SMI – Pressure Sensors

2 | White Paper

Pressure sensors fit into this category. Things the driver was

once expected to do – monitoring the pressure in the tires,

maintaining oil levels, keeping fluid levels in check – are now

performed automatically, at greater frequency and accuracy

than was previously possible. Some systems need to gather

information so quickly that no human, or indeed any other

type of sensor, is up to the task. Side airbags are an example of

this, as are pedestrian-protection systems in the front bumper.

For these reasons, the automotive sector now consumes 58% of

the world’s pressure sensor output, and the industry is enjoying

an 6% annual growth rate.

Because the market is so attractive, one could assume that all

pressure sensor manufacturers serve as automotive suppliers.

However, the barrier to entry for prospective automotive

suppliers is high. Suppliers must be prepared to receive or

maintain TS16949 as well as ISO9001 certifications, and many

manufacturers require ISO14001 Environmental compliance

as well. These certifications require a constant commitment to

quality and continuous improvement. Additionally, suppliers to

the automotive industry must be prepared for audits by the end

customers for their products. So despite the attractiveness of

the market, the number of options presented to the automotive

system designer remains limited.

An automotive supplier must understand the key attributes the

automotive industry demands: reliability, lifetime, and cost. The

sensor should work 100% of the time. It should operate reliably

for 10-15 years, or 150,000-250,000 miles. Finally, given the

automotive industry's cost consciousness, the sensor must be

economical. These demands are all the more difficult because

automotive pressure sensors operate in extremely hostile

Automobiles are increasingly taking over functions once demanded of the driver,

improving the safety, reliability and comfort of the automotive experience. Cars and

trucks are constantly monitoring their environments, both externally and internally;

sensors are what allow this to happen. In fact, for some types of sensor, the automotive

sector represents not only the largest market, but also the fastest growing.

“Side airbags are an example of

this, as are pedestrian-protection

systems in the front bumper.”

Background