Aug 1 2007
Alps Electric has completed development of a capacitance type pressure sensor (HSPC Series) to detect absolute pressure. The sensor can be used to detect, for example, air pressure in tires, air pressure and blood pressure. Sample shipments are to commence in October 2007.
The sensor, HSPC series, detects air, blood and other pressures by means of changes in capacitance. Pressure is detected when pressure changes cause the membrane on the moveable electrodes known as a 'diaphragm' to flex, the capacitance between the fixed electrodes changes, and the degree of this change is converted into an electrical signal.
The capacitance-type pressure sensor is generally characterized by high sensitivity and low current consumption. Pressure detection systems that use this product will therefore reduce their current consumption to an extremely low microampere level, contributing to the general trend for set products to use less current.
Furthermore, leveraging technologies cultivated over several years in thin film process technology, high-precision processing technology, and packaging technology, Alps Electric has realized the industry's smallest (4.8mm long x 4.8mm wide x 1.8 mm high) thin-walled capacitance-type pressure sensor.
The product also minimizes the influence of temperature changes on pressure detection, and due to the ability of the ceramic packaging to withstand changes in temperature, its operation is possible in a wide range of operating temperatures. Reliable pressure detection is possible even in the volatile temperature changes of the automotive environment.