CO2 Sensors

Use Infineon’s XENSIV^TM PAS CO2 sensor to track the environment you are in – for improved health, productivity and overall well-being.

Increasingly efficient building insulation can help to mitigate the effects of climate change, but heavily-insulated buildings are not always good for human health. Poor ventilation can result in lower oxygen levels and a build-up of carbon dioxide (CO₂). Even moderate levels of CO₂ can have a negative impact on health and productivity. Already at 1000ppm, people begin to experience drowsiness and have difficulty concentrating. Consequently, there is a growing demand for smart indoor air quality sensors that can “smell” rising levels of CO₂ and either alert the user or trigger a system response.

With the current pandemic, awareness of indoor air quality is rising, making accurate, affordable monitoring solutions like the XENSIV? PAS CO2 sensor more important than ever. It has been shown that a correlation exists between the concentration of CO₂ and aerosols, one of the transmission pathways of COVID-19. Therefore, if we can reliably measure the CO₂ level in an indoor space, we can actively manage the risk of virus transmission.

Widespread adoption of CO₂ sensors has so far been hampered by size, performance and cost constraints. Infineon’s XENSIV? PAS CO2 sensor leverages photoacoustic spectroscopy (PAS) technology to provide an exceptionally small, real CO₂ sensor, overcoming the challenges of existing CO₂ sensor solutions. Its unprecedentedly small form factor in SMD (Surface Mounted Device) package allows for smooth high-volume assembly and easy system integration.

Along with size and cost advantages, the sensor delivers superior accuracy, providing a direct readout of the real CO₂ level, not simply a correlation. Infineon’s leading position in MEMS technology is the foundation for this unique and accurate CO₂ detection approach. Reliable CO₂ measurement enables smart monitoring of indoor air quality, allowing users to take control of their environmental conditions and experience improvements in health, productivity and overall well-being. 

XENSIV^TM PAS CO2 sensor will be available via distributors mid of 2021.

The PAS principle works as follows. Pulses of light from an infrared source pass through an optical filter tuned specifically to the CO₂ absorption wavelength (λ= 4.2 μm). The CO₂ molecules inside the measurement chamber absorb the filtered light, causing the molecules to shake and generate a pressure wave with each pulse. This is called the photoacoustic effect. The highly sensitive MEMS acoustic detector detects the pressure change generated by CO₂ molecules within the sensor cavity, and the microcontroller converts the output into a CO₂ concentration reading. In order to achieve a ppm reading as accurate as possible, the acoustic detector is optimized for low frequency operation, and the absorption chamber is acoustically isolated from external noise.

The new sensor is ideal for high-volume, cost-sensitive smart home and building automation applications such as demand-controlled ventilation systems, air purifiers, thermostats, weather stations and personal assistants. By integrating CO₂ measurement into these systems, significant amounts of energy can be saved and indoor air quality can be greatly improved, leading to a lower energy bill and a healthier indoor environment. Infineon is making a valuable contribution to enable everyone to track their environment in a smart, easy-to-use and affordable way – for a better and healthier life!

• Smart building
• Condition monitoring and predictive maintenance in HVAC systems
• Smart home
• Wearables