Keywords
Citation
Tandeske, D. (2002), "Pressure Sensors: Selection and Application", Sensor Review, Vol. 22 No. 3, pp. 265-265. https://doi.org/10.1108/sr.2002.22.3.265.2
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
This handbook is essential reading for anyone who is involved with sensor applications and instrumentation. It provides the basic knowledge required to select and apply the right pressure sensor to interface to a microprocessor system.
Chapter 1 addresses “A need for new sensors”. It discusses topics including traditional pressure measurements, how microprocessors have expanded the sensor market, and smart sensors. “Pressure fundamentals”, and “Pressure terminology” are presented in chapters 2 and 3, respectively. They discuss pneumatics, hydrostatics, hydrodynamics, pressure units, absolute pressure, differential pressure, sealed reference pressure and atmospheric pressure.
Chapter 4, “Common transduction methods”, addresses piezoresistive and piezoelectric sensors, linear variable differential transformers (LVDTs), capacitive transducers, and strain‐gauge sensors. Silicon processing, junction isolated pressure sensors, and sensor chip construction and packaging, are among the topics discussed in chapter 5, “Piezoresistive sensors”. The following three chapters address “Sensor specifications”, “Signal conditioning” and “Sensor selection”, respectively. Subjects covered in these chapters include: sensor performance and specifications; operational and instrumentation amplifiers; sensor excitation; temperature requirements; pressure range, and mechanical cost.
Chapter 9 discusses “Auto‐Zero and auto‐reference techniques”, while parallel A/D converters, serial A/D converters and data acquisition systems are amongst the topics presented in chapter 10, “Computer interface techniques”. Chapter 11 highlights potential application areas for pressure sensors. The final chapter of this book discusses “Future trends”, and addresses the evolution of silicon sensors and on‐chip compensation.
Pressure Sensors: Selection and Application is a very useful reference text which is suitable for students on undergraduate physics and engineering courses, professional instrumentation and design engineers alike.