Bosch has launched a new generation of inertial sensors. The SMI7xy sensor platform is designed specifically for use in active and passive safety systems and in driver assistance systems. These new sensors are robust and take up little room, as they are supplied in a compact BGA housing that measures just 7x7x1.5 mm3.
The SMI7xy platform comprises four types of sensors in two categories: type SMI720 and type SMI740 sensors for basic applications, and type SMI700 and type SMI710 sensors for more demanding applications. Depending on their final application, the sensors can be used up to ASIL D (SMI720 up to ASIL C) in accordance with the ISO 26262 safety standard. All models feature an integrated safety controller; the SMI700 and SMI710 also offer a robust offset stability. When outputting data via their serial peripheral interface (SPI), the sensors use the two most widespread versions of SPI protocol.
The SMI700’s housing contains a yaw-rate sensor (z axis) and a two-axis acceleration sensor (x and y axis). This sensor can optionally register high accelerations of up to 35 g. In addition to its SPI, the SMI700 comes with a PSI5 interface and a CAN interface – two standard data output interfaces in automotive electronics. These characteristics make the SMI700 the ideal sensor for use in ESP® systems and in demanding vehicle dynamics applications such as hill hold control, adaptive cruise control, and active front steering.
The SMI710 also combines a yaw-rate sensor (x axis) with a two-axis acceleration sensor (this time y and z axis). It features a PSI5 interface and a CAN interface. This means it is capable of detecting a rollover and meets the requirements for use in demanding driver assistance functions such as roll and pitch stability programs.
Rollover detection and ESP
The SMI720 sensor is designed specifically for rollover detection. Its housing contains a yaw-rate sensor (x axis) and a one-axis acceleration sensor (z axis). Meanwhile the SMI740 has a yaw-rate sensor (z axis) and a 2-axis acceleration sensor (x and y axis). Since the SMI740 is designed according to standard ESP® specifications, it is tailored to basic vehicle dynamics control.
Samples of the SMI7xy are already available.
