SENSOR+TEST 2013 exhibition, CISSOID, the leader in high-temperature semiconductor solutions, introduces OPAL, the only high precision operational amplifier guaranteed for operation from -55°C up to +225°C.

OPAL is a dual Op Amp specifically designed to meet the toughest environmental constraints of sensors in automotive, industrial and general High Reliability applications such as aeronautics, military and down-hole tools (Oil&Gas) electronics. Key features include low input offset (50µV typ.), low noise (5 µVpp typ.) and single +5V ±10% power supply.

A first product flavor now available is CHT-OPAL, guaranteed for operation from -55°C up to +225°C. It is available in a thin dual flat pack (TDFP) surface mount, hermetically sealed ceramic package, with footprint of only 5 x 5.5mm. A second product flavor will be available in the coming weeks, the CMT-OPAL, with a maximum temperature of +175°C. Packaged in a Plastic SOIC16, it brings a cost-optimized solution for 175°C max requirements, while taking full advantage of CISSOID’ best-in-class lifetime en reliability features. A TSSOP16 flavor will also be available upon request for applications where component size must be minimized.

Jean-Christophe Doucet, VP of Marketing at CISSOID commented: “We are seeing an increasing demand for reliable, high-temperature signal conditioning solutions, in a number of sensing applications in automotive and industrial markets among others. Our goal is to simplify the sensor architectures, in particular using simpler – and lower cost – cables and harnessing while keeping the complex signal processing remote (i.e. outside the “hot” zone where the sensor is). With OPAL, CISSOID brings a solution of choice: placing the upfront signal amplification block within the sensor itself. None of the existing integrated solutions were satisfactory so far, as the performance and lifetime were too limited. CISSOID now brings the performance up and the cost down, opening a wide new field of possibilities to its customers”.

Typical applications include gas sensors (e.g. EGR valves in automotive), boilers, flame detectors, temperature, pressure and position sensors, strain gage amplifiers, photodiode and PMT amplifiers, but also transmitters (e.g. 4-20mA...)

A product datasheet is available now from CISSOID’s website (OPAL datasheet). CHT-OPAL can be ordered for sampling and evaluation under the part number CHT-GEM6489A -TDFP16-T. Pricing starts at 122.00 Euros for 51 to 200 units.