MTCH9010: A Smarter Approach to Liquid Detection

The Challenge With Traditional Liquid Sensors

From home appliances to industrial automation, liquid detection is critical for safety, efficiency and reliability. But reliable solutions aren’t just about placing a sensor—they come with real challenges. Many require external components, complex calibration or custom firmware, adding time and cost. Others constantly draw power, making them impractical for power-constrained applications, such as battery-operated systems.

Then there’s liquid compatibility. Some applications require conductive sensing to detect liquids, such as water, while others require detection of non-conductive fluids, such as oils and fuels. Engineers are forced to choose between detection methods or adding multiple sensors—complicating designs and driving up costs.

So how do you get versatile, low-power liquid detection without extra components or firmware headaches?

That’s where the MTCH9010 comes in.

A Complete Liquid Detection Solution

The MTCH9010 is a turnkey liquid detection device that simplifies design, cuts power consumption and eliminates external processing and firmware development. Unlike conventional sensors that need extra hardware or custom firmware, it integrates capacitive and conductive sensing in a single, compact device—detecting a wide range of liquids without added complexity.

Designed for seamless integration, the MTCH9010 offers digital leak detection for simple applications and UART-based real-time monitoring for advanced use cases. Its turnkey design eliminates firmware hassle, enabling fast, plug-and-play deployment—whether as a standalone sensor or part of a larger system.

Two Sensing Modes, One Device

Traditional liquid sensors force engineers to choose between different detection methods. The MTCH9010 removes that limitation by offering two sensing modes in a single IC:

• Capacitive Mode: Ideal for detecting oils, fuels and alcohol-based liquids by sensing changes in dielectric properties
• Conductive Mode: Designed for water and ionic liquids, using electrical conductivity for detection

A simple pin selection allows seamless switching between the two, eliminating the need for multiple sensors and streamlining product design.

This selectable sensing mode makes the MTCH9010 ideal for applications where different liquids may be present in different use cases or where a system needs the flexibility to detect various fluids without requiring hardware changes.

Versatile Output Options for Smarter System Monitoring

The MTCH9010 offers multiple output options to suit any application, from simple detection to advanced monitoring.

• Basic Digital Output: A high/low signal for quick, reliable liquid detection
• Enhanced UART Output: Real-time data for fine-tuned control and diagnostics
• Heartbeat Pin: A periodical status signal to confirm operation and detect issues early

With these options, the MTCH9010 ensures seamless integration into both basic and complex designs.

In a basic design, the MTCH9010 can be used in a washing machine leak sensor, simply triggering an alarm when water is detected. In an advanced system, it can monitor pipeline fluids in an industrial plant, using UART to track liquid properties and detect issues like contamination or sensor degradation.

Flexible Configuration: Simple Setup, No Code Required

Not every application requires the same level of control, and the MTCH9010 adapts effortlessly. Whether you need basic plug-and-play operation or real-time monitoring, the configuration is as simple as setting a few pins.

Effortless Hardware-Based Setup

No firmware required for setup—just configure through pin selection for fast, hassle-free integration. Need a different output format that delivers the perfect balance between accurate liquid detection and power savings? Advanced settings are available via UART.

• Threshold Adjustment (THR Pin): Fine-tunes sensitivity to ensure accurate liquid detection across different environments
• Sleep Timing (SLP_PER Pin): Configures how often the sensor wakes up, helping to balance power efficiency and responsiveness
• Mode Selection (OP_MODE Pin): Lets you choose between capacitive or conductive sensing with a simple connection to VDD or GND
• System Lock (SYS_LK Pin): Allows for flexible switching between GPIO configuration and a previously saved configuration, enabling the most efficient power consumption for liquid detection

For engineers who want full control, the MTCH9010 offers a UART-based Enhanced Configuration Mode that allows users to fine-tune more settings and save liquid detection configuration parameters directly into the device’s memory for later use via the System Lock.

Optimized for Low Power Applications

For battery-powered and remote sensing applications, power efficiency is everything. Many traditional sensors constantly draw power, draining batteries quickly and making long-term operation difficult.

The MTCH9010 is designed with ultra-low-power operation, allowing devices to run for months or even years without frequent battery replacements. It includes:

• Configurable sleep periods (1–256 seconds in nine steps) to balance liquid detection accuracy over time and power consumption
• Sleep current as low as 1µA, extending battery life in portable and wireless applications
• Wake-on-request mode, ensuring the sensor only activates when needed, instead of continuously consuming power

This means less power wasted, longer system life and fewer battery changes—making it ideal for wireless leak sensors, smart agriculture and industrial monitoring where efficiency matters most.

Designed for Versatility: Where the MTCH9010 Excels

The MTCH9010 is designed to integrate seamlessly across industries, adapting to different environments with minimal effort.

• Home & Appliance Leak Detection: Detects the presence of water leaks in washing machines, water heaters and under sinks, triggering alerts before damage occurs
• Industrial Leak & Spill Detection: Senses liquid presence in industrial equipment, pipelines and storage areas to help prevent spills or leaks
• Battery-Powered Remote Sensing: Enables water intrusion detection for IoT, smart agriculture and outdoor applications, where low power consumption maximizes battery life
• Medical Fluid Detection: Monitors for fluid presence or absence in IV lines, catheters and dialysis machines, ensuring proper flow and patient safety

Smarter Liquid Detection, Less Effort

With plug-and-play simplicity, dual-mode detection and low-power operation, the MTCH9010 removes common barriers in liquid detection. Whether used as a standalone sensor or part of a larger embedded system, it reduces development time, cuts costs and simplifies integration—allowing engineers to focus on innovation instead of troubleshooting.

Want to learn more? Explore how the MTCH9010 fits into your design.