ZMDI announces a strong second quarter for product releases in its sensing product portfolio

ZMD AG (ZMDI) is an award-winning global semiconductor company headquartered in Dresden, Germany, and specializing in enabling energy-efficient solutions. In keeping with ZMDI’s commitment to the design and development of high quality semiconductors, the company has released a significant number of world-class devices through its Sensing Division in Q2 2015. ZMDI offers superior, high-performance solutions for power management, sensing, battery management, automotive ASICs and industrial ASSPs. With over 50 years of industry leadership, ZMDI provides high-quality products and services that have earned the trust of customers around the world.

In the second quarter of 2015, ZMDI released seven new products to the global market through its Sensing Division: the ZSSC5101 and the six products in the ZSSC416x/ZSSC417x Family. These new products represent state-of-the-art sensor signal conditioners for the automotive and industrial markets, including a leading-edge signal conditioner for magnetoresistive bridge sensors that provides a wide array of application possibilities. Steve Ramdin, Product Manager of ZMDI’s Sensing Division, states, “ZMDI has a solid footprint in the multi-market sensor and specifically automotive sensor arenas, and these new devices released in Q2 2015 further solidify that market position. The ZSSC5101 magnetoresistive bridge sensor signal conditioner is fully automotive qualified with an ambient temperature range up to 160°C. The ZSSC416x and ZSSC417x are fully optimized for automotive environments by overvoltage and reverse polarity protection circuitry, excellent electromagnetic compatibility and multiple diagnostic features. The ZSSC4161, ZSSC4162, ZSSC4165 and ZSSC4171 are SENT-compliant.” Mr. Ramdin further stated, “I am very impressed by the overwhelming interest these products have generated over the past 90 days.”

In May and June of this year, ZMDI participated in the SENSOR+TEST 2015 trade show in Nurnberg, Germany, as well as the Sensor Expo in California, where they reported very high industry interest in these new semiconductor solutions.

ZSSC416x and ZSSC417x Sensor Signal Conditioner Family

The ZSSC416x and ZSSC417x Sensor Signal Conditioner Family combines high-accuracy amplification, 16-bit precision and I²C™ or SENT 3.0 output with optimized support for safety-related applications (I²C™ is a trademark of NXP). This state-of-the-art sensor signal conditioning family is capable of measuring single or dual differential bridge inputs or voltage source sensor types, such as thermocouples, and internal or external temperature sensors. With a wide analog pre-amplification range, the ZSSC416x products are capable of highly accurate amplification and sensor-specific correction for most resistive bridge sensors and the ZSSC417x products are optimized for highly accurate thermocouple readings. Measured values are provided via the digital SENT 3.0 output or I²C™ interface. ZMDI has developed the ZSSC416x/ZSSC417x family as the next evolution of ZMDI’s current successful sensor signal conditioner ICs.

Key Features of the ZSSC416X/ZSSC417X Family

• Full SENT 3.0 compliance depending on product number
• Single or dual differential bridge inputs measurements depending on product number
• Internal and external temperature sensing
• Supply voltage range: 4.75V to 5.25V
• Overvoltage protection to ±18V
• ADC resolution: 12 to 18 bit
• Output resolution: 12-bit via SENT and up to 15-bit plus a sign bit for I²C™
• Designed for safety-relevant applications
• Temperature range: -40°C to 150°C

ZSSC5101 High-Precision Sensor Signal Conditioning IC for Magnetoresistive Position Sensors

The ZSSC5101 is an automotive-qualified sensor signal conditioning IC for contactless position sensors based on magnetoresistive technology. The ZSSC5101 can directly interface with magnetoresistive sensor bridges such as AMR (anisotropic magnetoresistive), GMR (giant magnetoresistive) and TMR (tunnel magnetoresistive) sensors, enabling up to 360° angle sensors or high-resolution linear motion sensors. In addition, the chip automatically compensates for temperature drifts of the sensor, allowing superior accuracy over its full temperature range of -40°C to +150°C. With a high-resolution ratiometric analog output featuring a resolution down to 0.02° per step, the ZSSC5101 is ideally suited as a contactless, wear-free replacement for potentiometers in harsh environments.

Key Features and Benefits of the ZSSC5101

• High accuracy enables best-in-class rotation and linear motion sensing
• Only three wires required for operation and programmi
• Integrated diagnostic features allow usage in safety-critical applications
• Internal EEPROM allows multiple-time programming
• Full user programmability of angle range, zero position, clamping levels, etc.
• High-resolution, precision analog output provides an easy-to-read interface for a variety of applications

Evaluation kits and samples for these exciting new products as well the other fine products of ZMDI can be obtained through ZMDI (http://zmdi.com/zmdi-offices) or its distribution partners (http://zmdi.com/distribution-partners-reps)

About ZMDI

Zentrum Mikroelektronik Dresden AG (ZMDI) is an award-winning global semiconductor company headquartered in Dresden, Germany, and specializing in enabling energy-efficient solutions. It is a global supplier of analog and mixed-signal semiconductors solutions for automotive, industrial, medical, mobile sensing, information technology and consumer applications. These solutions enable ZMDI’s customers to create the most energy-efficient products in multi-market sensing, including automotive and mobile; power management; motor controlling; battery management; and other industrial application-specific standard products (ASSP).

For over 50 years, ZMDI has been globally headquartered in Dresden, Germany. ZMDI serves customers directly as well as through global distribution partners located throughout Europe, Asia and the Americas.