accepts various modules including Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and LAN-enabled units that are pin-to-pin compatible with each other. Read more

December 12, 2011 NXP Semiconductors has announced the industry's first magnetoresistive angle sensor with integrated amplifier IC. The KMZ60 uses AMR technology (AMR: anisotropic magnetoresistive) and is designed as a low cost, high-performance control device for brushless DC motor (BLDC) commutation. NXP expects that this new sensor will drive uptake of BLDC motor-based applications, particularly in the automotive sector. Read more

November 30, 2011 Microchip Technology has developed the MCP9808 silicon temperature sensor, which serves a broad range of applications by guaranteeing high accuracy of 0.5 degrees from -20 to +100 degrees Celsius, along with high temperature resolution of 12 bits (0.0625 degrees Celsius/LSB). Read more

November 25, 2011 Bosch's new SMP480 barometric pressure sensor takes just a quarter of the space compared to its predecessor. Thus, the sensor can be integrated into the electronic control unit (ECU) easier. Read more

November 21, 2011 Chip vendor Micronas announced the availability of its HAL 880 Hall sensor in SOIC8 package. This eliminates many cost adding processes, such as the leads bending process, often necessary for leaded packages such as the TO92. The HAL 880 in SOIC8 combines high performance sensor technology with a cost-effective, manufacturing friendly package, leading to attractive cost improvements at system level. Read more

November 17, 2011 By fusing driving dynamics sensor information with GPS data, automotive supplier Continental will make it possible to determine the precise position of a vehicle within its lane. This degree of exactness is required to roll out car2x applications. Read more

November 9, 2011 ZMD AG has unveiled a new Intelligent Battery Sensor IC for fuel saving start/stop systems and other solutions for measuring State-of-health (SOH), State-of-charge (SOC) or State-of-function (SOF) of a vehicle’s battery. The first member of a new Battery Power Management product line from ZMDI, the ZSSC1856 comes in a QFN32 5x5 package of only 0.85 mm height. Read more

November 3, 2011 For contact-less current sensing applications with tough speed requirements in electric vehicles and hybrid electric vehicles, chipmaker Melexis has developed the MLX91207 current sensor. The device can also be used in renewable energy applications. Read more

November 2, 2011 Freescale is offering a family of automotive acceleration sensors designed to expedite development of advanced airbag systems that help save lives and protect against injuries caused by vehicle collisions. Freescale's Xtrinsic MMA65xxKW family of accelerometers employs intelligent sensing technologies designed for front and side crash detection that can be easily and efficiently integrated into vehicle airbag systems. Read more

October 26, 2011 Engineers from automotive supplier TRW Holdings Corp have launched a new approach to improve crash sensing performance: They are developing remote acceleration sensors (RAS) which detect impacts from more than one direction simultaneously. Read more

October 21, 2011 Intersil Corporation has introduced an automotive qualified ambient light sensor that can measure incident light levels down to 0.01 lux with near human eye spectral response. The ISL76671 is the industry's first low light ambient light sensor (ALS) that operates within the automotive temperature range of -40 to 105 degrees C, guaranteeing reliable performance without external temperature compensation. Read more

October 4, 2011 Automotive supplier Continental AG coordinates the IQ FUEL consortium dedicated to developing a highly integrated micro sensor system that determines the actual fuel composition in the tank. This fuel quality sensor makes it possible to optimize the engine control strategy according to the current fuel quality in the tank. Read more

September 28, 2011 Automotive OEMs and the University of Passau (Germany) have launched a research project that aims at reducing costs for safety-relevant driver assistant systems by shared use of components. The goal is to make these systems affordable also for compact cars and even small cars. Read more

September 27, 2011 Murata announced the SV03 series of low profile surface mount rotary position sensors. Measuring just 11 x 12 x 2.1 mm and weighing only 0.4 g, these compact sensors are designed for use in a broad range of consumer electronics appliances and are also suited to automotive applications. By detecting the angle of rotation of a switch the sensors provide a cost effective rotary switch and feedback sensor. Read more

September 19, 2011 An important prerequisite for car-to-x communications is that the vehicles involved in the communications process exactly know - and communicate - their whereabouts. Today's GPS navigation systems are not always exact and reliable enough since the reception of the satellite signals does not always work properly if the vehicle is in a tunnel or if buildings shield off the signal. Automotive supplier Continental AG now has developed a sensor that provides exact, reliable location data. Read more

September 12, 2011 Lifted by the strong automotive sector and rising global demand for digital compasses in smartphones and tablets, the market for silicon magnetic sensors is enjoying accelerated growth, with revenue in 2011 set to rise a strong 23.7 percent, according to a new IHS iSuppli MEMS & Sensors Special Report from information and analysis provider IHS. Read more

July 22, 2011 Automotive Supplier Bosch has introduced a new pedal travel sensor for hybrid and electric vehicles. With its contactless design, the sensor offers wear-free measurement. Redundant output signals guarantee a high level of safety. Read more

July 18, 2011 Maxim Integrated Products has acquired SensorDynamics, an expert company for semiconductor-based sensors targeting automotive, industrial and consumer markets. With the move, Maxim plans to open new market opportunities for inertial sensors in consumer markets, said Maxim Group Vice President Vijay Ullal. Read more

July 15, 2011 The MLX90807 and MLX90808 fully integrated, relative and absolute pressure sensor die are realized with CMOS technology combined with MEMS bulk micromachining. These monolithic solutions are both fully automotive qualified. Each consists of a silicon membrane with piezoresistors to transform the stress induced by pressure into an electrical signal. An analog signal chain interacting with a digital core, including programmable memory, allows full calibration on chip in order to achieve an optimized transfer function over the desired working pressure and temperature range. Read more

June 24, 2011 Melexis has launched its 3rd generation of contactless MEMs infrared temperature sensors. The high accuracy of the newest member of the MLX90614 family makes it suitable for limitless applications in automotive, medical, industrial and consumer markets. Read more

June 6, 2011 Automotive and industrial IC supplier Micronas AG presents a new generation of Hall sensors for linear position measurement with their HAL 38xy family. The device is particularly suited for applications where relatively long distances have to be measured in confined construction spaces, for example in transmission clutches. Read more

June 6, 2011 austriamicrosystems has introduced the AS5410 linear position sensor, which the company claims is the first product of the world’s first fully-featured 3D Hall platform. The 3D Hall sensor solution senses absolute position in automotive and industrial applications and provides highest resolution position information. Read more

June 1, 2011 New smart parking technology from Libelium enables cities to make efficient use of their parking resources. The new platform allows consultancies and system integrators to customise and deploy the solution in their local area. Read more

May 30, 2011 With a new generation of tri-axial sensors, Melexis addresses the needs of challenging applications in harsh automotive environments: EGR Valves, Turbo Wastegate Actuators, Electronic Throttle Body solutions, Steering angle, Suspension Height, Transmission Clutch; Shift and Fork position and Human Machine Interface are among the problems to be solved with the sensors. Read more

May 20, 2011 There are situations when an airbag does not protect but instead hurts car passengers: For instance, if it ignites in a moment when the seat occupant has bent forward. A sensor technology developed by Fraunhofer Institute for Silicate Research (ISC) can help to optimize the ignition process by providing information as to the passenger's weight and position. Read more

May 11, 2011 Bourns announced a new combined torque and angle sensor designed for Electric Power Assisted Steering Applications (EPAS) and other automotive systems. The new combined sensor provides torque and steering angle measurement in a single package, replacing two discrete sensors for significant space and cost savings. Read more

May 5, 2011 Semiconductor manufacturer ZMDI AG introduced a single-chip sensor signal conditioner IC for resistive bridge sensors, combining a sensor conditioning IC with a LIN transceiver. The ZSSC3170 is designed for direct 12V supply provided by the vehicle power system. It enables the development of a complete sensor application with a single IC and helps to save component costs and board space. Read more

May 2, 2011 Development of complex miniaturized multi-sensor systems for automotive and industrial applications is the goal of the MANOS research project. Within the scope of the project, eight companies collaborate in driving the development of modular stacked sensor systems. The project focuses on innovative assembly and connection technologies. Read more

April 27, 2011 TRW Automotive Holdings Corp will launch a new vacuum sensor to measure and report the level of vacuum available for the brake booster. This type of sensor is needed to determine if the vacuum pump or hydraulic brake boost need to be activated. Read more

April 5, 2011 Intersil Corporation has introduced the industry's first automotive grade ambient light sensor designed to support continuous operation up to 105 degrees Celsius. The ISL76683 is qualified to the Automotive Electronics Council's AEC-Q100 grade 2, assuring reliability under thermal stress.  The device also maintains package transparency under automotive thermal stress, solving a known issue with existing sensors. Read more

March 29, 2011 Japanese and global automotive production is being hit by the lack of an airflow sensor, according market research firm IHS Automotive. Global automobile production is likely to see a further marked drop in vehicle production – beyond that due to missing Japanese production – within a matter of weeks, the analyst said. Read more

February 28, 2011 Freescale Semiconductor's MM912J637 battery sensor measures current, voltage and temperature of lead-acid batteries and deduces the status of the battery from these parameters. Amidst increasing numbers of hybrid electric vehicles and start-stop systems (“mild hybrid”), it becomes increasingly important for car designers to determine the battery status. Read more

February 28, 2011 Melexis has developed a high dynamic range image sensor for use in a broad range of markets – automotive driver assistance and night vision applications applications in the first place. The camera sensor chip can also be used in security/surveillance cameras, fleet safety cameras, truck blind spot cameras, transportation/heavy vehicle cameras, and other outdoor and all weather cameras, the vendor said. Read more

February 9, 2011 Automotive supplier Continental has developed a sensor (satellite) for electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles which will immediately shut off the high-voltage battery in the event of a collision while the vehicle is in charge mode. Thus, emergency service personnel can recover vehicles without running the risk of suffering an electric shock. Read more

February 2, 2011 Automotive electronics supplier Paragon AG has developed a new sensor for gearbox applications. Unlike available products, the sensor detects already during the start of a shifting process which gear will be put in. Read more

January 24, 2011 National Semiconductor Corp., is unveiling an innovative design engineering solution which aims to slash the time taken to create a modern sensor design system from weeks, or even months, to a matter of minutes. The company plans to revolutionize how sensor systems are designed by simplifying the design process and speed time-to-market with the launch of two configurable sensor analog front-end (AFE) integrated circuits supported by a new bench-top evaluation tool. Read more

January 19, 2011 In times of increasingly more powerful driver assistant systems, automatic driving appears on the horizon of many automotive R&D managers. At the Innovation Summit in Munich, BMW explained the pros and cons of automatic driving. The discussion highlights the complicated splits between the feasible and the desirable. Read more

January 11, 2011 Volkswagen AG Business Unit Braunschweig plans to use Infineon's Hall sensors in its electric power steering systems for vehicles. Infineon’s TLE4998C4 programmable linear Hall sensor will be used for various model ranges. Infineon has already started to deliver the chips. Read more

December 21, 2010 Bosch is starting series production of a new version of the generation 9 ABS for motorcycles. According to the automotive supplier, the ABS 9 plus is currently the world's smallest and lightest brake control system for motorcycles. Read more

December 20, 2010 Gleichmann Electronics now offers the SD746 combo sensor from SensorDynamics. Key features of the 6 x 6 x 1.2 mm3 inertial sensor are three measurement axes each for angular rate and acceleration as well as a wide measurement range of up to ±2048°/s for angular rate and ±8 g for acceleration. Read more

December 15, 2010 FZI (Research Center for Information Technology) and IPG Automotive GmbH, a provider of simulation solutions and test systems for the automobile and automotive supplier industries, have joined their forces to develop a testing and integration platform for active safety and energy-efficient driving strategies. The partners both based in Karlsruhe, Germany, have already been cooperating in the field of sensor fusion for camera-based driver assistance systems. Read more

December 3, 2010 Belden has extended its Lumberg Automation product range with what the company claims to be the world's first eight-pole M8 actuator/sensor connectors. These connectors, which fulfill all requirements for shock and vibration resistance, are being offered in two variants with molded cables as well as in three field-attachable installation variants. All variants are designed for a temperature range of between -25° and +80°C, and, when screwed together with the appropriate counterparts, meet the requirements of protection type IP67. Read more

December 2, 2010 Ipetronik has announced MultiDAQ, a multi-measurement module with 32 measurement inputs, eight analog inputs for voltage/current with sensor excitation, and two frequency/counter inputs. The MultiDAQ is based on the company’s M-Series modules, which have been proving themselves well for years under extreme conditions. In detail, it is equipped with 32 measurement inputs for connecting Type K (NiCr/NiAl) thermocouples, eight analog inputs for voltage/current that each have separately configurable dual supply sensor excitation (up to ±15 V, max. ±45 mA), and two frequency/counter inputs. Read more

November 25, 2010 With its MEV-50C-R MEMS rate sensor, Murata aims at automotive navigation markets: The device supports dead-reckoning for car navigation devices plus the high reliability and thermal stability required for automotive environments. The rate sensor nevertheless can be used in other applications as well, such as GPS modules or satellite antennas or even sophisticated toys - radio control helicopter, for example. Read more

November 24, 2010 With the SMP13x model series, automotive supplier Bosch for the first time offers integrated medium-pressure sensors for the automotive sector. The MEMS-based sensor features hermetic sealing and high media resistance. Read more

November 11, 2010 Austriamicrosystems' new AS540x product family of 3-dimensional Hall encoders provides absolute angular or linear output data at very high resolution and precision. This flexibility enables new solutions with improved performance for industrial and automotive applications, the vendor claims. Read more

November 11, 2010 Freescale Semiconductor is expanding its Xtrinsic line of sensing solutions for automotive active safety applications with the addition of the new MMA6900Q and MMA6901Q accelerometers. Read more

November 10, 2010 STMicroelectronics has introduced a new family of high-g acceleration sensors for advanced airbag systems. The micro-machined devices detect a rapid deceleration of the vehicle during a crash and send instant information to the airbag control unit. Read more

November 9, 2010 For current sensor applications in the automotive and industrial control environments, Isabellenhütte has launched its the VLx resistor series. The resistors excel with extremely low resistance and high mechanical stability. Read more

November 8, 2010 The dual-axis SMA560 model for airbag control units marks Bosch's entry into the fifth generation of micro-mechanical acceleration sensors. As opposed to sensors of the previous generation, this new model, in its SOIC8 housing, combines space savings of more than 40 percent while at the same time offering a broader functional range. Read more

November 3, 2010 Micronas is targeting automotive and industrial applications with two new Hall sensors featuring digital outputs. Target applications include battery monitoring in HEVs and electric vehicles, start-stop systems, smart metering and solar inverters. Read more

October 29, 2010 STMicroelectronics has expanded its sensor portfolio with an automotive-grade three-axis low-g accelerometer. Combining low power consumption and small footprint with high precision and robust performance, the device targets a wide range of automotive applications, including vehicle tracking, event recording, abuse monitoring, and dead-reckoning for enhanced navigation capabilities. Read more

October 18, 2010 Lane-change maneuvers are among the most dangerous situation in today's dense city and highway traffic. In order to defuse these situations, automotive tier one Bosch has created an ultrasound-based Side View Assist system. It will make its global debut in the new model of the Citroën C4, to be launched this fall. Read more

October 12, 2010 Automotive supplier Continental is collaborating with a number of partners in a research project aiming at detecting potentially slippery road sections. The research results will be used for the design of a system which will give the driver an advance warning about low grip. Read more

October 12, 2010 TRW Automotive Holdings has introduced a Low Cost Clamp-In (LCCI) sensor for Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) applications in 2011 model year vehicles. The design results in significantly lowered costs for the system, TRW claims. Read more

October 11, 2010 In 2006, the DARPA Urban challenge has proved that vehicles can drive automatically in a virtual city. Now a research project of the Braunschweig Technical University goes one step further: Testing autonomous driving in normal everyday traffic within a real city. Read more

October 6, 2010 In order to improve pedestrian protection in collisions with cars, automotive tier one Continental AG has developed a novel sensor: An air hose is connected to two pressure sensors and flexibly built into the bumper. These sensors detect accidents involving pedestrians and activate the safety systems in the vehicle's body. Read more

September 16, 2010 At the opportunity of a visit to Bosch's semiconductor plant in Reutlingen, EE Times Europe caught a glimpse of the product offerings the company is preparing for the Electronica trade show later this year. Among the products to be launched are a very small 3D inertial sensor, a power module for e-bike drives and a lambda probe IC for engine management systems. Read more

September 6, 2010 For automotive applications requiring very low and very high ambient temperatures, scientists from the Fraunhofer institute for microelectronic systems (Duisburg, Germany) has developed a CMOS image sensor capable of working at an extended temperature range from -40 through 115 degrees Celsius. Read more

August 23, 2010 Isabellenhütte and austriamicrosystems have signed a cooperation agreement to develop battery sensor ICs, taking advantage of both companies' expertise on current and voltage measurement of 12V and 24V vehicle batteries and on high-performance analogue ICs respectively. Read more

July 5, 2010 TRW Automotive Holdings Corp. has unveiled a Collision Mitigation Braking (CMB) technology which provides drivers with additional braking support in the event of an imminent collision with a moving or stationary object. The system is primarily designed for urban driving conditions including heavy traffic. Read more

June 25, 2010 Within the scope of the AKTIV research initiative, automotive tier one Continental AG has demonstrated a device that hitherto was said to be very difficult to implement: An electronic roadworks assistant system. It supports drivers in keeping within their lane in narrow and complex highway sections. A key technology for the system was sensor fusion. Read more

June 16, 2010 While the FlexRay automotive data bus system has yet to find mass acceptance in volume vehicles, some OEMs already consider connectivity options beyond FlexRay. At a congress, BMW detailed plans to roll out Ethernet/IP technology within vehicles. Read more

May 26, 2010 Bosch's latest sensor supports basic ESP functions and integrates signal processing in the system control unit. Read more

May 25, 2010 At the Sensor+Test fair in Nuremberg, Isabellenhütte unveiled its precision current sensor with analogue voltage output. The new sensor, the IAS, does not require a digital interface or digital converter, reducing size and costs. Read more

May 25, 2010 Dual clutch transmissions for combustion-engine driven vehicles help to improve overall efficiency and reduce fuel consumption. Tyco Electronics presents a family of sensors that support electronic control functions for these transmissions. Read more

May 21, 2010 Inverters and DC/DC battery chargers for electric and hybrid vehicles require minimum space and maximum power handling per cubic cm. The new CS-100-AU automotive current sensor from Spanish manufacturer Grupo Premo uses just 2.4mm3 and handles 14.6A/cm3. Read more

May 20, 2010 ZF Electronics has developed a new Hall-effect geartooth speed and direction sensor which suits the rigorous demands found in harsh automotive environments. Read more

May 11, 2010 austriamicrosystems has unveiled a contactless magnetic angle position sensor for accurate angular measurement over a full 360 degrees. Read more

May 11, 2010 The CUR 3105 from Micronas can be adapted to contactless current sensing applications by selecting the magnetic field range, by programming the required output characteristics and by choosing the suitable package. Read more

April 27, 2010 In Audi's top-of-the line sedan A8, an automatic emergency braking system provided by automotive supplier Bosch will go into series production shortly. The intelligent brake recognizes critical situations, in particular if a rear-end collision is likely, and automatically applies the brakes. Read more

April 22, 2010 Automotive chip manufacturer Melexis NV (Ieper, Belgium) reports an impressive return to growth and profitability, driven by mainly the rising demand for sensors and actuators associated to the CO2 reduction for vehicles. Read more

April 12, 2010 Engineering company Berner & Mattner Systemtechnik has developed a turnkey steering angle sensor test system for Takata-Petri, one of the world's largest suppliers of occupant protection systems for vehicles. The project included development, implementation and integration of the control software as well as the mechanical setup of an external test control unit. By means of the test system Takata-Petri benefits from complete and automated function tests of the steering angle sensors. Read more

March 26, 2010 The MOST (Media Oriented Systems Transport) network technology is about to leave its roots in infotainment applications behind and target safety-relevant applications. At the recent meeting of the MOST standardizing industry group, research results were presented which prove that the current standard iteration MOST150 is almost ready to support such applications. For instance, MOST could be used to interconnect driver assistance systems, the group states. Read more

March 24, 2010 Hermetic Switch, Inc., a designer and manufacturer of reed switches, proximity sensors, and other switch technologies, unveiled its new series of liquid level sensors, also known as float sensors or fluid level sensors. Read more

March 11, 2010 Automotive supplier ZF Electronics has announced two new angular position sensors: the AN1 series intrinsically linear angular position sensor and the AN8 series thin angular position sensor. Both the AN1 series and AN8 series have custom programmable outputs and suit a wide number of applications. Read more

February 24, 2010 SensorDynamics (Graz, Austria) has launched a single-chip solution for AMR sensors (anisotropic magnetic resistance). The SD41x is designed for price sensitive position and angle detection applications in automotive environments. Read more