A researcher of IC design requested the following:
We are doing a research project to fabricate MEMS piezoresistive sensor and we want to buy 50 Silicon 6" <100> double side polished wafers, 675 um thickness, resistivity 1-100 ohmcm, P type, doping boron; and 50 pyrex 6" double side polished wafer, 500 um thickness; and 50 pieces of 4" quartz AT cut wafers, double side polished, 325 um thickness of your company.
Could you please send us a quotation so that we can order your product.
Reference #119319 for specs and pricing.
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A MEMS engineer requested a quote for the following:
We're wanting to purchase 25 of the 100 mm Silicon-on-Insulator wafers. We’re wanting to use the 1 µm Si layer for a piezoresistor, so hoping for very low resistivity (0.01-0.02 ohm-cm)
Can you supply a quote?
Reference #244356 for specs and pricing.
A piezoresistive sensor is an electronic device that measures changes in resistance due to applied 
mechanical stress, such as pressure, force, or vibration. The term "piezoresistive" is derived from the Greek word "piezo," meaning "to press," and "resistive," which refers to the electrical resistance of a material.
These sensors typically consist of piezoresistive material, such as a semiconductor (like silicon) or a metal (like a thin-film resistor), which exhibits a change in resistance when subjected to mechanical stress. The piezoresistive effect is caused by the redistribution of charge carriers within the material under stress, which changes its electrical resistance.
Piezoresistive sensors are widely used in various applications, including pressure, accelerometers, force, and strain gauges. They are commonly found in automotive, aerospace, industrial, and consumer electronics industries for tasks such as monitoring tire pressure, measuring fluid levels, detecting vibrations, or sensing the force applied to a touch screen.
The main advantages of piezoresistive sensors include their relatively simple design, low cost, high sensitivity, and easy integration with electronic systems. However, they may also exhibit temperature sensitivity, affecting their accuracy and requiring temperature compensation to maintain consistent performance.
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What is a Piezoresistive Sensor?
Piezoresistive sensors convert a change in mechanical pressure, acceleration, temperature, strain, or force into an electrical charge. These devices are used in a variety of industries.
They allow maintenance teams to track the health of production-critical assets and analyze vibration measurements in real time. This enables them to reduce manual readings and improve safety.
How it Works
Piezoresistive sensors measure pressure, acceleration, strain or force by converting these forms of energy to an electrical charge. This is a form of transducer which can be applied to many different industrial processes, as well as in domestic appliances such as vacuum cleaners and dishwashers.
The piezoelectric effect is a phenomenon in which certain materials change their shape and/or their electrical resistance when subjected to mechanical stress. These changes are often used to detect and measure pressure events, such as blasts, explosions, pulsations in engine or compressor systems or other sources of shock or vibration.
These sensors use piezoelectric crystals, which are usually made from silicon or a related material. When pressure is applied to these components, they become elastically deformed, generating an electric charge across the surface of the crystal.
A piezoresistive sensor measures this charge by using a special circuit called a charge amplifier to convert it to an electrical signal. This amplifier may be an integrated circuit in the sensor itself, or it might be located outside of the sensor at a remote location.
This is an advantage because the amplifier does not need to be physically attached to the sensor, which makes it more convenient to use and eliminates the risk of operator error. This circuit can also be programmed to filter the output, adjust for temperature and compensate for a changing sensitivity of the component.
However, this means that the operating range of a sensor can be limited by its amplifier. This is why specialized sensors are often designed to operate in even higher temperature ranges, such as -65 deg F to 325 deg F (-54 deg C to 163 deg C).
Another important aspect of a piezoelectric sensor is its distortion amount. This is a characteristic that indicates how much the crystal deforms in response to an electrical field, which is influenced by the strength of the field and the type of crystal used. When the electric field is strong, the distortion amount will increase, while when it is weaker, it will decrease.
This can be particularly important in the case of axle detection sensors, where it is crucial that the distortion amount is high enough to identify and count axles on the road. The maximum rated distortion amount can be around 39V, while it is not uncommon for the minimum rated distortion to be over 13V.
Materials
Piezoresistive materials (like semiconductor silicon) change their electrical resistance when they are subjected to strains such as bending or compression. This is due to two factors: geometry change and conductivity change.
The resulting resistance changes are proportional to the applied strain and therefore can be used to measure pressure or force. This effect is more pronounced for semiconductors than for metals.
There are many different types of piezoelectric materials that can be used to make a sensor, but the most common are lead zirconate titanate (PZT), quartz, and lithium niobate. They are known for their sensitivity, and can be used in a variety of different applications.
Another type of piezoelectric material is polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF), which is a pyroelectric that produces an electrical charge in response to temperature changes. This makes it useful for sensors that detect motion in the human body and other devices.
These types of materials can be used in a wide range of different devices and are often very durable. They also have a very high natural frequency and excellent linearity over a wide amplitude range.
One way that a piezoresistive sensor is made is to glue two or more insulative silicon layers directly to a strain-receiving member such as a metal sheet, bellows or diaphragm. A layer of doped silicon is then placed over the insulative layers.
This layer is then activated in selected locations using a laser of a suitable wavelength. The resulting doping atoms are then able to become conductors. Then the conductive silicon is deposited on top of the doped silicon to form the piezoresistive sensors.
Other ways that a piezoresistive sensor can be made are to apply doped silicon to an insulating substrate and then bond it to the strain-receiving member. This method is relatively simple but has some limitations.
A more advanced method of making a piezoresistive sensor is to create a thin film that has been doped with doping atoms. This film is then deposited on an insulated flexible substrate and then activated with a laser.
This process can be done over a large area of the flexible substrate, and the non-annealed portions of the doped film act as insulators between the formed piezoresistive sensors. Then, a metal contact is deposited on top of the doped film at select locations to connect the piezoresistive sensors together.
Sensitivities
A piezoresistive sensor, sometimes known as a transducer, uses the piezoelectric effect to measure pressure and other changes in physical properties. It is based on the fact that certain materials, including quartz crystals and specially formulated ceramics, undergo changes in latent resistivity when exposed to mechanical stress that can be measured and converted to an electrical signal.
The sensitivity of a piezoresistive sensor depends on the material used and can be adjusted to suit various applications. This makes them ideal for use in harsh environments, as well as medical conditions such as blood pressure measurement.
Piezoelectric sensors can be fabricated from a variety of materials, including silicon and ceramics. These types of sensors have a high degree of sensitivity and are very rugged. They are also low-power devices that are easy to integrate into existing systems.
These sensors are typically based on a Wheatstone bridge, which is a device that detects small differences in resistance by running a current through the sensor. Whenever there is a change in the pressure on the sensor, less current flows through the Wheatstone bridge, which then reports the pressure reading.
This is because the ionized ions that are present in the silicon and ceramics interact with the carbonyl groups in the sensor to create a change in resistance. The changing resistance can be easily detected and measured, as well as displayed in a number of different ways.
Because piezoelectric sensors are so sensitive, they can be used to measure vibrations and acoustics. This allows engineers to keep track of the health of equipment and prevent unplanned downtime or machine failure. This is essential for safety, because it can reduce the need for manual readings and make technicians more efficient and productive.
In addition, piezoelectric sensors can be designed to measure temperature. Some sensors are able to operate at temperatures up to 1,000oC, so they can be useful for applications that need to operate in extreme conditions.
Another way to increase sensitivity is to design a sensor with an air gap between the piezoelectric element and the surrounding material. This allows for a physical separation between the piezoelectric element and the air, which dramatically amplifies electrical signals from vibrations. This type of sensor is often used in industrial and agricultural applications that need a more sensitive measurement of air pressure or vibrations.
Applications
A piezoresistive sensor can be used to measure pressure, acceleration, temperature, and strain or force. It generates an output signal directly from the applied strain or force, converting it into an electrical charge. Piezoresistive sensors are widely used in industrial, automotive and medical applications.
One of the most common piezoresistive sensors is the silicon piezoresistive pressure sensor, which is used to measure absolute pressure or reference pressure. It consists of a diaphragm made of silicon onto which four pairs of resistors are bonded. The resistors are diffused into the silicon during the manufacturing process and then bonded to the diaphragm. The sensor is then inserted into a cavity in a pressure source such as a manifold or an ignition module.
Another form of piezoresistive sensor is a semiconductor piezoresistive sensor, which is formed by a process that uses selective laser activation of a doped semiconductor surface. A layer of insulative dielectric material is then applied to the substrate, and highly resistive doped semiconductor material is then deposited on top of the dielectric. Metal contacts are then applied over the end portions of the semiconductor material to form an electrical connection.
These piezoresistive sensors are often fabricated using a variety of different materials, including silicon and other ceramics. They can withstand high temperatures and have very good sensitivity. They are also durable and have a long service life.
The sensitivity of a piezoelectric sensor depends on the strength of the applied pressure, the material properties and the orientation of the sensing elements. This is a factor that will affect the type and price of the sensor.
Some of the most commonly used piezoelectric materials are galliumphosphate and tourmaline. These materials have a high modulus of elasticity that goes up to 105 N/mm2. They are extremely durable and have a very high natural frequency.
They can withstand temperatures up to 1000 degC and are resistant to electromagnetic fields and radiation. These characteristics make them suitable for use in a wide range of applications, from detecting chemical or gaseous changes to measuring vibrations and acceleration.
Several other piezoelectric sensors are being developed for applications that involve dynamically changing pressure and frequency. These sensors are sensitive to small changes in pressure over a wide range of frequencies and can be used in very harsh environments, such as in the aerospace industry.
Vidoe: Learn more about Piezoelectric Sensors
Piezoelectric pressure sensors are devices that convert mechanical pressure into electrical signals by utilizing the piezoelectric effect. Certain materials, when subjected to mechanical stress, generate an electric charge proportional to the applied pressure. These sensors find applications in various fields, including automotive, industrial, medical, and consumer electronics. The characterization of piezoelectric pressure sensors involves understanding their operating principles, material properties, and performance parameters.
Operating Principle: Piezoelectric pressure sensors exploit the piezoelectric effect, which occurs in certain crystalline materials, ceramics, and polymers. When these materials experience mechanical stress, they produce an electrical charge proportional to the stress. The generated electric charge is then measured and processed to determine the applied pressure.
Material Properties: Piezoelectric materials are essential to these sensors. Common materials include quartz, lead zirconate titanate (PZT), and polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF). Each material exhibits different piezoelectric properties, such as charge sensitivity, temperature stability, and mechanical strength, which can influence the sensor's performance and suitability for specific applications.
Performance Parameters: Key performance parameters characterize piezoelectric pressure sensors:
a. Sensitivity: The ratio of the output electric charge or voltage to the applied pressure, typically expressed in pC/N or mV/N. Higher sensitivity allows for more accurate pressure measurements.
b. Frequency Response: The range of frequencies the sensor can accurately measure. Piezoelectric sensors typically have a wide frequency response, enabling them to measure dynamic pressure changes effectively.
c. Linearity: The degree to which the output signal is proportional to the applied pressure over the sensor's operating range. Good linearity ensures accurate measurements across the full pressure range.
d. Hysteresis: The difference in output signal for a given pressure during increasing and decreasing pressure cycles. Low hysteresis ensures consistent readings and reduces measurement errors.
e. Temperature Stability: The ability of the sensor to maintain consistent performance over a range of operating temperatures. Temperature stability is important for applications with varying environmental conditions.
f. Long-term Stability: The ability of the sensor to maintain its performance characteristics over time. Good long-term stability is essential for reliable and accurate measurements.
In summary, the characterization of piezoelectric pressure sensors involves understanding their operating principles, the properties of the piezoelectric materials used, and the key performance parameters. These factors are essential in determining the suitability of a piezoelectric pressure sensor for a specific application and ensuring accurate and reliable measurements.