SHT21 Humidity Sensor – AEC-Q100 reliability confirmed again

Sensirion’s new SHT21 humidity and temperature sensor has now been qualified in accordance with the AEC-Q100 automotive standard. This confirms the outstanding reliability, stability and robustness of the sensor, which has been in regular production since April 2010. Successful AEC-Q100 qualification is remarkable in the sense that humidity sensors, unlike fully encapsulated electronic components, are constantly exposed to their surroundings and sensitive to ambient conditions.

During the qualification process, the SHT21 was put through the series of tests specified by AEC-Q100. In the High Temperature Operating Lifetime (HTOL) test, the sensor was operated at 125°C for 1000 hours to test its aging characteristics. The 96-hour Unbiased Highly Accelerated Stress Test (UHST) at 130°C and 85% relative humidity confirmed the sensor’s stress resistance. Furthermore, the package was tested in the Temperature Cycling (TC) test with 1000 cycles between -50°C and +150°C, which measures the compatibility of the packaging material with the chip and the substrate. The series concluded with the Electrostatic Discharge (ESD) and Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) tests, which indicate the robustness of the sensor with regard to these two parameters.

The SHT21 humidity sensor passed all of the tests without any permanent changes to its characteristics and continued to generate in-tolerance readings. This means that Sensirion’s new SHT21, like the previous SHT1x generation of humidity sensors, meets the quality requirements of the AEC-Q100 automotive standard. This qualification, along with the reliability, stability and robustness it certifies, allows users to employ the SHT21 in their applications with confidence and the assurance of proper, trouble-free operation.

About Sensirion

The Swiss sensor manufacturer Sensirion AG is a leading international supplier of CMOS-based sensor components and systems. Its range of high-quality products includes humidity and temperature sensors, mass flow meters and controllers, gas and liquid flow sensors, and differential pressure sensors. Sensirion supports its international OEM customers with tailormade sensor system solutions for a wide variety of applications. Among others, they include analytical instruments, consumer goods, and applications in the medical technology, automotive and HVAC sectors. Sensirion products are distinguished by their use of patented CMOSens® technology. This enables customers to benefit from intelligent system integration, including calibration and digital interfaces. Sensirion’s competence as a reliable OEM partner is underlined by its quality management system, which was certified in March 2008 in accordance with the ISO/TS 16949 standard.