electronics-journal.com
22
'23
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TDK News
TDK OFFERS A FULL SUITE OF SENSORS FOR AUTOMOTIVE APPLICATIONS
The new sensors from TDK offer guidance and assistance to aid carmakers and tier 1 suppliers with implementation.
The automotive production landscape is changing. The proliferation of electronic devices and sensors in modern car design has grown exponentially in recent years. It will expand further as the industry continues its transition toward e-mobility and autonomous driving.
Electrification and the impact on sensors
As carmakers move away from the internal combustion engine (ICE) toward hybrid and battery-driven designs (xEVs), the sphere of deployment that sensors occupy within these designs is expanding. TDK's unified sensor portfolio offers a comprehensive suite of sensors perfectly suited for automotive applications. The portfolio encompasses both the traditional ICE and the expanded xEV requirements.
- TMR Sensors: Tunnel magnetoresistance (TMR) sensors have multiple applications within a vehicle. They can be used to detect steering wheel torque or angle, motor/axle position, 'eCaliper' braking systems, and wiper actuation. The TAS series of TMR sensors feature high output, low power consumption, good angular accuracy, and low-temperature drifts.
- Hall Sensors: Hall sensors detect the resultant voltage differences that flow within a semiconductor when a magnetic field is applied perpendicular to it. In this way, the Hall switch compares the measured magnetic field strength to a predefined level, or a level programmable in the sensor. Once this level is exceeded (the switching point), the output of the sensor changes. TDK offers both programmable and fixed options within their Hall switch families.
- Temperature Sensors: Temperature sensors must analyze accurately and react quickly to fluctuations in these areas to avoid thermal runaway and subsequent fire risk. TDK has developed a temperature sensor that mounts directly in the connector between the vehicle battery and inverter. The NTCG series and B57xxxV5 series of sensors are packaged in a robust and versatile housing designed to form part of the core of the connector.
- Pressure Sensors: Pressure sensors, such as the C43/C44 series, that measure the pressure within the lithium-ion cells are an equally important feature in the xEV battery management system (BMS). They keep track of working pressures and report abnormal pressure increases to the BMS.
On the road to autonomous driving
In addition to the seismic shifts in car design that the transition to e-mobility represent, advanced driver assistant systems (ADAS) are evolving in terms of reliability and functionality as they progress toward higher levels of driving autonomy. Sensors are pivotal to the integrity of such systems, often working in combination (sensor fusion); they give the system a reliable, accurate, comprehensive view of a vehicle's surroundings.
Using an inertial measurement unit (IMU), such as the IAM-20680, compensates the system from extraneous vibration and improves its results accordingly. By improving the quality of the images produced by the various sensing elements, LIDAR, radar, and cameras, the system's accuracy can be enhanced.
The in-cabin experience of the digital cockpit
As we progress toward higher levels of autonomy, new technologies spearhead alternative notification and control mechanisms within the cabin. TDK provides a range of MEMS motion sensors and microphones in their SmartAutomotive™ range, specifically designed and tested for the automotive market. MEMS microphones eliminate road noise through Road-noise Active Noise Control (RANC) and improve the reliability of voice-activated systems.
Future technologies
The TDK InWheelSense™ is a new, scalable technology that can accurately measure many "on wheel" and "off wheel" parameters. Tire wall temperature, road surface conditions, and wheel alignment conditions are just a few possibilities. This scalable, piezo-powered sensor platform delivers data to the vehicle or to cloud-connected services, increasingly significant as levels of driving autonomy increase.
In addition to the seismic shifts in car design that the transition to e-mobility represent, advanced driver assistant systems (ADAS) are evolving in terms of reliability and functionality as they progress toward higher levels of driving autonomy. Sensors are pivotal to the integrity of such systems, often working in combination (sensor fusion); they give the system a reliable, accurate, comprehensive view of a vehicle's surroundings.
Using an inertial measurement unit (IMU), such as the IAM-20680, compensates the system from extraneous vibration and improves its results accordingly. By improving the quality of the images produced by the various sensing elements, LIDAR, radar, and cameras, the system's accuracy can be enhanced.
The in-cabin experience of the digital cockpit
As we progress toward higher levels of autonomy, new technologies spearhead alternative notification and control mechanisms within the cabin. TDK provides a range of MEMS motion sensors and microphones in their SmartAutomotive™ range, specifically designed and tested for the automotive market. MEMS microphones eliminate road noise through Road-noise Active Noise Control (RANC) and improve the reliability of voice-activated systems.
Future technologies
The TDK InWheelSense™ is a new, scalable technology that can accurately measure many "on wheel" and "off wheel" parameters. Tire wall temperature, road surface conditions, and wheel alignment conditions are just a few possibilities. This scalable, piezo-powered sensor platform delivers data to the vehicle or to cloud-connected services, increasingly significant as levels of driving autonomy increase.
