For a physically correct measurement, which includes the flow reversal taking place inside the mass

airflow sensor, Pierburg has developed a new sensor element that

uses semiconductor technology.

Operating principle
As in the past, hot-film anemometry
is the measuring principle used. The
difference now is that two separate
resistance-measuring bridges
are used to detect the forward and
backward flow. The sensor element
itself comprises of resistances in the
form of two half-bridge networks.
The hot-film sensors are located
near the front and rear edges of the
sensor element assembly. For forward flow the front sensor provides
a high signal and a correspondingly
low signal for backward flow. The
rear sensor works in the opposite
sense. By simply comparing
the signals, backward flow can be
accurately detected.

low thermal mass the mass airflow

sensor has a very low activation
time of only 7.2 ms at room
temperature. As a result the
response time of less than 1ms
is very short indeed.

Pierburg MAFS-History
1st. Generation: 1992 no direction-sensitive measurement
5% accuracy
40 ms response time

Exploded view

2nd. Generation: 1998 digital mass flow sensing

bi-directional measurement
3% accuracy (10 bit resolution)
1 ms response time
intelligent signal evaluation

Advantages
Higher degree of precision
Linearized output signal
Very precise backward flow
recognition
Insensitive towards dirt and
contamination
Suitable for both gasoline and
diesel applications
Extremely high reduction of NOx
in conjunction with an electric
EGR valve

3rd. Generation: 2001 no direction-sensitive measurement

2% accuracy (11 bit resolution)

Due to the differences in intake

manifold geometry pulsations may
differ considerably between engines. For this reason a very flexible
microprocessor based evaluation
circuit has been developed.
This electronic system permits the
processing og the bridge signals,
via a serial interface, using different
software codes. This programming
operation can take place at the end
of the assembly line.

Signal Drifter after 100,000 Miles

on 11 Different Test Vehicles
Electrical
Connector

ASIC Schematic
Analog Voltage, frequency or serial bus Output

Screen
honeycomb

100

Load , %

Protection Circuit

Hybrid

Error up to 80%

timer
16bit

80

MC

Gasoline Engine
with Variable Intake
Manifold : 1.6l, 100 hp

60

DAC
11bit

Sensors

40
Error up to 80%

20

AnalogCircuitry

MUX
11bit ROM
ADC
RAM

CAN

2000

3000

Serial Interface

4000

5000

6000

7000

Engine Speed, rpm

Mass Flow Sensor with Pulsation Recognition

Heated Sensors

Normal Flow
Boundary Layer

sensor subtrate

Reverse Flow
Boundary Layer

sensor subtrate
Resistor Layers

The plug-in design type chosen can

be inserted into either a dedicated
housing or an existing induction tube.
The dedicated housing approach
offers the advantage of precise calibration while the product is new, whilst
the latter option permits the full
advantages of flexible installation
and cost restraints to be explored.

4
2
0
-2
-4
-6

Tolerance for New Sensor

-8
10

100

U ref
output

0
1000

U Batt
UTemp

EEPROM

Digital Circuitry

Naturally Aspirated Diesel

Engine : 2.0l, 72 hp

Tolerance after 100,000 miles

Plug-in sensor element

winglet

Pulsation areas in engine map

on 11 Different Test Vehicles

Error in Mass Flow, %

On many gasoline and diesel engines

with four cylinders or less, it is possible for backward flow to take place
in the intake manifold at certain
points of the engines mapped operation. This backward flow cannot
be detected by a normal hot-film
mass airflow sensor since it is
only the overall mass flow that is
measured and not the instantaneous flow direction. This leads to
an erroneous mass flow calculation
at that operating point.
In a naturally aspirated four-cylinder
diesel engine for example, running
at low engine speeds, mass flow
deviations of up to 80 per cent have
been measured.

1000

Mass Flow, kg/h

The comprehensive integration of components permits a simple design of

the mass airflow sensor that consists
of only four component assemblies.
According to Kings law, normally a
non-linear relationship exists between
the output signal and the mass airflow.
Microprocessors, however, are capable
of producing a linearized output signal.
This makes the input stage unnecessary
and saves precious computing time
inside the control unit. In addition, on
analogue circuits the characteristic line
can now be corrected on numerous (16)
support points with regard to only
two correction possibilities (gain and
offset) so that the dispersion size of
the series can be narrowed down by a
factor of 2. Furthermore, a linear signal
can be characterized easily and clearly
in an interface instruction. Due to the

Linearized Analog Output Signal

with 32 Calibration Points

Output Signal

Conventional Output Signal

Deviation in Calibration Curves

5V

Linearized Signal
of Pierburg MAFM
Calibration Data Points

1V

Back Flow

Forward Mass Flow

Signal Output during Water Droplet Intrusion

without winglet
with winglet

Signal, v

PIERBURG AG
Alfred-Pierburg-Strae 1
D-41460 Neuss
Postfach 10 10 52
D-41456 Neuss
Tel. +49 (0)21 31 5 20 - 0
Fax +49 (0)21 31 5 20 - 645

Air Flow 150 kg/h

Water Flow 2.5 ml/min
Highly Diffused Water Droplets

13

18

23

28

Time, s
Pierburg can supply a MAFS with a special waterprotection device in
cases of bad retarding capability of water intrusion into the intake air.

Main data
Advantages of the mass
Flow rate range
airflow sensor with integrated
microprocessor
Precision
Higher degree of precision
After 160,000 km
- no need for the two-point
Activation time 63 %
compensation
- better exploitation of the voltage Pressure drop
lift/stroke
- reduction of the usual precision
Temperature range
in the mass flow by half
- reduction of the usual precision Temperature drift
in the temperature range by half Measuring time after
motor start (10%-value)
- linearized output signal
- exact calculation of the average Input voltage
Power consumption
value
Output voltage
Higher degree of flexibility
- the software that processes the Diagnosis
signals can be defined relatively
Options
late before the start of volume
production
- free choice of voltage position
for the output signal
- frequency output (PWM signal)
- digital bus output possible
(controlled area network = CAN)
- end-of-line programming
Extended function range
- extended diagnosis functions
- integrated temperature signal

Gasoline engines
On gasoline engines the mass air flow signal can be used to precisely
determine the load condition of
the engine. Primarily fuel metering
can be provided compared with
traditional indirect load detection
methods. The lambda control

MASS AIRFLOW SENSOR

PIERBURG INC.
Sales and Engineering Office
1797 Atlantic Boulevard
Auburn Hills, MI 48326 USA
Tel. +1.248.3912850
+1.248.3910780
Fax +1.248.3912225

Mass airflow sensor ( anti - pulsation )

PIERBURG INC.
5 Southcase Court
Fountain Inn
SC 29644-9018 USA
Tel. +1.864.9633788
Fax +1.864.2282406
www.kolbenschmidt.de

7 kg/h 2,500 kg/h

Depending on diameter
2% in the mass airflow
4% in the mass airflow
< 2 ms
710 mbar at max. mass airflow
Depending on condition of
inlet flow
30 C to +130 C
2 % (20 C to + 60 C)

A company of
Kolbenschmidt Pierburg AG

< 100 ms
816.5 V
< 100 mA
05 V
Zero level check
Signal range check
Ratiometric correction
Linear characteristic line
Backward-flow recognition
Temperature signal (output
voltage or NTC)
CAN-BUS
Frequency output

variations are reduced significantly,

and a more precise control of the
mixture ratio can be achieved in
cases where the lambda probe, i.e.
the oxygen sensor, does not yet
work perfectly.

Diesel engines
In diesel engines the mass airflow sensor can be used for
automatic and independent
control of an EGR system including even the control of a mapdependent diesel injection pump.

Subject to alterations. Printed in Germany. CL IIIVz