Bosch unveils new sensors at CES

Introduced at CES 2023 under the motto of Sensor tech #LikeABosch, Bosch Sensortec has unveiled a range of new sensors including a smart sensor system, magnetometer, barometric pressure sensor, and air quality sensor. These new sensors deliver performance improvements in the areas of power consumption, accuracy, and size.

AI-enabled smart sensors

Targeting digital fitness, Bosch Sensortec’s new AI-enabled smart sensor system combines low power consumption with ready-to-use software algorithms and simple integration in a small package. The BHI360 programmable IMU-based sensor system consists of a gyroscope with an accelerometer that enables full customization. It also provides an integrated sensor fusion library to enable 3D audio with head orientation for personalized sound experiences and simple gesture recognition, said the company.

BHI380 sensor system (Source: Bosch Sensortec)

A product variant, the BHI380, offers additional algorithms. Bosch said it is based on the same architecture but includes self-learning AI software for a variety of fitness tracking and personalized workouts. A few examples include dedicated swim tracking software and a pedestrian dead reckoning (PDR) algorithm. Suitable for hearable and wearable devices, typical applications include pedestrian navigation, 3D audio, personalized fitness tracking, and human-machine interaction.

The smart sensor system also includes an integrated, low-power custom processor. The custom processor can run simpler sensor processing algorithms such as gesture detection or step counting. This eliminates the need to wake the main device processor and keeps power consumption ultra-low, said the company, while providing better power consumption for high-end algorithms.

Key specs include a typical total current consumption of less than 600 µA for 3D orientation,  fast SPI (50 MHz) and I2C (3.4 MHz) host interfaces, and multiple SPI, I2C, and GPIO interfaces for external sensors. Housed in a 20-pin LGA package measuring 2.5 × 3 × 0.95 mm³, it is 50% smaller than the previous generation, and claimed as the smallest programmable dual-core IMU sensor in the market.

The BHI360 is available via Bosch’s distribution partners, starting in April 2023. The BHI380 is available on direct request, starting in May 2023.

Barometric pressure sensors

Also targeting fitness tracking wearables as well as other applications, the new BMP585 barometric pressure sensors enable a range of altitude tracking in harsh conditions, such as for wearables for swimming. The new sensor claims ultra-low power consumption for extended battery life along with high accuracy and low noise.

BMP585 barometric pressure sensor (Source: Bosch Sensortec)

Key specs include a relative accuracy of +/-0.06 hPa and typical absolute accuracy of +/-0.5 hPa. The typical current consumption of 1.3 μA at 1 Hz data rate helps extends battery life. Other features include a typical temperature coefficient offset (TCO) of +/-0.5 Pa/K and low RMS noise of 0.08 Pa @ 1000 hPa (typical). Long-term drift over 12 months is +/-0.2 hPa. The BMP585 offers an I2C, I3C, and SPI digital, serial interface.

Supporting GPS data and enabling accurate localization and navigation, the BMP585 provides reliable mapping data for distance traveled and meters of altitude for hiking or running trips, said Bosch.

To make it liquid resistant, including salt water and chlorinated water in swimming pools, the BMP585 includes a liquid-proof gel cover, without compromising other performance features. It offers high accuracy, measuring a change in height of a few centimeters, so it can detect movements in fitness training to the level of individual pull-ups or push-ups, according to the company.

Thanks to its resistance to water and chemicals, the BMP585 also can be used in a variety of industrial use cases such as liquid-level detection. The seal also blocks dust, so it can be used for clog detection in home appliances such as vacuum cleaners.

 The BMP585, housed in a 9-pin LGA package with a metal lid, measuring 3.25 × 3.25 × 1.86 mm³, is small enough for use in smartwatches and other wearables, said Bosch. The sensor will be available in the second quarter of 2023.

Next-generation magnetometer

Bosch Sensortec introduced its next-generation magnetometer that delivers low current consumption and a small size along with high accuracy and ultra-low noise thanks to its tunnel magnetoresistance (TMR) technology. Helping to extend battery life, the BMM350 can be used in a variety of new use cases, such as detecting head orientation for 3D audio, and pixel latency reduction in AR/VR to improve user experiences and avoid motion sickness.

BMM350 magnetometer (Source: Bosch Sensortec)

For indoor navigation applications, the sensor also improves positioning accuracy when there is no GPS signal available. It is also used for position and speed detection in e-bikes, other vehicles, or industrial applications.

In addition to the TMR technology, the BMM350 includes a unique field shock recovery feature developed by Bosch. “This capability makes the device very robust against external magnetic fields, ensuring high accuracy at all times,” said the company.

The new sensor offers several new improvements over the previous generation, BMM150. The average typical current consumption of the BMM350 is 200 μA at a 100 Hz data rate, which is 20 times lower than the previous generation, said Bosch, and the noise is three times lower for the x/y axis, and the sensitivity is four times smaller.

The BMM350 is housed in a slim WLCSP package, measuring 1.28 × 1.28 × 0.5 mm³. The BMM350 will be available in the second quarter of 2023.

Particulate matter sensor

Bosch is improving air quality measurement with the new BMV080 particulate matter sensor. Claiming the smallest particulate matter (PM2.5) air quality sensor, the BMV080 is said to be 450 times smaller in volume than alternative devices, while delivering both accurate and actionable data in response to poor air quality.

BMV080 particulate matter sensor (Source: Bosch Sensortec)

The small size of the BMV080 sensing element,  measuring 4.2 × 3.5 × mm³ (W x L x H), in combination with the fanless and noiseless operation offers a non-intrusive and maintenance-free design, said Bosch. This makes it suited for ultra-compact wearable or IoT devices such as air quality monitors, smart thermostats, smart speakers, smart switches, and smart air purifiers.

Bosch said the BMV080 uses an innovative design based on ultra-compact lasers with integrated photodiodes with sophisticated algorithms to measure the PM2.5 concentration directly in free space, without requiring a fan.

“A major component of this [indoor] pollution is fine dust known as PM2.5 particulates, which are solid and liquid particles smaller than 2.5 µm,” said Bosch. “These particulates are inhaled and enter the lungs, where they cause serious health problems.”

The sensor can be integrated into ultra-compact IoT-based smart home and smart building systems to deliver air quality notifications when PM2.5 levels rise above a threshold level, said Bosch. The resident or home automation system can then ventilate by switching on an exhaust fan or filter to clear the air, added the company. Product samples will be available in 2023.

Visit the Bosch booth #16115 at CES, January 5-8, in Las Vegas, NV, for more information about these and other new sensors.