With a 16 x 4 pixel configuration, the Melexis MLX90621 offers a 100° x 25° field of view, significantly larger than the company's previous generation of IR arrays. It also boasts four times faster measurement speeds, resulting in a substantial reduction in inherent noise levels. Factory-calibrated to operate in a temperature range of -40°C to 85°C, this array can accurately measure object temperatures between -20°C and 300°C. Interfacing and control are managed via the device's I2C digital interface. The frame rate is programmable, ranging from 0.5Hz to 64Hz. Each device delivers noise-to-speed performance that competitors will strive to match, with a noise equivalent temperature difference (NETD) of 0.25K at 16Hz.
 
The improved field of view allows a single MLX90621, when installed inside a vehicle's passenger compartment, to simultaneously measure the temperature profiles of both the driver and passenger if correctly positioned in the center of the instrument panel. This enables more effective climate control in the vehicle. For building air conditioning systems, it was previously necessary, in most cases, to mount an IR sensor on a mechanical scanner with step-by-step control to perform complete scans of the area to be conditioned. Thanks to the MLX90621's wider field of view, the need for mechanical scanning is eliminated, and a single fixed device can directly generate an image of the entire area. The resulting reduction in cost, measurement time, and system complexity offered by this IR array opens up new opportunities and markets for HVAC system designers.
 
The MLX90621 is supplied in a compact TO39 metal package. The device is available with three different field of view options: 60° x 15°, 40° x 10° and 100° x 25°.

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