Differential Pressure Sensor for Spirometry Applications: SP Series

Superior Sensor Technology’s SP Series low-pressure sensor module family uses NimbleSense™ — a proprietary architecture attaining a very high-level dynamic range — to develop the industry’s best-performing Spirometry pressure-sensing device.

This broad dynamic range is perfectly suited to provide accurate near-zero measurements for supporting the demanding functional necessities of the Spirometry market. Now, selectable multiple pressure ranges are supported in a single package. The SP110/SP210 can be user-programmed to full-scale ranges of ± 250, 500, 1 kand 2.5 kPa whereas the SP160 can be programmed to ranges of ± 5, 10, 20and 40 kPa.

To simplify customer integration efforts considerably, the SP Series family offers a new sensor integration level into the Spirometry market that combines a superior piezoresistive sensing element with DSP, ADC, integrated amplificationand processor intelligence. Floating point technology is leveraged by the SP Series to offer an exceptionally accurate digital output.

When this precision is combined with the enhanced zero point and the best positional immunity of the industry, the ultimate in Spirometry system sensing performance is enabled. Performance, system costand reliability are optimized by the SP Series for the competitive Spirometry market.

Industry Leading Accuracy Performance

The SP Series measuresthe pressure of dry air and non-aggressive gas with exact precision better than 0.10% of the selected range. It also exhibits an industry-leading Total Error Band, which is usually better than 0.15% FSS.

In addition to industry-leading accuracy and positional insensitivity, the SP Series also includea proprietary Z-Track™ feature that practically eliminates zero errors. Power-on time is another important consideration, and with Z-Track™, warm-up time is substantially decreased, thereby making the SP Series a great choice for time-critical installation applications.

Image Credit: Superior Sensor Technology

Additionally, Spirometry devices must function flawlessly in crowded RF environments created by a confluence of wireless transmitters. This RF immunity requirement drives the need for special design effort to be put into the product packaging. This is done to minimize the effects of spurious RF signals on the sensor module performance. The SP Series has undergone proprietary design techniques to enhance the EMI immunity, reducing the influence of close proximity EMI producing devices such as WiFi, Bluetooth and other cellular communication protocols.

Key Features

High-performance low-pressure sensor

Multi-range withfour calibrated ranges for each device

16-bit resolution for each range

Ultra-low noise

19-bit effective resolution

Highly integrated sensor, ADCand DSP

Z-Track™ technology virtually eliminates zero drift

Pressure ranges from ± 250 Pa to ± 40 kPa

Improved EMI Immunity

Best-in-class position insensitivity

Output Update Rate of 500 Hz

Standard I²C and SPI interface

Selectable bandwidth filter from 25 Hz to 250 Hz

Precision better than ±0.10% of selected range

Total Error Band less than 0.15% FSS

Temperature compensated from 0 °C to 50 °C