Digital output signal

There are many types of digital signal such as RS485, RS232, Modbus RTU, USB, SDI-12, I²C & IO-Link, but they all fundamentally transfer pressure readings without any loss of accuracy, and are the preferred type of pressure sensor for measuring pressures in calibration & test laboratories.

Digital output signals do not suffer from signal losses or interference like analogue ones do, either the complete signal gets through as originally transmitted from the pressure sensor or none at all.

In order to achieve a high resolution on the output signal a relatively powerful analogue to digital converter is needed of at least 16 bit resolution to achieve precision levels better than 0.01% full scale.

Another benefit of digital output signals is that the microprocessor inside the digital pressure sensor can also be used to digitally characterise the pressure sensor over many pressure and temperature points virtually eliminating all linearity errors.

A digital output has the potential to provide the most accurate signal for a particular type of pressure sensor but it has to be used in conjunction with stable sensing technology which has naturally low hysteresis and repeatability characteristics for it to be truly accurate over its operational life.