Delphi's Low-g Sensor Chosen As Finalist For 'Best-of-Show' Honors at Sensors Expo

TROY, Mich., May 16 -- A new all-silicon sensor from Delphi Corp.has been chosen as one of the 12 finalists for the "Best-of-Show" award at the 2002 Sensors Expo in San Jose, Calif. The winning product will be announced at the show that runs from May 21-23.

Delphi's INTELLEK® Low-g (as in g-force -- the force of gravity) accelerometer measures linear acceleration. Greater sensitivity and a programmable range from as low as plus or minus 0.75g up to plus or minus 3.0g helps to distinguish the Low-g accelerometer from its competition. The sensor also has a wide bandwidth and comes in a standard low-profile package. Other special features of the sensor include an enhanced self-test and diagnostics.

The sensor is applicable for use in vehicle stability systems, rollover detection, inclination or theft detection, as well as industrial controls, robotics technologies, medical diagnostics and several consumer electronics applications.

"We are very pleased that the Low-g sensor has been selected to compete for 'Best-of-Show honors,'" said Bill Gray, Delphi Delco Electronics Systems business line executive. "Receiving this kind of recognition is especially important during the market introduction phase for this product."

To be chosen as a finalist for the Sensors Expo "Best-of Show" award, a product must address a real need and purpose. In addition, the product must have distinctive market-differentiating characteristics. And it must have the potential to significantly impact the way people do work. Another requirement is that the product must be exhibited at the upcoming exposition in San Jose.

"We believe that the Low-g sensor will find its way into a number of vehicle safety, industrial, medical and consumer applications," Gray said. "Any device that requires vibration measurement or tilt sensing can benefit from this sensor. We are still researching a wide range of potential uses that will provide customer solutions."

The Low-g accelerometer module combines a sensor and integrated circuit (IC) in an industry-standard, small-outline 20-pin package. The capacitive sensing element in the Low-g accelerometer is produced by micro-electro- mechanical systems (MEMS) technology. The signal-conditioning IC is produced with a high-voltage complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) process.

Operating from a single 5.0-volt power supply, the Low-g features a self- test diagnostic that simulates actual acceleration when the power is first applied or requested by the system controller. It has low-noise discrimination to help eliminate invalid signals and is extremely robust, making it well suited for tough environments.

Delphi is one of the largest producers of automotive sensor technology and is aiming to expand the technology outside the automotive industry. In addition to the Low-g sensor, Delphi sensor offerings shown at the Sensors Expo Show will include:

Rotary position sensor -- senses rotary or linear motion and converts the motion into an electrical signal. Air quality sensor -- detects a plus or minus five (parts per million) ppm increase in CO pollutant concentration and a plus or minus one ppm increase in NOx pollutant concentration. The data from the air quality sensor can then be used by an HVAC automatic control system to adjust air intake. Pressure sensor -- this full-featured sensor directly monitors air pressure and temperature and communicates that information to a monitoring system. High temperature sensor -- measures the temperature of the exhaust gas of an automobile, heavy-duty vehicle or commercial furnace. MAT/MAP (manifold air temperature/manifold absolute pressure sensor) -- The sensor measures two vehicle engine parameters including air temperature and intake pressure in the manifold.