Electronica: Melexis rolls new automotive circuits

Sensor specialist Melexis came to Electronica 2012 to roll out two new products to make the design for two crucial aspects of the car much more intelligent and robust.

Peter Riendeau, a longtime sensor-technology observer and now general manager at Melexis, talked with EE Times Brand Manager Alexander Wolfe about the company's new MLX90809 integrated pressure sensor, which targets power assist braking.

"It's used in a stop-and-go system," Riendeau said. "So (with) the new cars, you pull up to a stop sign engine shuts down. You still need to know if there's vacuum pressure the brakes."

Here are some of the product's highlights:

MEMS Relative Pressure Sensor

• Pressure and Vacuum
• 1 Bar Full Scale
• Analog output or SENT Protocol

Integrated Signal Processing

• 16-Bit ADC
• 16-Bit MCU EEPROM Configurable
• Temperature Compensation
• Onboard Diagnostics

Riendeau also described an interesting new LIN bus driver for LEDS, the MLX81106.

Here's Riendeau describing the products and the challenges of automotive design in the future as engineers debate moving from 12-volt systems to 48.



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