From June 11th to 13th, 2024, STMicroelectronics participated in SENSOR + TEST 2024, an international trade fair held in Nuremberg, Germany. This year the event attracted over 5,000 visitors, showcasing the advancements in sensor technologies. The event was a valuable opportunity to connect with customers and partners and explore new business opportunities.
We presented our latest sensing technologies for smarter and safer industrial systems. Our products highlighted advancements in areas like condition monitoring, low-power vision, intelligent perception, and current monitoring. This article will introduce some of the key demos that attendees could interact with at the event.
ISM330BX – a versatile IMU for condition monitoring, robotics, and appliances
The ISM330BX is an inertial measurement unit (IMU) designed for a wide range of industrial applications, such as the anomaly detection in water circuits and pumps. This system-in-package solution combines a 6-axis digital gyroscope and accelerometer with embedded intelligence for condition monitoring, 3D orientation tracking, and vibration measurements.
The IMU is ideal for condition monitoring thanks to its 3-axis accelerometer with a low-noise, wide-bandwidth (2 kHz) frequency response. This feature allows it to adhere to strict ISO-10816 vibration severity standards. Beyond condition monitoring, the ISM330BX can be used in robotics applications. It delivers robust 3D orientation tracking with sensor fusion low power (SFLP) technology, enabling low-power operation while maintaining accuracy. Additionally, vibration sensing capabilities further enhance its suitability for robotic systems.
Among its features there are also vibration measurement and compensation, anomaly detection for fault identification, and water leak detection with Qvar sensing. This system-in-package is also part of STMicroelectronics’ longevity program, guaranteeing availability and support for a minimum of 10 years after product introduction, a crucial aspect for applications with long development cycles or extended field lifespans.
TSC2020 – Bidirectional current sense amplifier
The TSC2020 current sense amplifier is ideal for motor control, battery management systems, and solenoid valves. It features high accuracy with low offset voltage (max ±150 µV) and drift (0.5 µV/°C), minimal gain error (0.3% max) and drift (3.5 ppm/°C) and operates within a wide common-mode voltage range (-4V to +100V) for high voltage systems.
The bidirectional current sensing offers flexibility, while the high common-mode rejection (100 dB min) minimizes noise for precise measurements. The design includes integrated EMI filters, enhanced PWM rejection, a wide operating temperature range (-40°C to +125°C), and AEC-Q100 qualification for automotive applications. Furthermore, users can find internal fixed gain options (20V/V, 50V/V, or 100V/V) to eliminate external resistors. The flexible pinout allows for both bidirectional and unidirectional current sensing with just two reference voltage pins (Vref1 and Vref2). Available in SO8 and MiniSO8 packages, it minimizes PCB space requirements. The TSC2020 is part of STMicroelectronics’ extensive range of current sense amplifiers, which offer a wide variety of high-performance devices.
VD55G1 – a new generation of smart, low-power vision systems
The VD55G1, ST’s 0.56MP global shutter sensor, redefines ultra-compact, low-power image sensing. This 2.16µm pixel design minimizes size (2.73 x 2.16 mm²) for AR/VR glasses and other space-constrained devices. Beyond size, VD55G1 stands out for its low power consumption, ideal for battery-powered applications such as security cameras. A smart auto wake-up feature further optimizes efficiency: the sensor sleeps in ultra-low power mode, activating only for events and eliminating constant power draw.
Moreover, packed with on-chip features like autoexposure and noise reduction, VD55G1 delivers high image quality. It performs background removal and captures event frames with synchronized information output. An easy integration is ensured with MIPI CSI-2 output and I²C/I3C interfaces.
STHS34PF80 – a new era of intelligent perception
STMicroelectronics introduced the STHS34PF80, an uncooled infrared sensor for occupancy detection applications. Unlike traditional PIR sensors, STHS34PF80 detects both stationary and moving objects within its 80° field of view. It achieves this feature thanks to high sensitivity (2000 LSB/°C) operating in the 5 µm to 20 µm wavelength range.
In addition, this sensor detects human presence up to 4 meters away without needing bulky Fresnel lenses and simplifies integration thanks to a tiny 3.2 x 4.2 x 1.455 mm LGA package. Embedded algorithms within the sensor itself handle presence and motion detection, reducing reliance on external microcontrollers. This contributes to the sensor’s ultra-low power consumption of just 10 µA at 1Hz, promoting sustainable product design.
