TOKYO-November 10, 2011-Alps Electric Co., Ltd. has developed the HSHCA Series capacitive humidity sensor for air-conditioning systems, air purifiers and other electrical home appliances, offering excellent linearity over a broad—low to high—humidity range. Mass production commenced in November 2011.

Today's home appliances and mobile devices contain numerous sensors. Sensors are used, for example, to detect the opening and closing of a device's door or lid, as well as orientation, light intensity, air pressure, and humidity. They help appliances and mobile devices function normally and accurately, thereby creating a comfortable and convenient operating environment for the user.

Accurate detection of temperature and humidity in appliances like air-conditioning systems and air purifiers is what allows them to function and is essential for improving their usability. A wide range of sensors are built into appliances to realize such functionality, but humidity sensors have created difficulties.
Many existing humidity sensors were resistive sensors, but in dry conditions (around 20% RH) or conditions close to dew point (around 80% RH) output was inconsistent, or measurements might deviate from the actual levels. Capacitive humidity sensors, too, despite their high-precision sensing capabilities, were costly to incorporate into appliances.

Alps sought to resolve these issues and developed the HSHCA Series capacitive humidity sensor, applying MEMS process technology.

Drawing on past experience and achievements in the MEMS sensor market, the HSHCA Series employs proprietary sensing film for the sensor part to realize excellent linearity over a broad—low to high—humidity range and therefore superior sensing precision.

The HSHCA Series capacitive humidity sensor is also the industry’s smallest and thinnest, enabled by MEMS process technology acquired over the years through the development and mass production of magnetic devices. Additional consideration toward achieving balance between sensing precision and cost allows for future use in a wide range of applications including mobile devices, as well as detection of ink status in equipment like printers, which is affected by humidity.

Included in the line-up is a module version consisting of the sensor mounted on a PCB for easy connection.