Air Quality Sensing in Automotive applications

History of AQS market

The first function of a car is to transport drivers and passengers from point A to point B. This function was successfully achieved from the early days of the automotive age. Very soon, other requirements were added to this main function i.e. Speed, safety, comfort, economy & finally environmental impact. The first developments in terms of comfort were made in the area of mechanics; these created a car that doesn’t expose the occupants to excessive vibration during a long drive. Later improvements included the introduction of climate control, initially incorporating a heater but finally introducing air conditioning
allowing the occupant to drive in nearly every climatic condition between -40°C and +40°C.

To maintain the air quality it is desirable that pollution and bad odours coming from the external environment should be prevented from entering the cabin Air Quality Sensors (AQS) have been placed inside automotive climate control systems since the 1980s to detect pollution from other vehicles and to then automatically close the air recirculation flap. At that time, this function was reserved for top of the range vehicles. Today, lower manufacturing costs as well as a higher awareness of the public to air quality in general has widen the use of AQS, so that these sensors can now be found in vehicles from virtually every manufacturer & brand, starting often at the C-class, i.e. VW Golf-size. Premium brands offer AQS in all their cars.