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Date:28th May 2012
Two billionth sensor devices shipped by
Infineon
Infineon Technologies AG has announced it has shipped its
two billionth sensor and thus becomes a leading provider
of semiconductor-based magnetic sensors and pressure sensors.
Infineon provides pressure sensors for use in side airbag
systems, magnetic sensors for wheel speed measurement in
anti-lock braking systems, etc.
Infineon claims that they deliver around four out of the
some 20 magnetic and pressure sensors deployed on average
in every new vehicle. This figure does not even include
sensors used for tire pressure monitoring. The supplier
also claims that their sensor chips are represented in virtually
all of the estimated 80 sensor applications in a vehicle,
e.g. in safety, in the powertrain as well as in the body
and convenience electronics. The company's magnetic sensors
are used for example in the electronic power steering, the
gearbox control and in convenience functions such as electric
windows. Its pressure sensors, which incorporate the latest
side airbag standards PSI5 and AK-LV 29, are used above
all in side airbags and in the engine management system,
not to mention in emerging applications such as pedestrian
protection.
"One of our key areas in sensor innovation is the
combination of the sensing element with signal processing
on one piece of silicon, thus making our sensors increasingly
more reliable," said Frank Findeis, marketing director,
Integrated Sensors at Infineon Technologies AG. "In
conjunction with our wealth of experience and high level
of quality, this makes us the sensor partner of choice for
automotive and industrial electronics."
Infineon delivers sensor products both in the wafer-level
silicon technology as well as the sensing elements. They
have magnetic sensors, besides the Hall effect technology,
magneto-resistive technologies which include GMR (giant
magneto-resistive resistance), AMR (anisotropic magneto
resistance) and TMR (tunnelling magneto resistance) technologies.
"Mastering the use of nickel-iron alloys, for example,
in the manufacturing process of the integrated sensors,
equates in fact to a small technological revolution similar
to the introduction of copper metallization in the semiconductor
manufacturing process," said Frank Findeis. "The
fact that we have succeeded here with our sensors is testimony
of Infineon's exceptional innovative energy."
Author: Srinivasa Reddy N
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