Infineon Technologies AG launches the XENSIV TM DPS368. The miniaturized digital barometric pressure sensor is capable of measuring both pressure and temperature. It offers an ultra-high precision of ±2 cm and a low current consumption for precise measurement of altitude, air flow and body movements. This makes the DPS368 ideal for mobile applications and wearable devices offering e.g. activity tracking and navigation. Additionally the sensor can be used in home appliances for airflow control, in drones for flight stability and in medical devices such as smart inhalers.
Due to its robust package, it can withstand 50 m under water for one hour (IPx8) and protects the sensing cells against dust and humidity. As a result, the board handling in an assembly line is also facilitated. The 8-pin LGA package with its small dimensions of 2.0 x 2.5 x 1.1 mm³ saves up to 80 percent space compared to other waterproof sensors.
The pressure sensor element is based on a capacitive sensing principle that guarantees high precision even during temperature changes. The internal signal processor converts the output from the pressure and temperature sensor elements to 24-bit results. Calibration coefficients stored in the sensor are used in the application to convert the measurement results to high accuracy pressure and temperature values. DPS368 provides quick feedback due to a measurement rate of up to 200 Hz and fast read-out speed. The integrated FIFO memory can save up to 32 measurement results, allowing for power-savings on system level.
The XENSIV DPS368 sensor features an average low power consumption of 1.7 μA for pressure measurements at 1 Hz sampling rate. In standby mode, this is reduced to 0.5 μA. The sensor operates at pressure ranges from 300 to 1200 hPa and temperature ranges from -40 to +85 °C with a temperature accuracy of ±0.5 °C. Sensor measurements and calibration coefficients are available through the serial I²C or SPI interface.