an ISO9001/14001 company
Figaro TGS sensors are a type
of thick lm metal oxide semi-
conductor which offer low cost,
long life, and good sensitivity
to target gases while utilizing a
simple electrical circuit. These
sensors are especially suited to
application in gas leak detectors
for toxic and explosive gases.
Page
Operation Principle..................................................................................2
Sensor Characteristics
Dependency on Partial Pressure of Oxygen................................................3
Sensitivity to Gas..................................................................................3
Sensor Response..............................................................................................3
Initial Action...........................................................................................4
Temperature and Humidity Dependency..........................................4
Long Term Stability....................................................................................4
Heater Voltage Dependency ...................................................................4
Cautions on Usage of Sensors........................................................................5
Circuit
Load Resistor (RL)..........................................................................6
Signal Processing....................................................................................6
Temperature Compensation Circuit.................................................7
Inrush Current of Heater....................................................................8
Sensor Heater Breakage Detection Circuit.......................................8
Preventing Initial Action from Activating an Alarm.............................8
Buzzer Delay Circuit...................................................................................8
Detector Design
Circuit............................................................................................9
Detector Casing...........................................................................................9
Prototype Evaluation Test.........................................................................9
Manufacturing Detectors
Production Facilities
Preheating facility for sensors/detectors....................................10
Gas chamber..................................................................................10
Factory environment.......................................................................10
Manufacturing Process
Storage of sensor...............................................................................10
Sensor preheating...................................................................10
PCB assembly..........................................................................................10
Sensor assembly.................................................................................10
PCB preheating.....................................................................10
Calibration...............................................................................11
Final assembly.....................................................................11
Preheating final assembly..........................................................11
Gas test.........................................................................................11
Recalibration.....................................................................11
Storage of finished product.....................................................11
Quality Control...................................................................................11
Revised 03/05 1
GENERAL INFORMATION FOR TGS SENSORS
1. Operation Principle
Rs = A[C]
Revised 03/05 2
GENERAL INFORMATION FOR TGS SENSORS
2. Sensor Characteristics
Rs (k)
Figure 4 illustrates the relationship between oxygen
pressure in the atmosphere (PO2) and the resistance
of a typical TGS sensor in clean air. Note that
reduced oxygen pressure will decrease the sensors
resistance.
Gas #1
60 sec.
value after a short time. The speed of response and
reversibility will vary according to the model of 1
0.1
Time
Revised 03/05 3
GENERAL INFORMATION FOR TGS SENSORS
in Air
As shown in Figure 7, all sensors exhibit a transient 10
behavior referred to as Initial Action when
Rs(k)
60 sec.
stored unenergized and later energized in air. The
Rs drops sharply for the first few seconds after 1
Time
atmosphere. The length of initial action depends on
the atmospheric conditions during storage and length Fig. 7 - Typical initial action
Rs/Ro
Rs/Ro 1.0
2-5 Dependency on temperature and humidity
1
Gas
2-6 Long term stability
Vc=5V
2-7 Heater voltage dependency
10
TGS sensors are designed to show optimum senitivity
Air
Rs/Rs(VH=5V, 1500ppm gas)
characteristics under a certain constant heater
voltage. Figure 10 shows a typical example of how 1 Gas 1500ppm
Revised 03/05 4
GENERAL INFORMATION FOR TGS SENSORS
3 Cautions on Usage of Figaro Gas Sensors should not pose a problem for sensor performance.
However, if water condenses on the sensor s
3-1 Situations which must be avoided
surface and remains for an extended period, sensor
1) Exposure to silicone vapors
characteristics may drift.
If silicone vapors adsorb onto the sensors surface, the
sensing material will be coated, irreversibly inhibiting 2) Usage in high density of gas
sensitivity. Avoid exposure where silicone adhesives, Sensor performance may be affected if exposed
hair grooming materials, or silicone rubber/putty to a high density of gas for a long period of time,
may be present. regardless of the powering condition.
2) Highly corrosive environment 3) Storage for extended periods
High density exposure to corrosive materials such When stored without powering for a long period,
as H2S, SOx, Cl2, HCl, etc. for extended periods may the sensor may show a reversible drift in resistance
cause corrosion or breakage of the lead wires or according to the environment in which it was
heater material. stored. The sensor should be stored in a sealed bag
3) Contamination by alkaline metals containing clean air; do not use silica gel. Note that
Sensor drift may occur when the sensor is contam- as unpowered storage becomes longer, a longer preheating
inated by alkaline metals, especially salt water spray. period is required to stabilize the sensor before usage.
Revised 03/05 5
GENERAL INFORMATION FOR TGS SENSORS
characteristics.
4.0
Figure 13 shows the relationship between Rs/RL and
RL = 5k
VRL/Vc. At the point where Rs/RL equals 1.0, the 3.5
slope of VRL/Vc reaches its maximum. At this point,
the optimal resolution of signal at alarm concentration 3.0 RL = 2.5k
VRL (v)
concentration to be detected. A variable resistor (RL) 2.0
RL = 1k
is recommended for optimal results.
1.5
4-2 Signal processing
1.0
The conventional method to process signal output
is to use a comparator as shown in Figure 14. When 0.5
0 1000 2000 3000 4000 5000
the VRL exceeds a preset value (Vref), the comparator
Gas concentration (ppm)
signal activates external equipment such as a buzzer
or LED lamp. Fig. 12 - Sensitivity characteristics (VRL)
1.0
Usage of a microprocessor is becoming more popular
for signal processing. Microprocessors are commonly 0.8
0.4
useful functions such as temperature dependency
compensation, auto-calibration, etc. 0.2
0.0
0.05 0.1 0.5 1.0 5 10 50
Rs/RL
Revised 03/05 6
GENERAL INFORMATION FOR TGS SENSORS
degree. For example, Vref may be changed from 2.5v RL = R1 + R(VR) * Connection to circuit in Fig. 18
to 3.1v (under 40C and 65%RH) or to 1.9v (under Fig. 14 - Conventional circuit for temperature compensation
-10C). The results of using a compensation circuit
are illustrated in Figure 16 and Table 1.
4.0 40C/65%RH
10 65 1475 2500
2.0
20 65 1500 1500 3400ppm
30 65 1505 1000 1.5
40 65 1520 600
1.0
Table 1 - Effect of compensation circuit 0 1000 2000 3000 4000 5000
Gas concentration (ppm)
To select a thermistor and additional resistors, the Fig. 15 - Alarm point under several ambient conditions
following method is suggested:
1) Identify the range of ambient temperature and
humidity expected in the application. Extremes of 4.0 VRL
-10C and 40C/40%~65%RH could be considered, Vref - full comp.
Vref - w/o Th
with an average value of 20C and 65%RH. 3.5
Revised 03/05 7
GENERAL INFORMATION FOR TGS SENSORS
Revised 03/05 8
GENERAL INFORMATION FOR TGS SENSORS
5. Detector Design
(See Figure 19 for sample owchart)
Revised 03/05 9
GENERAL INFORMATION FOR TGS SENSORS
6. Manufacturing of Detectors
Acceptance Acceptance
of components
of Sensor *1
PCB Assembly *3
NG
OK
Calibration *6
* 10 (>1 day )
OK
NG
detectors xed upright, the same as their mounting
Function Check
Packing
position on a wall.
Storage *11
3) Factory environment
The environment should be clean and free from
Shipping
organic vapors such as alcohol. Special attention
should be paid to the environment around the
Figure 20 - Flowchart for mfg. detectors
preheating facility for sensors/detectorskeep these
areas free from inuencing gases, especially silicone is strongly advised. Be sure to adhere to standard
vapors. If volatile cleaners such as trichloroethylene, circuit conditions and maintain clean atmospheric
freons, or oor sealants are to be used, all products conditions when preheating.
should be removed from the area to be treated and
not returned until the area has been thoroughly 3) PCB assembly
ventilated. Flux should be sufficiently dried before sensor
assembly onto the PCB is done.
6-2 Manufacturing process 4) Sensor assembly
(sample owchart of mfg. process shown in Fig. 20)
Manual soldering is strongly advised. Solders
1) Handling and storage of sensors composed of Sn63:Pb37 or Sn60:Pb40 with non-
Sensors should be stored in a sealed bag containing chloric resin ux (MIL: RMA Grade; for example,
normal clean air. Almit KR-19) are recommended for usage.
Revised 03/05 10
GENERAL INFORMATION FOR TGS SENSORS
recommended. Be sure to adhere to standard Test all nished products against the target gas. Keep
circuit conditions and maintain clean atmospheric the atmospheric conditions in the chamber stable,
conditions when preheating. utilizing a user-defined standard test condition
which would be determined based on applicable
6) Calibration (refer to circuit in Figure 14)
performance standards and anticipated usage
Be certain to calibrate all products using the
conditions for detectors. Remove any traces of smoke,
appropriate target gas concentration(s). Keep the
adhesives, gases, or solvents from the chamber.
atmospheric conditions in the chamber stable for
temperature and humidity. Remove any traces 10) Recalibration after failing gas test
of smoke, adhesives, gases, or solvents from the If no problems are noted after circuit function test,
chamber. recalibration should be conducted. Preheating time
should be twice as long as the unenergized period
Ex1) When calibrating a detector using a variable after the gas test for purposes of stabilizing the
load resistor, place the detector in the gas chamber. detector sufciently. Recalibration should not be
Prepare the alarm concentration of gas in the test repeated more than four times.
chamber. Adjust the VRL in gas so as to correspond
11) Storage of nished products
to the Vref.
Detectors should be stored in a clan air environment.
Ex2) When calibrating a detector using a temporary Avoid storage in dirty or contaminated environ-
load resistor (RL*), place the detector in the test ments. Cautions listed in Section 6-1.3 also apply.
chamber. Prepare the alarm concentration of gas in
the chamber. Measure the voltage across the RL* to 7. Quality Control
obtain Rs at the alarm concentration. Replace the RL*
1) Sample a certain number of nished products from
located inside the detector with an RL that is equal to
each production lot to conrm alarm concentration.
the Rs measured above.
Check whether these samples are acceptable for
Note: Be sure that the alarm concentration of gas shipment and maintain a record of these tests.
is humidied to ambient levels. If not, calibration
2) Sample a certain number of nished products
results will be very different from what would be
periodically to conrm the alarm concentration under
expected under normal usage. Calibration should
extreme conditions (e.g. -10C or 40C and 85%RH)
be done under a user-dened standard test condition
and maintain a record of these tests.
which would be determined based on applicable
performance standards and anticipated usage 3) Sample a certain number of completed products
conditions for detectors. periodically to conrm their long-term characteristics
and maintain a record of such test.
7) Final assembly
Avoid any shock or vibration which may be caused
by air driven tools.
9) Gas test
Revised 03/05 11
GENERAL INFORMATION FOR TGS SENSORS
Revised 03/05 12