With concerns growing over indoor air quality, Renesas Electronics Corporation has unveiled an all-in-one sensor module designed for indoor air quality monitoring. The RRH62000 integrates multiple sensors in a compact design and accurately detects different particle sizes, volatile organic compounds and gasses harmful to human health. With an on-board Renesas microcontroller (MCU), the module offers an intelligent sensor management solution for air purifiers, smoke detectors, HVAC systems, weather stations and smart home systems.

The sensor fulfills a need for increased indoor air monitoring. Pollutants are typically six to ten times more concentrated indoors than outdoors. These include dust, paint fumes, smoke from cooking, pollen and particulates from HVAC filters, which can enter the respiratory system and cause lung damage, cancer and other health problems.

Zikomo Smith, Product Manager of Environmental and Flow Sensors for Renesas, said in a recent interview with Design News that the market for global air quality monitoring systems is projected to grow to $5.9 billion by 2024, at a compound annual growth rate of 6.5%. According to Smith, the drivers include more air quality standards and concerns over health risks from air pollution.

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The RRH62000 measures only 46.6 x 34.8 x 12 mm. It packs Renesas’ RA Family MCU and seven sensor signals: the laser-based PM1/ 2.5/ 10 sensor, ZMOD4410 gas sensor, and the HS4003 humidity and temperature sensor. Together, these sensors can detect particulate matter, total volatile organic compounds (TVOC), estimated CO₂, temperature and humidity all in one system. The sensor module pre-integrates and calibrates all key components at the factory, allowing developers to start their sensor system designs right out of the box.

Using laser-based technology, which offers higher precision compared to conventional LED methods, the sensor can monitor concentrations of PM1, PM2.5, PM10 particulates -- particles with diameters of 0.3- to 10µm -- as well as absolute or relative TVOC measurements in different power mode settings, providing high accuracy for these pollutants.

The RRH62000 comes with building standard firmware plus artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms, which lets engineers configure the sensors to conform to the requirements of various green air quality standards in public buildings, such as The Well Building Standard (WELL), Home Ventilating Institute (HVI) and RESET.

Renesas’ Zikomo Smith noted that while there are other air quality sensors available, the RRH62000 breaks ground by being able to monitor a wide range of air quality parameters at the same time, while maintaining high resolution and accuracy. The module’s use of sensor fusion and AI to measure air quality provides users with a more accurate, complete picture of air quality than other sensors that may monitor only a few parameters.  

Intelligent sensor devices, such as the Renesas RRH62000 and recently announced RRH46410 gas sensor module, can support demand-controlled ventilation, allowing HVAC systems to adjust air flow based on carbon dioxide levels and occupancy information to maintain optimal air quality and energy efficiency. Similarly, the use of AI algorithms support predictive maintenance procedures by indicating when HVAC filters must be replaced or by detecting anomalies before system failures, reduce cost and time for system maintenance.

Renesas has combined the RRH62000 its own air monitoring products, including the In-home Air Quality Monitoring System and Air Quality Monitor (PM2.5) with Secure Cloud Connection, which combine the RRH62000 with the RA6M3 and RL78/G14 MCUs, and various power devices to enable cost-efficient, compact, modular solutions for modern appliances.

The RRH62000 is available today along with the RRH62000-EVK evaluation kit. The RRH46410 and the RRH46410-EVK are also available.