Japanese electronics company Rohm has introduced a waterproof high accuracy barometric pressure sensor IC for home appliances, industrial equipment and compact IoT devices.

The BM1390GLV has a waterproof rating of IPX8.

Barometric pressure sensors have become popular in wearables and smartphones for indoor navigation, and for acquiring altitude data in activity meters. In recent years, as applications have expanded, there has been an increased demand for waterproof and smaller barometric pressure sensors that are robust and resistant to external disturbances.

In response, Rohm has developed a compact barometric pressure sensor that is waterproof and strong against both temperature fluctuations and mechanical stress.

The IC combines MEMS and control circuitry cultivated in the past with original waterproof technology to deliver IPX8 waterproof performance in a 2.0 by 2.0 by 1.0mm package.

Furthermore, a proprietary built-in temperature compensation function ensures temperature characteristics, while a ceramic package reduces fluctuations of device-specific characteristics caused by mechanical stress during board mounting.

These features enable high accuracy barometric pressure measurement in applications requiring waterproof performance and in environments exposed to large temperature changes.

Rohm Semiconductor has 22,370 employees. The company develops and manufactures products from SiC diodes and MOSFETs, analogue ICs such as gate drivers and power management ICs to power transistors and diodes to passive components.

Production takes place in manufacturing plants in Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Thailand, Philippines and China.