ScioSense introduces low-power gas sensors

     ScioSense has introduced ENS161, a low-power, multi-gas sensor that enables continuous air quality monitoring in wearable and portable devices powered only by a small capacity battery. In the new low-power mode, the sensor's heated metal oxide (MOX) sensing unit operates at an average current of 700μA, which reduces power consumption by up to 30 times compared to sensors that require constant heating of the sensing element

     The ENS161 sets a new industry standard in performance and versatility by providing multiple data outputs through a common I2C or SPI interface, including meaningful air quality signals that competitors cannot achieve. While maintaining high performance and application flexibility, ScioSense significantly reduces the power consumption of ENS161. In low power mode, ENS161 operates at 1.8V, with a sampling rate of 1 time per minute and an average current of only 700μA.

     This means that air quality monitoring can be offered as a new selling point to wearable devices that rely only on small capacity batteries, such as activity trackers and exercise wristbands, smartwatches and smart glasses. It is also ideal for battery-powered smart home and building automation products, such as thermostats and HVAC risk control terminals, as well as smart audio/conferencing equipment.

     Rolf Pauly, product line manager for environmental sensing at ScioSense, said: "With an adaptive baseline and a new low-power mode, ENS161 offers the possibility of low-power air quality monitoring for the first time in mobile devices, enabling manufacturers to implement air quality monitoring in a wide range of wearable and portable devices with ScioSense's high-performance and highly reliable sensors without significantly impacting battery life."