More and more sophysticated electronic controls are going to be installed on cars, industrial vehicles and other means of transport, whose performances strictly depend on the accuracy and reliability of the sensors used to detect the operating conditions of the vehicle they shall manage.
In particular as far as the pressure sensors concerns, the introduction of the monolithic devices (based either on silicon and on ceramic) has practically solved the problems of the pressure measurements at the intake manifold of the engine needed for the ignition and fuel injection systems. These pressures are usually ranging between 0 and 2 bar.
However brakes and gear box electronic controls require sensors for much higher pressures (up to 50 bar for the gear box) and much more severe environmental conditions. Operating temperatures up to 130°, overpressures 5 times the nominal ones, high vibration levels, poisoning media faced to the membrane of the sensor are parameters which greatly affect the design of the device.
Taking advantage of 5 years of experience with the sensors utilized for the Digiplex ignition and IAW fuel injection systems, and of the outstanding features of the thick films and alumina, on which they are based, our Company has carried out a work to develop a high pressure device able to meet the tightest specifications still maintaining a reasonable cost.