Enabling Seamless Transition to Sensirion’s SHT4 Family of Sensors - Navigating from STMicroelectronics’s HTS221 EoL (End of Life – Obsolete product)
It has recently been announced that the STMicroelectronics (ST) HTS221 capacitive digital sensor for relative humidity and temperature is in the process of being terminated. In light of the EOL, ST and Sensirion have collaborated to coordinate a transition guide that positions Sensirion’s SHT4 sensor family as a comprehensive drop-in replacement for the HTS221.
Replacing HTS221 with SHT4 Solutions
As a high-quality alternative solution for the HTS221, the SHT4 sensor family is also designed to provide ultra-precise temperature accuracy of ±0.2°C and humidity accuracy of ±1.8%. Additionally, the SHT4 family features:
- VDD = 1.08V …. 3.6V
- average current 0.4µA (@ 1 meas/s)
- I²C interface
- operating range: 0 … 100%RH, -40 … +125°C
- NIST traceability
- optional protection membranes and foils
- Powerful on-chip heater that can be used for self-decontamination
While SHT4 solutions are drop-in replacements, there are key differences (Figure 1) between the two products that developers need to consider.
Figure 1: Key differences between the HTS221 and the SHT4.
Source: STMicroelectronics
Additionally, there are package design differences between the two products. The SHT4 comes in an open-cavity Dual Flat No-lead (DFN) package (Figure 2), where the sensor opening is centered on the top side of the package.
Figure 2: Packaging design differences between the HTS221 and SHT4
Source: STMicroelectronics
Compatibilities
The HTS221 and SHT4 sensors use the I²C protocol with addresses 0xBE and 0x44, respectively. To communicate with the SHT4 , send its 7-bit I²C address with an additional bit for the operation type: ‘zero’ for write, ‘one’ for read. The SHT4 features a heater for pre-measurement cleaning, controlled via I²C commands.
It offers three sensor measurement repeatability modes:
Low (1.3 – 1.6 ms), Medium (3.7 – 4.5 ms) and High (6.9 – 8.3 ms)
balancing measurement accuracy and energy consumption.
The heater has two durations:
long pulse (0.9 – 1.1 s) and short pulse (0.09 – 0.11 s), both self-deactivating.
SHT4x Solutions Available Now at Symmetry Electronics
For developers seeking a smooth transition, SHT4 solutions are readily available through Symmetry Electronics. This collaboration between ST and Sensirion ensures a reliable supply chain for the SHT4 family, offering a seamless migration path for those transitioning from the HTS221. Symmetry Electronics stands as a trusted source for acquiring these cutting-edge sensors, enabling a swift and efficient upgrade process.