Cubic PM2008 Series Laser-Based Particulate Matter Sensor

Overview

The Cubic PM2008 Series is a high-reliability, laser-based particulate matter (PM) sensor engineered for continuous, real-time monitoring of airborne PM2.5 mass concentration in demanding indoor and light-industrial environments. It operates on the principle of Mie scattering: a collimated 650 nm laser diode illuminates aerosol particles drawn through an optimized airflow channel; scattered light intensity is captured by a photodetector array and converted into particle count data across multiple size bins. Cubic’s proprietary intelligent source discrimination algorithm—trained on representative urban, combustion, and dust aerosol profiles—applies dynamic calibration coefficients to convert raw counts into traceable PM2.5 mass concentration (µg/m³), with metrological alignment to reference instruments compliant with ISO 25548-1 and EN 12341:2014.

Key Features

• Ultra-Thin Form Factor: With a maximum depth of 12.1 mm, the PM2008 series enables integration into space-constrained applications—including HVAC control modules, portable air quality monitors, and smart home gateways—without compromising optical path integrity or flow dynamics.
• Full-Metal EMI-Shielded Housing: Precision-stamped aluminum alloy enclosure provides >60 dB attenuation across 30 MHz–1 GHz, ensuring stable operation in electrically noisy environments such as building automation panels, industrial control cabinets, and vehicle cabin air systems.
• Multi-Orientation Airflow Design: Three mechanical variants (PM2008, PM2008M, PM2008N) support co-planar inlet/outlet placement on either the wide or narrow face, facilitating flexible PCB layout and duct-mounting configurations without requiring external flow straighteners or diffusers.
• Dual-Mode Digital Output: Simultaneous UART (TTL-level, 9600 bps default) and PWM (0–100% duty cycle, 1 kHz base frequency) interfaces allow direct connection to microcontrollers, PLCs, or analog-input DAQ systems—eliminating need for external signal conditioning.
• Thermal & Humidity Compensation: Integrated NTC thermistor and capacitive RH sensor feed real-time environmental data into the onboard firmware, enabling dynamic correction of scattering efficiency and hygroscopic growth effects per ISO 12103-1 Annex B guidelines.

Sample Compatibility & Compliance

The PM2008 series is validated for ambient and recirculated air sampling under ISO 16000-26 (indoor air quality) and GB/T 33907–2017 (Chinese national standard for PM sensors). It meets electromagnetic compatibility requirements per IEC 61000-4-2 (ESD), -4-3 (radiated RF), and -4-4 (electrical fast transients). While not certified for occupational exposure assessment per OSHA or NIOSH protocols, its accuracy specification (±10 µg/m³ or ±10% at 25°C/50% RH, referenced to TSI 8530 gravimetric calibration) supports compliance with WHO Air Quality Guidelines (AQG) reporting tiers for community-level monitoring networks. The device is RoHS 3 and REACH-compliant; no hazardous substances are used in optical or sensing components.

Software & Data Management

Firmware is field-upgradable via UART using Cubic’s standardized AT-command set (v2.3), supporting configuration of averaging window (1–60 s), output reporting interval (1–300 s), and alarm thresholds. Raw scatter pulse data (1024-point histogram per second) is accessible in debug mode for third-party algorithm development. All firmware versions include audit-trail logging for calibration events and parameter changes—supporting GLP-aligned deployment in regulated R&D labs. No cloud dependency: all processing occurs on-device; optional I²C interface enables integration with host-system telemetry stacks compliant with MQTT-SN or LwM2M protocols.

Applications

• Real-time feedback control in residential and commercial HVAC systems
• Embedded air quality indication in consumer appliances (air purifiers, vacuum cleaners, range hoods)
• Low-power node deployment in municipal and academic air quality sensor networks
• Occupancy-aware ventilation rate modulation in green building certification frameworks (LEED v4.1 EQ Credit: Enhanced Indoor Air Quality Strategies)
• Pre-screening module in portable occupational hygiene samplers prior to gravimetric or beta-attenuation analysis

FAQ

Does the PM2008 require periodic recalibration?
Yes—Cubic recommends annual verification against a traceable reference instrument (e.g., TSI AM510 or Grimm 1.108) under controlled lab conditions. Factory calibration is performed using polydisperse PSL aerosols and verified with NIST-traceable filter-based gravimetry.
Can the sensor operate continuously at 50°C?
Yes—the thermal design sustains full accuracy specifications up to +50°C ambient, provided airflow exceeds 0.3 L/min and enclosure convection is unobstructed. Derating is not required within the specified operating envelope.
Is the UART interface compatible with 3.3 V and 5 V logic levels?
The RX pin accepts 3.3 V TTL (min. 2.0 V high threshold); TX output is 3.3 V CMOS. A level shifter is required for direct interfacing with 5 V microcontrollers.
What particle size ranges does the algorithm resolve?
The optical system detects particles from ~0.3 µm to >10 µm aerodynamic diameter; the embedded algorithm applies Mie theory-derived conversion matrices to report only PM₁, PM_2.5, and PM₁₀ mass concentrations per ISO/CIE 14644-1 definitions.
Is there documentation available for FDA or CE regulatory submission?
While the PM2008 is not a medical device, Cubic provides full technical files—including EMC test reports, RoHS declarations, and optical characterization data—for inclusion in Class IIa environmental monitoring system submissions under EU MDR Annex II or FDA 21 CFR Part 820 QSR frameworks.