Automotive Pressure Sensor Manufacturers

Automotive Pressure Sensor Manufacturers
Consumer demand for smart technology and safer cars are the main forces behind the need for pressure sensors in the automotive industry. On a macro level, as the world population increases, the need for vehicles and pressure sensing technology behind them will continue to increase. The automotive and OEM parts manufacturing sectors are two of the biggest markets in the pressure sensor industry. 

The demand for pressure sensors in the automotive industry is divided into those for passenger vehicles and those for commercial vehicles. Although there is a global demand, the need is concentrated in industrialized nations. The market is highly segmented by geographic region, type of sensor technology, and pressure sensor application. Global leaders in the automotive and OEM industry include Continental AG, DENSO Corp., Delphi Technologies, and Honeywell International Inc. Other major pressure sensor manufacturers include NXP Semiconductors NV, Sensata Technologies Inc., and TE Connectivity Ltd. 

Pressure sensors in the automotive industry must be able to function in harsh environments. Sensors can experience temperatures from -40°C to up to 150°C for those mounted on the engine. They must be able to withstand extreme vibration and exposure to fuels, brake fluids, and saltwater spray from roads. In many cases, they have replaced many of the activities of the driver, such as monitoring air pressure and fluid pressures. They are also behind the technology that makes the airbags inflate.

The importance of pressure sensors in the safety features of modern vehicles means that they must be reliable 100% of the time. The life of a pressure sensor is expected to be approximately 10-15 years or 100,000 to 150,000 miles of use. However, some cars can now be expected to last up to 250,000 miles. Companies that manufacture sensors for this industry must often maintain certification under IATF 16949, ISO 21750:2006, ISO 1550-2:2012, ISO 26262 and others. Pressure sensors in the automotive industry must also meet the requirements of ISO 1142-4 for resistance to electrical interference. 

Many of the products must also meet NSF International requirements, ASTM standards, and NHTSA requirements for vehicle safety devices. Pressure sensors in the automotive industry must meet stringent requirements and pass testing methods for many different agencies because of the critical roles that they play in modern automobiles. Manufacturing processes and tolerances are some of the tightest in the pressure sensor industry. 

The technology used in automotive pressure sensors must be able to measure gauge, absolute, differential, and vacuum pressures. Often barometric pressure sensors are included for comparison to the pressure in the system being measured. Silicon MEMS pressure sensors are a common type of device found. Currently, capacitive and piezoresistive sensors are mainly used in the industry. 

MEMS sensors are found in standard equipment like the cylinders, crankcase, and air filters. They are also found in advanced systems such as electronic stability control, air suspension, and in start/stop systems. It is expected that in the future resonant and surface acoustic wave (SAW) will play an increasing role in the industry. 

Pressure sensors for the automotive industry continue to improve to meet the demands of the industry for longevity and precision. They are found in many systems of the vehicle, including the engine, exhaust, fuel delivery, braking systems, tires, and air conditioning. They perform functions, such as to monitor oil pressure, exhaust pressure, engine combustion pressure, fuel injection pressure, hydraulic brake pressure, tire pressure, and air conditioning pressure. The engine alone has between 12-30 sensors to monitor the engine alone. The average vehicle has over 50 sensors throughout the various systems, and this number is only expected to increase in the future.