Silicon Designs Adds ±5 g MEMS Capacitive Accelerometer Module Silicon Designs
Designed to support lower frequency aerospace, automotive, defense, energy, industrial, and test and measurement requirements, the low-noise, single-axis model 2210-005 features the incorporation of high-quality MEMS capacitive sensing elements, all manufactured at Silicon Designs Seattle-based fabrication facility. Sensing elements are packaged within a compact, lightweight anodized epoxy sealed aluminum housing, occupying a total footprint of just one square inch. They feature a simple four-wire connection and internal voltage regulator to minimize supply voltage variation effects. Units are relatively insensitive to temperature changes with quick, easy self-calibration. They also feature high-drive, low-impedance buffering to support low-frequency acceleration measurements from 0 to 400 Hz.
The model 2210 produces two analog voltage outputs which vary with acceleration. Users may choose either either single-ended or differential output, which doubles sensitivity over single-ended output to 800 mV/g. The sensitive axis is perpendicular to the bottom of the package, with positive acceleration defined as a force pushing on the bottom of the package. Signal outputs are fully differential about a common mode voltage of approximately 2.5 volts. The output scale factor is independent from the supply voltage of +9 to +32 volts. At zero acceleration, the output differential voltage is nominally 0 volts DC; at ±full scale acceleration, the output differential voltage is ±4 volts DC.
Based outside Seattle, Washington, Silicon Designs was founded in 1983 with the goal of improving the accepted design standard for MEMS capacitive accelerometers. At that time, industrial-grade accelerometers on the market were bulky, highly fragile and costly. The engineering team at Silicon Designs listened to the needs of customers, who required more compact, sensitive, rugged and reasonably priced accelerometer modules and chips with higher performance. Resultant product lines were designed and built to surpass customer expectations. The company has grown steadily over the years, though its core competency remains accelerometers, with the business philosophy of “Make it better, stronger, smaller and less expensive” maintained to this day. For details, drawings or additional information, visit www.silicondesigns.com.
09 January 2012
