I�C was designed to communicate over short distances between printed circuit boards and is really a simple, 8-bit serial data bus. In the meantime, it is not only PCB-mountable pressure sensors that use the I�C signal for data transfer, but also pressure sensors remote from customer electronics.
Remote sensors usually have the benefit of being less sensitive to contaminated or aggressive media and to be able to measure directly at the process. Regarding sensors mounted on the circuit board, the sensor element is, in many cases, exposed directly to the medium. With remote sensors, steel or ceramic generally serve because the wetted surface.
I�C circuit
The I�C bus, alongside both supply lines, requires only two further lines:
SCL (serial clock line)
SDA (serial data line)
Additional possibilities through I�C
The I�C bus is really a well-known standard in electronics, offering additional possibilities for communication with a pressure sensor than having an analogue signal:
In the data protocol, in addition to the pressure value, a temperature value and diagnostic information (for example an integrity test of the data transfer) can be transmitted via a status byte.
Several pressure sensors can be connected to a bus line as ?slaves? to the client electronics that functions as a ?master?.
On the client side, as opposed to the utilization of pressure sensors with analogue signals, the analogue-to-digital conversion of the pressure value for further signal processing is unnecessary since the pressure value has already been present in digital form. This contributes to faster and easier signal processing.
The electronics for communication could be built with standard components readily available on the market.
Often, I�C signal pressure sensors are also optimised to take less energy, making them perfect for battery-powered applications. In the WIKA portfolio, for example, this pertains to the MPR-1 pressure sensor module.
Boundary conditions with the use of I�C
Since I�C isn’t a fieldbus, long wire lengths aren’t recommended. The utmost wire length depends, at length, on the operating environment and the corresponding disturbing influences. I�C communication is best used in projects where the pressure sensor or the pressure sensor module is integrated into the customer product and thus protected against external influences. It should also be noted that with any digitally processed signal, the response time because of discrete-time sampling will undoubtedly be somewhat slower than for an analogue, continuous signal.
Note
Track Record will undoubtedly be happy to assist you to with any more questions on digital interfaces.
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