Indoor air quality monitoring Infineon's new CO2 sensors are in series production

Due to the impact of the new crown pneumonia epidemic, people's requirements for air quality are getting higher and higher, which has also driven the market demand for carbon dioxide concentration monitoring sensors. Regulations in Asia, Europe and North America also play a catalytic role in this regard. For example, in California, USA, ventilation systems in private homes must be equipped with carbon dioxide sensors. Starting in mid-January 2022, Infineon Technologies AG will meet this growing demand with its XENSIV PAS CO2 sensor, an innovative CARBON dioxide sensor for monitoring indoor air quality and reducing energy costs. The product is suitable for applications such as ventilation systems, air conditioning systems, portable indoor air monitoring equipment and smart speakers. At the International Consumer Electronics Show 2022 (CES 2022), the XENSIV PAS CO2 sensor won the "CES 2022 Innovation Award" in the "Smart City" category.

Infineon's new CO2 sensors begin production to provide innovative solutions for indoor air quality monitoring

Andreas Urschitz, President of Infineon's Power & Sensing Systems Division, said: "The introduction of relevant policies and regulations and the deepening public awareness of air quality issues make the demand for good air quality growing. Infineon's new CO2 sensor is a solution with excellent performance. The sensor is smaller and easier to integrate than other products currently on the market. The sensor can be used in classrooms, offices, restaurants, and homes where people gather. We look forward to supplying this sensor to our direct customers and distributors starting in mid-January. ”

XENSIV PAS CO2 sensors can be used in air conditioning systems or air quality monitors to control air quality in a targeted manner. This method helps to improve the health of the human body and increase work efficiency. Scientific studies have found that as long as the indoor carbon dioxide concentration reaches 1000 ppm (one part per million), it can make people drowsy and affect concentration.

Good air quality is also helping to fight COVID-19. Studies have shown a positive correlation between carbon dioxide concentrations and aerosol concentrations, which are one of the routes of transmission of viruses such as COVID-19 or influenza viruses. This means that, on the basis of effective monitoring of indoor carbon dioxide concentrations, Infineon's XENSIV PAS CO2 sensor can also effectively reduce the risk of virus transmission by timely adjusting ventilation, etc.

The CO2 sensor also saves energy by accurately monitoring the value of CO2 concentrations in the room and, on the basis of which, accurately controls ventilation times in classrooms, offices, restaurants and homes. At the same time, it is also able to use the ventilation system on demand based on accurate sensor data, reducing the operating costs of the ventilation system.

The portable CO2go, a portable CO2 sensor produced by Munich-based technology company eesy-innovation in cooperation with Infineon, will be one of the first commercial products of the XENSIV PAS CO2 sensor on the market. Co2go will be released through the physical store channel at the end of January. The device can be connected to a smartphone or laptop and provides detailed and reliable information about the air quality in different locations in the room, contributing to the health and well-being of the user.

Infineon's XENSIV PAS CO2 sensors are based on innovative PAS (photoacoustic spectroscopy) technology, enabling extremely efficient air quality monitoring with a very small footprint. The sensor is less than a quarter the size of a traditional CO2 NDIR sensor and is one of the few sensors of its size to meet the California Title 24 standard. Infineon holds numerous patents in the field of disruptive PAS technology and is also a leader in MEMS technology.

The microcontroller integrated in the XENSIV PAS CO2 sensor converts the detected CARBON dioxide concentration value directly into a ppm value, which is available through the three interfaces of serial I2C, UART and PWM. The sensor measures CO2 concentrations from 0 ppm to 32,000 ppm with an accuracy of ± 30 ppm± 3% reading (0-8000 ppm). In addition, its production process will bring more benefits to customers. For example, based on this production process, Infineon has introduced the first SMD-enabled CO2 sensor, which complies with international JEDEC standards and can be pinless surface mount using a reflow soldering process.

Infineon started production of the XENSIV PAS CO2 sensor in December 2021. Customers and distributors can order this product from Infineon from mid-January 2022.

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