Omron Electronic Components Europe's two new MEMS-based barometric pressure sensors are designed for measuring height and pressure in drones, smartphones, pedometers, and other battery-powered mobile systems.Omron's 2SMPB-02B and 2SMPB-02E sensors provide stable and reliable height and pressure measurements, and are capable of reliably recording elevation variations of as little as 2 m.
The new sensors, developed from successful blood pressure monitors, have been modified for mobile applications and are smaller, measuring just 2.0 x 2.5 x 0.85 mm. Thanks to innovations in the production process and Omron's MEMS technology, the devices are very competitively priced.
These barometric sensors measure pressure with high accuracy using their integrated low-noise 24-bit A/D converter, digital control, and output via I2C/SPI interfaces. Both interfaces disconnect non-operational circuits to minimize power consumption. The parameters for each calibration are stored in a One-Time Programmable (OTP) ROM and retained even when the system is powered off. An integrated temperature compensation circuit helps ensure precise absolute pressure measurements.
Gabriele Fulco, Product Manager for Sensors at Omron in Europe, commented: “These sensors are easy to use and perfect for the ever-increasing range of battery-powered wearable, portable, and mobile applications. Their very low power consumption makes them ideal for smartphones, tablets, pedometers, and drones.” Fulco added: “MEMS sensors are typically affected by assembly stress, but these sensors have a ceramic substrate and a metal cover, so parameter variation is much lower during assembly.”.
Both sensors are configured to measure air pressure between 30 kPa and 110 kPa. The maximum pressure is 800 kPa, and the sensors can be used at temperatures from -40 to 85°C without condensation or freezing. The sensor pin configuration is compatible with other solutions on the market, simplifying integration.
The 2SMPB-02E has the same features and performance as the 2SMPB-02B but offers a better level of accuracy starting at +/-50Pa. For the -02B version, it is +/-100Pa.
Its applications are numerous, including wearable devices, tablets, smartphones, drones, altimeters, car navigation systems, and ground detection.
