How can a core simplify pressure sensing applications?

At Sensors Expo 2018, Gary Winzeler, Vice President of Marketing & Sales for DunAn Sensing discussed the company’s new approach to specifying pressure sensors using a core approach. DunAn introduced their Ceramic Diaphragm Core (CDC) Core pressure transducer and the MEMS DURAsense Core (MDC) at Sensor Expo. Both allow pressure measurements to pumps, valves and other locations where a typical stainless-steel housed pressure sensor would not fit.

With the specified core all that is need to complete the sensor is the pressure fitting and electrical connector. However, the core allows a system designer to embed the pressure sensor inside a product, even one as small as a handheld device, with a specific area defined for the sensor in the end product.

The common form factor enables high-volume testing of each of the cores in production to give the user much better cost and affordability. This is important because DunAn offers 18 different pressure ports and 18 different electrical connections. Combined with all of the pressure ranges they offer, this means that about 3.7 million variations are possible.

In contrast, with the core design about 12 variations are required, greatly simplifying inventory. Once a tested core is selected by a customer, it can easily be configured as desired with a port and electrical connector of the user’s choice.

The fully signal conditioned, analog output MDC transducers are available in pressure ranges from 0–15 through 0–750 psi in gage, sealed gage or absolute designs. The fully signal conditioned, analog output CDC Series is available in seven pressure ranges from 0–150 to 0–2,000 psi.