To enable smart-tire features in heavy-duty vehicles, Melexis has introduced a new smart tire pressure sensor named MLX91805 that can not only measure tire pressure but also monitor tire status and loading. This compact sensor comes in a 4 mm x 5 mm wettable flanks DFN-14 package and integrates an 800g XZ-axis accelerometer that can sense up to 10,000 samples per second, a high-accuracy pressure sensor, a temperature, and a voltage sensor.
The new EU regulations on tire-pressure monitoring for heavy-duty commercial vehicles are intended to come into force in 2022-2024 and this new sensor from Melexis can help OEMs meet the upcoming extension of mandatory tire-pressure monitoring. Unlike current rim-mounted TPMS sensors, the MLX91805 sensor can directly be embedded in the tires of commercial vehicles, including heavy-duty, and passenger cars, and can help capture information directly from the road along with additional information, such as loading status that can extend tire life and boost fuel economy and safety.
The automotive-qualified MLX91805 sensor also integrates a low-power 16-bit microcontroller and 315/433 MHz RF transmitter (for wireless communications) that draws 5 mA at 5 dBm output power. It also has an extremely low 90-nA sleep current. Built-in diagnostics and fault detection, math coprocessor for fast and energy-efficient digital signal processing (DSP), and a -40°C to 135°C operating temperature range are the additional features that the new sensor comes endowed with. Pressure measurement ranges include 100 – 900 kPa and 100 – 1,400 kPa. The sensor also comes with Melexis’ Library that helps application-level software in capturing and interpreting the data like accelerometer signals.
