Pressure sensor performance and reliability

Pressure sensor devices are used to monitor the performance characteristics of various systems within the appliance industry. The household washing machine has long employed sensor devices to monitor and control the tub water level during fill cycles. These devices have evolved from early watertight or float switches to rubber diaphragm mechanical-type devices. The development of epoxy packaging capability for silicon sensors, improved die bonding material, and reliability testing results indicate that the silicon piezo-resistive transducer (PRT) promises to be the next plateau. Silicon PRT electronic devices offer a significant size and weight reduction over these mechanical devices. The authors discuss the reliability testing considerations for the sensors and reliability testing for the appliance industry.