Infineon CO2 sensor improves building efficiency
- September 23, 2024
- William Payne
Infineon has launched a CO2 sensor to boost building energy efficiency and improve closed space air quality. The XENSIV PAS CO2 5V sensor is based on Photoacoustic Spectroscopy (PAS) technology. It improves energy efficiency by adapting ventilation to actual occupancy, reducing the carbon footprint of buildings.
The new Infineon sensor is suitable for applications such as heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems as well as room controller and thermostat units in commercial and residential buildings. It can also be used for IoT and consumer devices such as smart lighting, air purifiers, conferencing systems, and smart speakers, as well as emerging applications such as smart horticulture and smart refrigerators.
“Environmental sensing is an important pillar of Infineon’s sensor portfolio,” said Andreas Kopetz, VP Ambient Sensing at Infineon. “CO2 sensors play an increasingly important role in smart homes and buildings by continuously monitoring indoor air quality and adjusting ventilation systems accordingly. Our XENSIV PAS CO2 5V is a sensor solution that ensures a healthier living environment for occupants and enables significant energy savings for greater sustainability.”
The XENSIV PAS CO2 5V provides accurate air quality data in real time. It offers a significantly faster response time of 55 seconds, down from 90 seconds (12 V). Its miniaturised form factor of 14×13.8×7.5 mm³ is identical to the size of the XENSIV PAS CO2 12V sensor and allows integration into a range of applications. This makes it easy to adopt dual designs or maintain the same design strategy for both product variants. Compared to the 12V sensor, the 5V version comes with a 5V power supply which further simplifies installation. This improvement enhances efficiency across various applications, allowing for quicker data acquisition and more responsive performance in dynamic environments.
The sensor’s design is dust-proof in accordance with ISO 20653:2013-02, which extends the lifetime of the device in dusty environments and minimises maintenance requirements. The UART, I²C and PWM interfaces enable integration with microcontrollers and other digital systems, simplifying the design and development process.