Pressure sensors have a broad range of uses not only in the automobile, medical and factory automation, but also in washing machines, vacuum cleaners and other consumer electronics. These promising products are expected to show double-digit growth in the coming years. Pressure sensors are sensing devices using a pressure-sensitive element via a thin elastic diaphragm to measure the pressure of gases or liquids and then emit an electronic signal. They are based on the same detection principles as the capacitance-type and piezoresistance-type.
The capacitance-type pressure sensor forms a condenser setting movable electrodes known as a diaphragm against fixed electrodes. When external pressure is applied, it converts the changes in capacitance resulting from flexing of the diaphragm shape into an electric signal. The piezoresistance-type pressure sensor, on the other hand, works by forming a piezoresistor on the surface of the diaphragm and converting into electric information any changes in the electrical resistance of the piezoresistor resulting from flexing of the diaphragm shape due to external pressure (piezoresistance-type effect).
Alps Electric began with the development of the capacitance-type as our first pressure sensor product and has been working to develop the piezoresistance-type. Because capacitance-type pressure sensors combine the advantages of power-saving and high sensitivity, they are suitable for automobile TPMS (Tire Pressure Monitoring System), sphygmomanometers and other applications. Also, because the piezoresistance-type is better adapted for creating thin and small-scale items due to the simple device structure, it is applicable to a wide array of uses such as mobile devices and other small-scale applications. Alps Electric is planning to expand the fields of application incorporating advantages of both modes.
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Pressure sensor applicable to a variety of uses
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