ams has drastically reduced the initialization time from over 48 hours to approximately 1 hour through major upgrades to the software library of the CCS801 analog volatile organic compound (VOC) sensor IC and the firmware of the CCS811 digital VOC sensor IC. As a result, the function to display indoor air quality levels using relative values for TVOC (total VOC) or eCO2 (equivalent CO2) can now be utilized almost immediately after the final product is powered on.

This means that OEMs can significantly reduce or completely eliminate the burn-in process they need to perform at the factory, and allow end users to utilize the functionality immediately when purchasing and using indoor air quality monitoring products integrated with this sensor.

Performance updates for the CCS8xx product family have expanded the air quality display range. The maximum eCO2 value has been extended from 8,194 ppm to 32,768 ppm, and the maximum eTVOC value has been extended from 1,187 ppb to 32,768 ppb. Consequently, the CCS8xx sensor family can now be used in products such as air purifiers for indoor air environments with higher levels of pollution.

With the newly updated software, users can now set standard values for clean air. For example, when CCS8xx sensors are powered off and then restarted in a contaminated environment, OEMs can now save and restore their own reference values. OEMs can also directly program the time interval for automatic calibration based on these reference values. This enables these sensor products to operate as closely as possible to the characteristics of the intended operating environment.

The new software was implemented on the existing CCS801 and CCS811 hardware designs, which are already widely used in HABA (home and building automation) applications. This hardware has been extensively shipped for many applications with a product lifespan of over 10 years.

In addition, ams has demonstrated the excellent resistance and long-term reliability of the CCS8xx product family to airborne siloxane contamination by completing comprehensive tests simulating exposure to HMDS (hexamethyl di silazane) and D5, which are siloxane materials most commonly used in personal hygiene and household cleaning products.

The HMDS test was performed in accordance with ISO 26142 standards, and the D5 test included a test process involving exposure to a concentration of 250 ppm for 200 hours. As a result of the test, the performance and relative sensitivity of the CCS8xx sensor meet the acceptance limits of all relevant standards. Therefore, the ams CCS8xx sensor family provides a reliable solution for OEMs requiring high resistance to siloxanes in typical indoor environments.

Paul Wilson, Senior Marketing Manager for Environmental Sensors at ams, said, “According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, there is growing evidence that indoor air can be more polluted than outdoor air and pose a greater threat to health,” adding, “Since people spend 90% of their daily lives indoors, using devices based on the CCS801 or CCS811 to monitor air quality in homes, workplaces, or cars can be of great help in improving health and comfort.”

The CCS801 and CCS811 gas sensors are currently in mass production, and evaluation kits are also available for purchase.