Basics of Sensor Compensation for Piezoresistive Sensors

January 21, 2013 Randy Frank

Agenda
Steps toward smart sensors Wheatstone bridge Amplification Calibration, linearization and signal integrity techniques for piezoresistive sensors More complex piezoresistive interfaces

Levels of Intelligent Sensor Processing

Layer 4 System Awareness

Knowledge Extraction

Layer 3

Information Enhancement

Layer 2

Sensor Compensation

Layer 1

Data Acquisition Source: Microchip Technology 3

Wireless or Wired Bus Communications to Other intelligent systems & Smart Sensors

Accurate Data & Better Decisions

Knowledge Extraction Pattern Recognition Information Enhancement Frequency Domain Sensor Compensation Calibration Data Acquisition Transducer Amplification Low Pass Filtering A/D Conversion Linearization Signal Integrity Diagnostics Classification Prediction Adaptive Filtering

Noise Removal

Sensor Fusion

Source: Microchip Technology 4

Silicon Piezoresistive Pressure Sensors

R R
Eo = ER R

Span

Best Fit Straight Line

Offset

Effect of Temperature
Offset Temperature Shift (0C-70C), Typical: 0.1 mV Temperature Effect on Resistance (0C-70C), typical: 2800 ppm/C Temperature Effect on Span (0C-70C), Typical: -1900 ppm/C
For All Sensors BLVR-L01D

Constant Current Source Amplifier

Quad Op Amp Circuit

TIs TLV2474

Rail-to-rail
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Instrumentation Amplifier
Typical key specifications:
Operating voltage range Rail to rail operation Common mode rejection ratio (CMMR) Input Voltage Noise Density Power supply rejection ratio (PSRR)

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Instrumentation Amplifier Example

Microchip Technologys MCP6N11
Operating Voltage Range: 1.8 to 5.5V Input Voltage Noise Density (nV/rt(Hz)) 35 typ PSRR min 94 dB CMRR min 94 dB Piezoresistive example

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1%-Accurate Signal Conditioner

Maxim Integrated MAX1450

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 MAX1450

Signal Conditioner for Piezoresistive Sensors

An evaluation kit is available: MAX1450EVKIT

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Piezoresistive Interface
ZMDI ZSC31010
Sensor Signal Conditioner CMOS integrated circuit Designed for resistive bridge sensors Digitally calibrate offset and gain Internal temperature compensation and detection

Development kit available

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Piezoresistive Interface
ZMDI ZSC31010
OWI one wire interface

Calibration performed by eeprom no external trimmed components

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Pressure Sensor Signal Conditioning Interface

Texas Instruments TPIC83000-Q1

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TIs WEBENCH Sensor Designer

Provides Analog Interface Family for:
Pressure sensors Temperature Load sensors pH sensors Chemical & gas sensors

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TIs AFE
AFE: Analog Front End

For resistive bridge sensors

LMP90100 Temperature, Pressure, Load, Force and more A complete signal path solution: sensor-MCU Multi-channel with 16- or 24-bit Sigma Delta ADC core Flexible, programmable mux (4 differential, 7 single-ended, or a combination inputs) Continuous background sensor diagnostics
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TIs AFE LMP90100

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Summary
For piezoresistive sensors Several good sources of information exist Simple circuits Complex circuits Design kits and tools simplify design-in

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Topics Later This Week

Tuesday Basics of Sensor Compensation for Capacitive Sensors Wednesday A case study of smart sensor development Thursday Transitioning from analog sensing to the digital control world Friday Todays smart sensors
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