Rejustor Chip corrects offset for Wheatstone bridge sensors.
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Press Release Summary:
Comprised of 4 electronic temperature compensation rejustors (re-adjustable resistors) configured in bridge, MBW-303 compensates for offset errors and offset drift in Wheatstone bridge, solving problem at source. Single chip enables adjustment and verification to be performed in single temperature cycle and can operate in temperatures from -40 to +150°C. Adjustment process is isolated from circuit, allowing true, passive in-circuit calibration and compensation.
Original Press Release:
Microbridge Incorporates Four eTC Rejustors into a New Bridge Configuration
Single Passive Chip is Ideal Signal Calibration and Temperature Compensation Solution Corrects Offset for Wheatstone Bridge Sensor Applications
MEMS EXECUTIVE CONGRESS, Del Mar, Calif., - November 5, 2007 - The leader in innovative analog calibration technology, Microbridge Technologies, Inc. today introduced the MBW-303 Wheatstone Bridge Offset Conditioning Network in conjunction with the MEMs Industry Group's (MIG) Congress, November 4 - 5, L'Auberge Del Mar Resort & Spa, San Diego Calif.
The Conditioning Network is comprised of four eTC Rejustors (re-adjustable resistors), the world's first fully analog, passive electronic Temperature Compensation (eTC) dividers, configured in a Bridge. Designed for Wheatstone bridge sensors in automotive, healthcare, consumer, and instrumentation markets, this single chip solution compensates for offset errors and offset drift in a Wheatstone bridge, solving the problem at the source.
The MBW-303 simplifies the design process allowing sensor offset calibration and temperature compensated after final assembly, which negates all cumulative errors associated with the assembly processes, such as manufacturing tolerance errors, error introduced by stress, etc. Dynamic adjustment provides cost and labor savings and the networks' re-adjustability reduces re-work.
"We recognized that many of our rejustor devices have been targeted by customers for sensor calibration and compensation applications," said Nick Tasker, vice president, Business Development at Microbridge. "This device represents the next step in device integration for these applications. There is a need for higher and higher precision and integration. If precision cannot be maintained over the entire operating temperature range of the sensor, it really isn't precise. The MBW 303 maintains offset precision over the full operating temperature range."
"According to MEMS analyst group WTC - Wicht Technologie Consulting, MEMS in applications like consumer electronics, telecom and bio/medical will continue to grow to over $3.3 Billion, in products such as microphones, inertial sensors, microfludics and mobile phones," said Karen Lightman, Managing Director, MEMS Industry Group. "MEMS Executive Congress addresses this burgeoning market from a commercialization standpoint. It provides a unique forum in which both MEMS manufacturers and integrators will discuss the latest industry innovations from their respective points-of-view. Such a fruitful exchange will propagate even greater innovation in MEMS technology, with end users reaping the biggest rewards."
The MBW-303 enables adjustment and verification to be performed in a single temperature cycle. It can operate in temperatures ranging from -40ºC to +150. In addition, it has a small footprint for high-density applications, doesn't require power or memory to hold calibration, and doesn't require an external temperature sensor. The MBW-303 enables precision electrical in-circuit adjustment for ohmic and temperature correcting offset errors. The adjustment process is isolated from the circuit, allowing true, passive in-circuit calibration and compensation.
The MBW-303 device is eligible for the rejustor Design Challenge contest running through December 31, 2007. Further information and registration forms are available online at www.rejustorchallenge.com
Pricing & Availability
Available now in a QFN-16 package, the new MBW-303 Bridge is currently sampling and costs $2.67 each in quantities of 1,000.
For sales enquiries, contact Microbridge at sales@mbridgetech.com.
For more information on rejustors, please click on www.microbridgetech.com/resistor-technology/resistor-white-papers.php for a Microbridge technical whitepaper on rejustors. Contest and product images are available at http://www.microbridgetech.com/press/images
Wheatstone Bridge
The Wheatstone bridge is a classic configuration for measuring small electrical signals. Bridge configurations range from a single sensing element with three balancing resistors up to a full-bridge with four sensing elements. Manufacturing variation in each sensing element leads to offset errors.
In some instances, Wheatstone Bridge sensors output a low signal-of-interest in the presence of a high offset signal. The input range of an amplifier or an ADC must be large enough to accept the signal along with offset. The MBW-303 is used with the Wheatstone Bridge sensor to remove the offset and offset drift so that the amplifier input range can be reduce to focus on the signal of interest. This improves performance the amplification chain while reducing the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of the system.
Rejustor
Rejustors are electrically adjustable MEMS-based micro-resistors whose resistance can be adjusted from the manufactured value with very high precision. Rejustors have the same electrical behavior as quality precision fixed resistors, with the added benefit that the resistance can be adjusted, in-circuit, as required for each application. Rejustors take full advantage of standard CMOS technology and are a combination of proven, high-volume technologies that provide an analog replacement for mechanical, digital, and matched component compensation techniques.
About MIG
MEMS Industry Group (MIG) is the trade association representing the MEMS and microstructures industries. The Association enables the exchange of non-proprietary information among members; provides reliable industry data that furthers the development of technology; and works toward the greater commercial development and use of MEMS and MEMS-enabled devices. MIG is comprised of more than 70 member companies, including Texas Instruments, Bosch, Freescale Semiconductor, Honeywell, IBM, Omron, Intel, Okmetic and GE Global Research. For more information, please visit www.memsindustrygroup.org
About Microbridge Technologies
Microbridge Technologies, Inc. is the leading manufacturer and licensor of next step electronic calibration products and solutions in the consumer, automotive, medical and other industries that need to improve manufacturing yields and productivity and enter new markets. Microbridge's resistor calibration products (Rejustor) and enabling technology are the first integrated calibration and temperature compensation systems for analog circuit designs and production. Microbridge's technology enables product designers to achieve one-step calibration and passive adjustment, is adaptive and adjustable in circuit, and it allows calibration in the analog domain to improve the design of current and future products. Microbridge is a privately held company with headquarters in Montreal, Canada and offices in Boston, Mass and San Jose, Calif. For more information please visit www.mbridgetech.com.
