Pressure Sensor Arrangement with Multi-Gain Amplifiers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing pressure sensors face challenges in achieving high accuracy across multiple pressure ranges, particularly exhibiting high relative deviation in partial load ranges, and require sensitivity matching with evaluation circuits for optimal performance.
Innovation Solution
A sensor arrangement with a membrane pressure port and multiple sensor chips, each with measuring elements connected to separate amplifiers with different amplification factors, allows for signal processing and selection by a signal evaluation circuit to adapt to various measuring ranges, using threshold values to determine the most suitable signal for calculating output signals.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single sensor chip with fixed sensitivity is used, then the device complexity is reduced, but the measurement precision across multiple pressure ranges deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor arrangement is divided into multiple sensor chips, each optimized for a specific pressure range. Each sensor chip contains measuring elements connected to separate amplifiers with different gain factors, allowing independent optimization for different measurement ranges while maintaining overall system functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The evaluation circuit dynamically switches between different sensor chips and amplifiers based on the detected pressure range. The system adapts its configuration in real-time by selecting appropriate sensor chips and amplifiers with suitable gain factors, enabling high measurement precision across multiple pressure ranges without fixed sensitivity limitations.
2Measurement precision
If the sensitivity of the diaphragm is matched to the evaluation circuit for a specific pressure range, then the measurement accuracy is optimized for that range, but the relative deviation increases in partial load ranges
Solution Approach 1:
The system changes the sensitivity parameter by switching between different sensor chips with different diaphragm characteristics and amplifiers with different gain factors. This allows optimization of measurement accuracy for different pressure ranges, eliminating the relative deviation problem in partial load ranges by selecting appropriately sensitive sensor configurations.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple sensor chips with different amplifiers are used, then the adaptability to different pressure ranges is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple sensor chips are integrated into a single sensor arrangement that serves multiple pressure ranges. The evaluation circuit universally handles all sensor chips and amplifiers through a unified control and signal processing architecture, enabling one device to perform multiple measurement functions across different pressure ranges.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines multiple sensor chips with different amplifiers into a single integrated sensor arrangement. The evaluation circuit merges the outputs from different amplifiers and coordinates their operation, reducing the overall system complexity while maintaining adaptability to various pressure ranges.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach enables accurate pressure measurement across a wide range with minimal deviation, improving plausibility and preventing crosstalk, while maintaining electromagnetic compatibility.
Implementation Method 1
These sensors can be, for example, piezoresistive pressure sensors, in which a diaphragm is subjected to the pressure being measured. At least one strain gauge is mounted on the diaphragm. The deformation of the diaphragm under pressure causes the strain gauge to deform, thereby changing its impedance. This impedance is used to determine the pressure.
Implementation Method 2
The at least two measuring elements are each connected to a separate amplifier. The at least two amplifiers have different gain factors.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a sensor assembly (110) for determining at least one pressure p of a fluid or gaseous medium. The sensor assembly (110) has at least one pressure port (112). The pressure port (112) has a diaphragm (116) which can be loaded by the fluid or gaseous medium as the pressure transducer. The sensor assembly (110) also comprises at least one sensor module (114). The sensor module (114) has at least one sensor chip (124). The at least one sensor chip (124) has at least two measuring elements (130, 131) which are arranged on the diaphragm (116). The sensor assembly (110) also has at least one evaluation circuit (142). The evaluation circuit (124) is configured to receive at least two signals from the at least two measuring elements (130, 131) arranged on the diaphragm (116). The at least two measuring elements (130, 131) are each connected to a separate amplifier (143, 144). The amplifiers (143, 144) have different amplification factors.