Environmental sensing for a smarter life

Paul Boughton

At the Mobile World Congress 2014, Sensirion AG is presenting its latest humidity and temperature sensor SHTW1, which opens up new possibilities in the wearable and mobile market with its chip-scale packaging technology.

With its size and low energy consumption, the new SHTW1 humidity and temperature sensor meets the demands of the consumer electronics industry.

Like all Sensirion sensors, SHTW1 is based on CMOSens Technology, which integrates the sensor component and the evaluation circuit on a single semiconductor chip.

Sensirion is the first company to use wafer-level chip-scale packaging technology in humidity and temperature sensors. This means SHTW1's package is no larger than the CMOSens Chip itself, yet the SHTW1 has the same functionality as conventional digital humidity and temperature sensors. So when it comes to usability, space is no longer a concern.

With miniature dimensions of just 1.3 x 0.7 x 0.5mm, SHTW1 will create the foundation for an endless array of applications. SHTW1 could soon give glasses, watches, articles of clothing or cell phones the ability to sense temperature and humidity, making it possible to integrate the measurement of our environment into every facet of our lives.

The operating voltage of 1.8V and the low power consumption of just 2µW at 1 measurement per second provide an optimal basis for using the sensor in small, mobile devices.

As the specifications demonstrate, performance was not sacrificed to achieve the tiny size: it measures relative humidity across a range of 0 to 100 per cent RH, with a typical accuracy of ±3 per cent RH. The temperature measurement ranges from -30°C to 100°C with a typical accuracy of ± 0.3°C. The completely calibrated sensor features an I2C interface and is reflow solderable.

Mobile World Conference 2014 takes place in Barcelona, Spain, 24th-27th February 2014.

For more information, visit www.sensirion.com