Piezoelectric Effect

Appearance of an electric potential across certain

faces of a crystal when it is subjected to
mechanical pressure
The word originates from the greek word piezein,
which means to press
Discovered in 1880 by Pierre Curie in quartz
crystals.
Conversely, when an electric field is applied to
one of the faces of the crystal it undergoes
mechanical distortion.
Examples --- Quartz, Barium titanate, tourmaline

Internal working

The effect is explained by the displacement of ions

in crystals that have a nonsymmetrical unit cell
When the crystal is compressed, the ions in each
unit cell are displaced, causing the electric
polarization of the unit cell.
Because of the regularity of crystalline structure,
these effects accumulate, causing the appearance
of an electric potential difference between certain
faces of the crystal.
When an external electric field is applied to the
crystal, the ions in each unit cell are displaced by
electrostatic forces, resulting in the mechanical
deformation of the whole crystal.

Piezoelectricity

displacement of
electrical charge due to
the deflection of the
lattice in a naturally
piezoelectric quartz
crystal
The larger circles
represent silicon atoms,
while the smaller ones
represent oxygen.
Quartz crystals is one
of the most stable
piezoelectric materials.

Artificial materials

polycrystalline, piezoceramics are man

made materials which are forced to
become piezoelectric by applying large
electric field.
high charge sensitivity
materials available which operate at
1000 F (540 C)
characteristics vary with temperature

Configurations

Red indicates the

crystal
Arrows indicate the
direction of applied
force
the compression
design features high
rigidity, making it
useful for
implementation in high
frequency pressure and
force sensors

Grey- test structure.

Red- piezoelectric
crystals
Blue- Sensor housing
The black electrode is
where the charge from
the crystals accumulates
before it is conditioned
by the yellow, microcircuit.
pressure sensors utilize
a diaphragm to collect
pressure, which is
simply force applied
over an area.

Signal Conditioning

Signals from the

sensors can be
processed by the
micro-electric circuit
either internally or
externally.

Conditioning involves
the conversion of the
signal to a low
impedance voltage,
amplification and
filtering.

Pressure Sensor

A typical Quartz crystal sensor

with inbuilt micro-electric
circuitry and a diaphragm.
These sensors measure
dynamic pressures, and are not
generally used for static
pressure sensing.
Proper and accurate alignment
of the sensor is very important
for higher sensitivity.
Sensors used in high
temperature conditions(e.g.
combustion chamber of an
engine) use either recess
mounting, baffled diaphragm or
thermal protection coatings to
reduce negative signal effects.

Pros and Cons

Have a high Stiffness

value and produce a
high output with very
little strain.
Ideal for rugged use.
Excellent linearity
over a wide
amplitude.
Ideal for continuous
online condition
monitoring smart
systems.

Can be used only for

dynamic pressure
sensing as in case of
static sensing the
signals will decay away.
Operation over long
cables may affect
frequency response
and introduce noise
and distortion, the
cables need to be
protected.

Typical ApplicationCombustion Monitoring

Pressures developed during

the combustion process is
continuously measured by
sensors mounted on the
cylinder heads.
Continuous Pressure
monitor(CPM) systems are
the basic data acquisition
and data reduction
software and hardware
units.

CPM--Features

Continuous updating of Peak Pressure,

Location of Peak, and Standard deviation of
Peak Pressure
Continuous calculations of combustion
quality and engine balance.
Serial communications with
SCADA(Supervisory Control and Data
Acquisition systems.
Running trends of displayed values.

CAPA System

Uses a PMI Pressure analyzer(Piezoelectric) to display

real time parameters of the engine using P-V displays.
The pressure is calculated from the sensor outputs
and the volume is obtained from an advanced crank
angle encoder which gives the crank positions from
which the displaced volume is calculated.
Expert systems send signals to actuate other
controllers (electronic governors, fuel p/ps,exhaust
v/v actuators, lubricators etc) for optimal performance
on a real time basis.
Each controller unit has the processing power to
process the signals and accordingly produce output
for the individual actuator to change various
parameter settings continuously.

P-V Diagram

An example of a PV diagram display

on a Windows OS.
Corresponding
TDC diagrams can
also be obtained
to observe ignition
characteristics.

Peak pressure indicator

display at
TDC,provides ignition
characteristics.
Display for a 4 unit
engine. The signal
outputs from these
sensors are
transmitted to other
controllers to actuate
and adjust critical
parameter settings in
order to achieve
efficient combustion.

WINS PDD

WINS PDD (Wireless Integrated Network Systems

Prognostic Data Delivery System) is an end-to-end
network solution enabling continuous vehicle
diagnostic monitoring based on Sensoria
Corporation's WINS technology.
The WINS PDD solution provides an
unprecedented level of access to vehicles for
analysis of vehicle performance, reliability, and
maintenance status.

Sensoria WINS Network

Consists of Network
Routers, Internet
Access points and E
comm products
Wireless Integrated
Network Systems(WINS)
enables networks to
provide connectivity to
and within the
automobile, the home,
and monitor equipment
and processes.

Network Routers are real-time processors embedded in

vehicles and assets that create a secure network
bridge between multiple embedded networks and Wide
Area Networks, including the Internet.
Internet Access Points are real-time data routers and
communication servers that interface embedded
Network Routers to the Internet or an Enterprise
Network via a Sensoria 2.4GHz local area RF Modem.
The e-Service Products include the WINS Server, based
on Windows NT, WINS Database, based on Microsoft
SQL Server. The WINS Server is responsible for
managing the entire network and providing Internet
access to the WINS Database

IDB-C is the first of a family of in-vehicle networks, and is

expected to be deployed in some model year 2002 vehicles.
IDB-C compliant devices will soon enter the market.
The IDB-C Reference Platform provides the hardware
interface between the various media being integrated.
The Sensoria IDB-C Reference Platform is the AMI-C
(Automobile Multimedia Interface collaboration) reference
platform used to develop the IDB-C reference drivers
available as part of the AMI-C specification.

Hardware Features

Infineon C164CI 16 bit Processor

20 MHz clock rate
256kB SRAM
256kB Flash ROM
CAN 2.0B controller
250 kbps raw data rate
RS-232 Interface
115.2 kbps UART
DB-9 serial interface
3 channel LISA interface
Left, Right, and microphone channels
Optional pre-amp for microphone