STMicroelectronics LPS33W water-resistant MEMS pressure sensor

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The STMicroelectronics LPS33W water-resistant MEMS pressure sensor combines chemical compatibility with stability for use in a wide range of applications, including fitness trackers and other wearables, vacuum cleaners and general-purpose industrial sensing.

Protected by a viscous potting gel inside the cylindrical metal package, the IPx8-rated device withstands salt water, chlorine, bromine, detergents such as hand soap and shampoo, e-liquids and light industrial chemicals such as n-pentane. The package lid provides high corrosion resistance, and the cylindrical form factor is easy to use with O-rings in applications that require a sealed enclosure.

The properties of ST’s gel formula, together with the sensor’s built-in signal-conditioning ASIC, ensure 0.008 hPa RMS pressure noise, thereby enabling good measurement resolution. Susceptibility to reflow-soldering stress during assembly is also low, drifting less than ±2 hPa and recovering normal accuracy in 72 h; more than twice the speed of other sensors, according to the company. Temperature compensation keeps accuracy within ±3 hPa over the operating range from 0 to 65°C.

The product operates at just 15 µA in high-performance mode, with a 3 µA low-power mode and 1 µA power-down to help maximise runtime of battery-powered devices. A 128-bit FIFO stores up to 40 slots of 32-bit pressure and temperature data, helping to save extra power by minimising intervention from the host microcontroller. A low-pass filter and I²C and SPI digital interfaces are also built in.

For more information: www.st.com/lps33w-pr.