The Basic Amplified ABP Series is a piezoresistive silicon pressure sensor offering a ratiometric analog or digital output for reading pressure over the specified full scale pressure span and temperature range. The ABP Series provides enhanced and amplified pressure measurements in a small board mounted package.
When designing pressure measurement cost factors can drive driving the decision to either start a design with a bare, unmounted die, or to find the lowest cost packaged pressure sensor possible and build the overall system from this starting point.
It is no small feat to mount and package a bare sense die. From bonding the die to the substrate of your choice sources of error from thermal expansion of the epoxy and substrate can lead to temperature variation of the reading.
Using a low cost pre-packaged die may be attractive, wire bonding and over-packaging in place, leaving the question of how to read out the sensor, the process of calibration, and the problem of batch to batch variation. The cost of an additional instrumentation amplifier also needs to be taken into consideration with adjustments for offset and span.
MEMS-based pressure sensors have a large intrinsic temperature dependence. Temperature changes cause mechanical expansion and contraction of the die as well as affect the sensitivity of the piezoresistive elements. Temperature compensation can take a number of forms, driving the bridge from a current source, using a compensation network or real time by measuring the temperature of the die and interrogating a look up table and compensation algorithm.
For many years, it was common for OEMs to use an unamplified sensor and build up the pressure measurement themselves. The costs absorbed include:
-- Additional design time
-- Requirement for extra board space
-- Extra BOM (Bill of Material) costs
-- Additional production time
-- Production delays to allow sensors to return to spec following soldering
-- Capital expenses
Given the real costs and potential risks highlighted above, it is an increasingly easy decision to spend less overall by using an amplified pressure sensor. Pressure sensors such as Honeywell’s TruStability™ Board Mount Pressure Sensors and Amplified Basic Board Mount Pressure Sensors (ABP Series) are available in a wide range of spans, and can be specially calibrated to a user’s specific pressure range. Download the Installation Guide.
ABP is specified with a Total Error band of +/- 1.5% FSS, this is a single specification that includes all possible sources of error. Honeywell also provide accuracy figure, however using TEB can simplify design for serial production as it encompasses part to part variation.
ABP is available with a wide pressure range up to 10 Bar, in a small package 8mm x 7mm with low power consumption typically 2 uA when using sleep mode for battery applications.
ABP Series Basic Board Mount Pressure Sensors are now dual ported, wet-wet capable, allowing for potential use with liquids on both sides of the sensor die.
The ABP Series provides enhanced and amplified pressure measurements in a small board mounted package. This provides a lower cost and smaller alternative to fully media isolated sensors for some liquid pressure applications.
ABP series has potential applications in medical, industrial and commercial spaces from CPAP and blood pressure monitoring to HVAC transmitters to coffee makers and washing machines. For more information on applications, read the Application Note.
ABP series provides a cost effective solution for your board mount pressure sensing needs. Get more information from the Product Overview and the Datasheet.
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