Semiconductor sensors can handle pressures from very low to very high

Panasonic Automotive & Industrial Systems has introduced a broad range of high-precision, miniature semiconductor pressure sensors. They are available with built-in amplification and temperature compensation cicuitry (PS-A units). Precision sensors without amplifier and open wheatstone measurement bridge are also available and in ultra-miniaturised sizes (PS). There are also versions with chamfered pins for improved ease of DIP pin insertion into PCBs. The PS-A units come in three types. The standard type with a glass base can handle pressures from ±100kPa to -1000kPa with a total accuracy of ±1.25%. The economy type without a glass base is for 40kPa pressures and ±4% accuracy and the low-pressure version is for 6kPa and ±2.5% accuracy. Footprint is 7mm x 7.2mm (10.4mm x 10.4mm for the low-pressure type). “The PS-A units can be used in pressure switches and pneumatic devices in industrial applications,” said Alexander Hoch, team leader, product marketing, Panasonic: “They also have medical uses in blood-pressure monitors, compressed air pressure measurement and air beds as well as in other pneumatically operated pressure devices. And the low-pressure types can be used for water level detection in household washing machiens and dishwashers, air pressure control in clean rooms and medical respiratory pressure measuring instruments.” The PS and PF sensors come in two versions. The standard type with a glass base is for pressures from 4.9 to 980.7kPa and the economy type without a glass base for 40kPa. Taking their place alongside the standard 5kohm bridge resistance models are PS units with a 3.3k? resistance, which is optimally suited to 5V drive circuits. Applications for the PS units include industrial pressure switches and pneumatic devices and medical blood pressure measurement, says the company. “In the PS version, a high degree of precision and linear detector response has been achieved by applying the semiconductor strain gauge system,” added Hoch. “This makes them high reproducible based on repeated pressure.”