Gain-adjusting circuitry for combining two sensors to form a media isolated differential pressure sensor

• US 5,471,884 A
• Filed: 07/05/1994
• Issued: 12/05/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 07/05/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Continental Automotive Systems, Inc. (Continental AG)
• Original Assignee: Motorola, Inc. (Motorola Solutions, Inc.)
• Inventors: Rathke, William, Czarnocki, Walter
• Primary Examiner(s): Chilcot, Richard
• Assistant Examiner(s): FELBER, JOSEPH LEON
• Application Number:
  US08/270,552
• Time in Patent Office: 518 Days
• Field of Search: 73/708, 73/716-721
• US Class Current: 73/720
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 15/00 Devices or apparatus for measuring two or more fluid pressure values simultaneously
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 9/065 with temperature compensating means non electric temperature compensating means G01L19/04

Abstract

A media-isolated differential pressure sensor apparatus and corresponding method combines a first signal (207, 209) provided by a first pressure sensor (101), indicative of a difference between a first pressure and second pressure applied across the first pressure sensor, and a second signal (213, 215) provided by a second pressure sensor, indicative of a difference between the second pressure and a third pressure applied across the second pressure sensor (103) to form a differential pressure sensor. Responsive to a pressure span the first signal (207, 209) responds with a slope response different than a slope response of the second signal (213, 215). A slope adjustment circuit (217) enables an adjustment of the slope response of the first signal (207, 209) to correspond to the slope response of the second signal (213, 215), and provides a slope adjusted first signal (221) dependent on the adjusted slope response. A difference circuit (225) provides an output signal (227) dependent on a difference between the slope adjusted first signal (221) and the second signal (223), where the output signal (227) is indicative of a pressure differential sensed between the first pressure sensor (101) and the second pressure sensor (103).

Claims

1. A media-isolated differential pressure sensor apparatus for combining a first signal provided by a first pressure sensor, indicative of a difference between a first pressure and second pressure applied across the first pressure sensor, and a second signal provided by a second pressure sensor, indicative of a difference between the second pressure and a third pressure applied across the second pressure sensor, wherein responsive to a pressure span the first signal responds with a slope response different than a slope response of the second signal, the apparatus comprising:

means for adjusting the slope response of the first signal to correspond to the slope response of the second signal, and providing a slope adjusted first signal dependent on the adjusted slope response; and

means for providing an output signal dependent on a difference between the slope adjusted first signal and the second signal.

2. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1 further comprising an offset means for providing an offset signal, and wherein the means for providing an output signal provides the output signal dependent on the offset signal.

3. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1 further comprising:

an offset-temperature and span-temperature compensation circuit coupled to each of the first and second pressure sensors for providing an offset-span-temperature-compensation signal derived from the first, second pressure sensors; and

wherein the means for providing an output signal provides the output signal dependent on the offset-span-temperature-compensation signal and a difference between the slope adjusted first signal and the second signal.

4. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein the means for adjusting decreases the slope response of the first signal to correspond to the slope response of the second signal.

5. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein the first pressure sensor is a piezo-resistive device.

6. A media-isolated differential pressure sensor apparatus for combining a first signal provided by a first pressure sensor, indicative of a difference between a first pressure and second pressure applied across the first pressure sensor, and a second signal provided by a second pressure sensor, indicative of a difference between the second pressure and a third pressure applied across the second pressure sensor, wherein responsive to a pressure span the first signal responds with a slope response different than a slope response of the second signal, the apparatus comprising:

a slope adjustment circuit for adjusting the slope response of the first signal to correspond to the slope response of the second signal, and providing a slope adjusted first signal dependent on the adjusted slope response;

an offset-temperature and span-temperature compensation circuit coupled to each of the first and second pressure sensors, the circuit for providing an offset-span-temperature-compensation signal derived from the first and second pressure sensors; and

a difference amplifier for providing an output signal dependent on the offset-span-temperature-compensation signal and a difference between the slope adjusted first signal and the second signal.

7. An apparatus in accordance with claim 6 wherein the slope adjustment circuit decreases the slope response of the first signal to correspond to the slope response of the second signal.

8. An apparatus in accordance with claim 7 wherein the first pressure sensor is a piezo-resistive device.

9. A media-isolated differential pressure sensor apparatus comprising:

a first pressure sensor for providing a first signal indicative of a first pressure, wherein responsive to a pressure span the first signal responds with a first slope;

a second pressure sensor for providing a second signal indicative of a second pressure, wherein responsive to the pressure span the second signal responds with a slope different than the first slope;

a slope adjustment circuit for adjusting the slope response of the first signal to correspond to the slope response of the second signal, and providing a slope adjusted first signal dependent on the adjusted slope response;

an offset-temperature and span-temperature compensation circuit coupled to each of the first and second pressure sensors, the circuit for providing an offset-span-temperature-compensation signal derived from the first and second pressure sensors; and

a difference amplifier for providing an output signal dependent on the offset-span-temperature-compensation signal and a difference between the slope adjusted first signal and the second signal.

10. A media-isolated differential pressure sensing method for combining a first signal provided by a first pressure sensor, indicative of a difference between a first pressure and a second pressure applied across the first pressure sensor, and a second signal provided by a second pressure sensor, indicative of a difference between the second pressure and a third pressure applied across the second pressure sensor, wherein responsive to a pressure span the first signal responds with a slope response different than a slope response of the second signal, the method comprising the steps of:

adjusting the slope response of the first signal to correspond to the slope response of the second signal, and providing a slope adjusted first signal dependent on the adjusted slope response; and

providing an output signal dependent on a difference between the slope adjusted first signal and the second signal.

11. A method in accordance with claim 10 further comprising the step of:

providing an offset signal; and

wherein the step of providing an output signal provides the output signal dependent on the offset signal.

12. A method in accordance with claim 11 further comprising the step of:

providing offset-temperature and offset-span-temperature-compensation signals derived from the first and second pressure sensors; and

wherein the step of providing an output signal provides the output signal dependent on the offset-temperature and offset-span-temperature-compensation signals and a difference between the slope adjusted first signal and the second signal.

13. A method in accordance with claim 12 wherein the step of adjusting decreases the slope response of the first signal to correspond to the slope response of the second signal.

14. A method in accordance with claim 12 wherein the step of adjusting comprises a step of laser trimming.