Humidity sensing technology for automotive engine control

Abstract

It is known that open air has moisture and it is not a controllable variable. To control an engine to accommodate a real-time humidity environment is very important to achieve better fuel economy and exhaust emissions. Ideas to measure and adjust engine control are not new, but they have not been carried out for a long time because a suitable automotive humidity sensor did not exist. Today, highly accurate and highly reliable humidity sensors using MEMS technology have been launched by the automotive industry. In parallel, global market needs are shifting to fuel economy performance and environmentally-friendly emission levels. In this paper, trends in engine control systems adapted to humidity sensing are described.