05.03.2018 16:56

How does an Accurate Differential Pressure Sensor Increase Profit Flow?

by Mike Horton, CTO of Aceinna 

Differential Pressure “DP” Measurement for low-pressure range is required in Medical, Industrial, and Internet-of-Things applications. DP is measured in units of Pascals or Inches of Water Column. 1.0 Pascal (Pa) = 0.00402 inH20

A high-accuracy differential pressure measurement is one that achieves an accuracy better than 0.1 Pascal. Where might such a precise measurement practically be required? A few examples:

1. Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) is commonly prescribed to treat sleep apnea. The machines need a differential pressure sensor to regulate flow to the user. Recently machines have even started to report statistics on when a user has an “event” which is basically a period of high resistance to flow. The Apnea-Hypopnea Index (AHI) is used to quantify sleep apnea severity.
2. Industrial applications such as zone control or measurement of room pressurization require reliable detection of small pressure changes, and the ability to filter out spurious pressure changes from occupant movement.
3. The “Internet of Things” has created a new class of smart-consumer device for air-quality and air-flow measurement needing high precision.

These example applications and many more would like an accurate differential pressure sensor that can achieve this high-accuracy at low-cost. The lower the cost, the more profit flows from your device, and the faster your business can grow. The best way to get low-cost and high-reliability is to utilize a technology that has already scaled to extremely large volume and low production costs.

Aceinna’s new digital differential pressure sensor leverages a proven proprietary MEMS sensor element which has already surpassed a billion units produced. The new differential pressure sensor, the MDP200, has +/- 500 Pascal full scale range and can detect changes down to 0.02 Pascal or a tiny 0.00008 inches of water column! The sensor is fully integrated with a custom I2C interface, and produced with an automated calibration process that tests and calibrates each device at over 300 pressure points.

MEMS Flow Sensor Theory of Operation

To make getting started easy, Aceinna has a ready to go developers kit featuring a simple example readout circuit and LCD display, as well as digital USB interface and graphical user interface software for logging data. To get a kit, contact Aceinna.

Aceinna MDP200 Demo Kit in Action

The MDP200 device runs on 3.3V with about 7ma of power. It is available in both a manifold and barb fitted package. Get the spec here.

MDP200 Manifold and Barb Package

Mike Horton is the CTO of Aceinna where he is responsible for corporate technology strategy and inertial-navigation related technology development.  Prior to Aceinna, Mike Horton founded Crossbow Technology, a leader in MEMS-based inertial navigation systems and wireless sensor networks, with his advisor the late Dr. Richard Newton while at UC Berkeley.  Crossbow Technology grew to $23M in revenue prior to being sold in two transactions (Moog, Inc and MEMSIC) totaling $50M.  In addition to his role at Aceinna, Mike is active as an angel investor with two Silicon Valley based angel groups - Band of Angels and Sand Hill Angels.  He also actively mentors young entrepreneurs in the UC Berkeley research community.  Mike holds over 15 patents, and holds a BSEE and MSEE from UC Berkeley.  

About Aceinna

Aceinna, headquartered in Andover, Massachusetts, provides advanced semiconductor sensors and multi-sensor system solutions based on micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS) technology and sophisticated integration technologies in both the IC level and module level.  Aceinna’s unique and proprietary approach combines leading-edge sensor technologies, such as magnetic sensors and accelerometers, with mixed-signal processing circuitry to produce reliable, high quality, cost-effective solutions for the mobile phone, automotive, consumer, industrial and general aviation markets.