Renesas — ZMOD4410 Indoor Air-Quality Sensor with Waterproof Package

Renesas has introduced a new version of the ZMOD4410 indoor air-quality sensor which has a waterproof package. The new version, available with the part numbers ZMOD4410AI3V or ZMOD4410AI3R, has an IP67 rating.

The waterproof devices extend the Renesas ZMOD4410 Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) sensing platform, which offers best-in-class measurement stability and high sensitivity to Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) gases. The new sensor features a unique hermetically sealed package: this protects the sensor from water and dust with a hydrophobic and oleophobic material which is permeable to humidity and VOCs at the same time. By combining IP67-rated packaging with the industry-leading accuracy and reliability that the ZMOD4410 platform is known for, Renesas enables new, low-power indoor air-quality applications which operate in splash zones, eliminating the need for expensive waterproofing systems.

VOCs in indoor air include pollutants released by new furniture, paints and coatings, and cleaning products. The ZMOD4410 is an integrated digital gas sensor module which detects VOCs in ambient air, and converts them to recognized indoor air-quality definitions published by the German UBA federal environment agency.

The sensor module features embedded Artificial Intelligence (e-AI) software which enables ventilation systems, bathroom monitors, and air purifiers to perform smart odour sensing. The module can be configured for use in individual rooms, such as bathrooms and kitchens, to combat the particular air-quality problems. The sensor is supplied with pre-compiled libraries which run on microcontroller platforms such as the Renesas RL78 MCU.

Different versions of the ZMOD4410 firmware supplied by Renesas are optimized for indoor air-quality measurement, for general odour detection, and for detection of the odour of sulfur.

The sense element in the ZMOD4410 module consists of a heater on a silicon-based MEMS structure, and a Metal Oxide (MOx) chemiresistor. An integrated signal-conditioner IC controls the sensor temperature and measures the MOx conductivity, which is a function of gas concentration.