Servoflo has posted a new paper written by Dr. Norbert Rauch, a well-respected sensor engineer in Germany. His paper, titled "The 24-bit Revolution in Pressure Sensor Technology", discusses how altitude can be accurately measured with the impressive resolution provided in the MS5607 silicon-based pressure sensor, which uses the latest 24-bit ADC technology.
Most traditional altimeter sensors have resolution of several meters, making them not very precise. These traditional sensors have a digital signal conditioning unit and operate on a 14-bit ADC. However, a 14-bit ADC does not automatically mean that the signal can be resolved with 14 bits. Depending on the signal span, offset, and the signal evaluation electronics, possibly 10-12 bits are available for signal conditioning. Until now, achieving a better level of resolution was only achievable with a complex pressure sensing system which is costly and difficult to achieve.
The paper discusses how the MS5607 eliminates these problems with the use of an ASIC and MEMS technology. By taking into consideration that resolution must not be confused with precision, calibration accuracy and offset drift due to temperature changes must also be considered when assessing solutions. Physical size and power consumption are also factors for designers.
The paper will educate readers on how to better understand the importance of the 24-bit designs and implications for applications.
