MEMS Pirani vacuum transducer evaluation kit reduces calibration for sensor probes
The PVC4000EVK evaluation kit announced today allows OEMs to quickly test drive Posifa’s PVC4000 series digital MEMS vacuum sensing technology. The kit allows vacuum gauge OEMs to quickly test drive digital vacuum sensing technology by enabling inexpensive, easily replaceable sensor probes to be switched without requiring the vacuum gauge itself to be recalibrated, since all the calibration data is stored within the probe itself.
The PVC4000EVK kit consists of a PVC4000 transducer packaged in a brass housing with a 1/4 SAE male flare fitting, or a stainless steel housing with a KF16 fitting that allows it to be installed into any vacuum environment for quick evaluation. The PVC4000 transducer in the kit is calibrated and provides a digital output in microns. The kit’s PC-based diagnostic software gives users access to different sensor readings and configuration data stored in the transducer.
The kit allows vacuum gauge OEMs to find out what the digital Pirani vacuum sensor technology can do, commented Peng Tu, president and CEO at Posifa Technologies.
The PVC4000EVK’s sensor element is based on Posifa’s second-generation MEMS thermal conduction chip, which operates under the principle that the thermal conductivity of gas is proportional to its vacuum pressure. The transducer’s microcontroller-based measuring electronics amplify and digitise the senor’s signal, providing a digital output via an I²C interface.
The MEMS Pirani vacuum transducer in the evaluation kit is calibrated for the vacuum range between one and 760,000 microns. The transducer’s digital I²C interface allows the user to access the sensor’s raw output as well as the calibrated vacuum reading. The evaluation kit includes a custom wire harness that connects the sensor and the I²C to a USB adapter board, allowing the user to read sensor data from a PC in minutes.
The PVC4000EVK evaluation kit is available now from Digi-Key and other distributors.
Formerly known as Posifa Microsystems, Posifa Technologies designs and manufactures high performance, low cost sensor and sensing solutions, including gas and liquid flow sensors, air velocity sensors, and vacuum sensors.
The company’s products are designed to meet the needs of demanding applications in consumer electronics, HVAC, medical devices and data centres.
Posifa serves its global customer base through direct sales and a network of distributors in the United States, Europe, Korea, and Taiwan. The company is headquartered in San Jose, California, with an office in Shenzhen, China.
