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EP0409213A2 Expired / Lapsed EP ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Amplifiying compensation circuit for semiconductor pressure sensor

Assignee: Fuji Electric Co Ltd
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Filing: 1990-07-18
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2010-07-18
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Abstract

Abstract A pressure sensor circuit has a bridge circuit of strain gauges (101-104) formed on a silicon diaphragm with two output terminals. The difference in the voltage between the two output terminals is dependent on the pressure applied to the strain gauges. A differential amplifier circuit having an operational amplifier (207) and a feedback circuit amplifies the difference between the two output terminals. A temperature dependent resistor (56) in the feedback circuit provides temperature compensation. An adjustable resistor (21) adjusts the sensitivity of the pressure sensor circuit. Temperature dependent resistors (54,55) connected between the operational amplifier and reference voltages compensate for zero point temperature fluctuations, and adjustable resistors (22,23) connected between the operational amplifier and the reference voltages adjust the zero point.

Inventors

  • 👤 Kazuyuki C/O Fuji Electric Co. Ltd. Kato

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction EP
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-26 07:20
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01L; G01L19/00; G01L19/02; G01L1/00; G01L1/20; G01L1/22; G01L1/2268; G01L1/2281; G01L9/00; G01L9/02; G01L9/04; G01L9/045

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim 195 words
A pressure sensor circuit, comprising: first and second terminals connected respectively to first and second potentials; means for sensing a pressure and generating first and second voltages interconnected with the first and second terminals, the difference of the first and second voltages being dependent on at least one pressure to be sensed; means for converting impedance comprising a voltage follower circuit which receives the first voltage; means for amplifying the difference between the first and second voltages comprising an operational amplifier with first and second inputs and a feedback circuit with a temperature dependent resistor; means for adjusting the sensitivity of the pressure sensor circuit comprising a resistor with adjustable resistance connected between the pressure sensing means and the first input of the operational amplifier; means for compensating for temperature induced fluctuations in the zero point of the pressure sensor circuit comprising at least one temperature dependent resistor connected between the first input of the operational amplifier and the first terminal; and means for adjusting the zero point of the pressure sensor circuit comprising at least one resistor with an adjustable resistance connected between the first input of the operational amplifier and the first terminal.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 195 words
A pressure sensor circuit, comprising: first and second terminals connected respectively to first and second potentials; means for sensing a pressure and generating first and second voltages interconnected with the first and second terminals, the difference of the first and second voltages being dependent on at least one pressure to be sensed; means for converting impedance comprising a voltage follower circuit which receives the first voltage; means for amplifying the difference between the first and second voltages comprising an operational amplifier with first and second inputs and a feedback circuit with a temperature dependent resistor; means for adjusting the sensitivity of the pressure sensor circuit comprising a resistor with adjustable resistance connected between the pressure sensing means and the first input of the operational amplifier; means for compensating for temperature induced fluctuations in the zero point of the pressure sensor circuit comprising at least one temperature dependent resistor connected between the first input of the operational amplifier and the first terminal; and means for adjusting the zero point of the pressure sensor circuit comprising at least one resistor with an adjustable resistance connected between the first input of the operational amplifier and the first terminal.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 21 words
A pressure sensor circuit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first input of the operational amplifier is the inversion input.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 26 words
A pressure sensor circuit as claimed in claim 2, wherein the pressure sensor means is a bridge circuit having strain gauges formed on a silicon diaphragm.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 28 words
A pressure sensor circuit as claimed in claim 3, wherein the feedback circuit further comprises a resistor with adjustable resistance connected in parallel to the temperature dependent resistor.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 37 words
A pressure sensor circuit as claimed in claim 4, wherein the means for compensating for the temperature induced fluctuations further comprises a resistor with adjustable resistance connected in series with the at least one temperature dependent resistor.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 237 words
A pressure sensor circuit, comprising: first and second terminals connected respectively to first and second potentials; means for sensing a pressure and generating first and second voltages interconnected with the first and second terminals, the difference of the first and second voltages being dependent on at least one pressure to be sensed; means for converting impedance comprising a voltage follower circuit which receives the first voltage; means for amplifying the difference between the first and second voltages comprising an operational amplifier with first and second inputs and a feedback circuit with a temperature dependent resistor; means for adjusting the sensitivity of the pressure sensor circuit comprising a resistor with adjustable resistance connected between the pressure sensing means and the first input of the operational amplifier; means for compensating for temperature induced fluctuations in the zero point of the pressure sensor circuit comprising at least one temperature dependent resistor connected between the first input of the operational amplifier and the first terminal, and at least one temperature dependent resistor connected between the first input of the operational amplifier and the second terminal; and means for adjusting the zero point of the pressure sensor circuit comprising at least one resistor with an adjustable resistance connected between the first input of the operational amplifier and the first terminal, and at least one resistor with an adjustable resistance connected between the first input of the operational amplifier and the second terminal.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 237 words
A pressure sensor circuit, comprising: first and second terminals connected respectively to first and second potentials; means for sensing a pressure and generating first and second voltages interconnected with the first and second terminals, the difference of the first and second voltages being dependent on at least one pressure to be sensed; means for converting impedance comprising a voltage follower circuit which receives the first voltage; means for amplifying the difference between the first and second voltages comprising an operational amplifier with first and second inputs and a feedback circuit with a temperature dependent resistor; means for adjusting the sensitivity of the pressure sensor circuit comprising a resistor with adjustable resistance connected between the pressure sensing means and the first input of the operational amplifier; means for compensating for temperature induced fluctuations in the zero point of the pressure sensor circuit comprising at least one temperature dependent resistor connected between the first input of the operational amplifier and the first terminal, and at least one temperature dependent resistor connected between the first input of the operational amplifier and the second terminal; and means for adjusting the zero point of the pressure sensor circuit comprising at least one resistor with an adjustable resistance connected between the first input of the operational amplifier and the first terminal, and at least one resistor with an adjustable resistance connected between the first input of the operational amplifier and the second terminal.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 21 words
A pressure sensor circuit as claimed in claim 6, wherein the first input of the operational amplifier is the inversion input.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 26 words
A pressure sensor circuit as claimed in claim 7, wherein the pressure sensor means is a bridge circuit having strain gauges formed on a silicon diaphragm.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 28 words
A pressure sensor circuit as claimed in claim 8, wherein the feedback circuit further comprises a resistor with adjustable resistance connected in parallel to the temperature dependent resistor.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 80 words
A pressure sensor circuit as claimed in claim 9, wherein the means for compensating for the temperature induced fluctuations further comprises a resistor with adjustable resistance connected in series with the at least one temperature dependent resistor connected between the first input of the operational amplifier and the first terminal, and a resistor with adjustable resistance connected in series with the at least one temperature dependent resistor connected between the first input of the operational amplifier and the second terminal.

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