The development of a variable capacitive pressure sensor for TPMS(tire pressure monitoring system)

Abstract

In this study, a variable capacitive pressure sensor is fabricated for TPMS (Tire Pressure Monitoring System). This study is for developing sensors which consecutively measure the tire pressure given as 30 psi from the industrial standard. For improving non-linearity of the prior capacitive pressure sensors, it is suggested that touch mode capacitive pressure sensor be applied. In addition, initial capacitance is designed as small as possible for the conformity to the wireless sensor. ANSYS, commercial FEA package, is used for designing and simulating the sensor. The device is progressed by MEMS (Micro Electro Mechanical Systems) fabrication and packaged with PDMS. The result is obtained sensitivity, 1 pF/psi, through a pressure test. The simulation result is discrepant from experiment one. Wafer's uniformity is presumed as the main reason of discrepancy.