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Barometer Sensor: Advantages and Disadvantages

sensor barometer pressure piezoelectric piezoresistive

This article explores the pros and cons of barometer sensors, also known as barometric sensors.

Definition: A barometer sensor is a device that measures pressure to determine altitude. These sensors are commonly found in mobile phones and other electronic devices.

Barometric or Barometer pressure sensor

Figure 1 shows a barometric pressure sensor from Apogee Instruments.

The SI unit of pressure is the Pascal (Pa). It’s defined as:

1 Pa = 1 N/m2

This means one Pascal is equal to one Newton of force uniformly distributed over one square meter of surface.

A Pascal can be converted into other pressure units using the following equations:

pressure units

The advantages and disadvantages of barometer sensors vary depending on the specific type of sensor used. Here are a few examples:

  • Mercury pressure sensor
  • Piezoelectric pressure sensor
  • Piezoresistive pressure sensor
  • Strain gauge pressure sensor
  • Capacitive pressure sensor
  • Optoelectronic pressure sensor

For more in-depth information, refer to resources detailing pressure sensor basics and types.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Barometer Sensors

The following table summarizes the advantages and disadvantages of different types of barometer sensors:

Sensor TypeAdvantagesDisadvantages
Piezoelectric* Generates voltage proportional to applied crystal velocity, eliminating the need for a local power source.** High impedance makes them susceptible to picking up stray voltages in connecting wires. ** Crystals can crack under overstress.
Piezoresistive** Thin and flexible construction. ** Inexpensive electronics. ** Readily available and customizable. ** Lightweight. * Low power consumption.** Lower accuracy (approximately +/-5% full scale) compared to load cells. ** Requires user calibration.
Strain Gauge** No moving parts. ** Small size. * Inexpensive.** Non-linear output. ** Requires calibration.
Capacitive* Reduces interference from the signal.* Slightly reduces voltage and can interfere with direct current flow.