At the heart of the MLX90830 is Melexis' Triphibian ™ technology , which enables the MEMS (microelectromechanical system) sensor to provide accurate measurements not only above 5 bar, but also while in contact with liquid. This combination of gas- and liquid-compatible high-pressure sensing is achieved through the MLX90830's construction. The sensing mechanism features a suspended cantilever within an SO16 package, with the diaphragm at its end. This suspended cantilever design provides immunity to pressure spikes up to 2000 bar/ms and a static breakdown level up to 210 bar. The two available calibrated ranges (10 or 35 bar) are each tailored to the requirements of different EV thermal management systems, including low/high pressure cooling loops. The MLX90830's design is inherently more robust than rear-exposed solutions, which still experience a pressure differential between the glass pedestal side and the cable junction side. The pressure equalization principle also holds true for frozen media, allowing the MLX90830 to survive in such conditions—a first for MEMS pressure sensors.
Compared to existing non-MEMS-based designs, the MLX90830 offers high accuracy and a robust design, helping to optimize the efficiency of vehicle thermal management systems and enabling longer ranges. Furthermore, its compact embedded package reduces the sensor's volume compared to standalone sensor modules.
The MLX90830 includes a sensor readout circuit, digital hardware, voltage regulators, and analog output drivers. Piezoresistive elements embedded in the membrane create a Wheatstone bridge to generate an output signal. This signal is amplified and converted to digital format, allowing the 16-bit digital signal processing (DSP) to apply temperature compensation before providing the result as an analog output.
The sensor is equipped with advanced protection mechanisms against overvoltage (above +40 V) and reverse voltage (below -40 V), making it suitable for truck applications. The MLX90830 has been developed as a Safety Out-of-Context (SEooC) element in accordance with ISO 26262, enabling integration into systems up to ASIL B and ensuring compliance with the latest electric vehicle safety requirements.
"Access to miniaturized and precise MEMS pressure sensors, factory-calibrated and based on Triphibian™, allows for the centralization of thermal management systems in electric vehicles, reducing size and increasing system reliability," says Karel Claesen, Product Manager for Pressure Sensors. "The MLX90830 can be easily integrated by customers as a standalone device or integrated into the system."
technology™, MEMS sensors can increase the pressure levels they measure and, at the same time, expand the range of media they can handle," explains Laurent Otte, Senior Product Line Manager. "The determination of liquid media pressures opens the door to applications both within and outside the automotive industry that historically could not be addressed with MEMS technologies."
