Redundant measurement of pseudo differential pressure using absolute pressure sensors

A system for providing redundant measurements of pseudo differential pressure, the system comprising:

• first and second absolute-pressure sensors configured to measure a pressure of first and second environments, respectively, each of the first and second absolute-pressure sensors comprising:
• an elastically deformable membrane configured to deform in response to exposure to an environment having a pressure;
• a first piezoresistor located on a first surface region of the elastically deformable membrane, the first surface region becoming increasingly convex in response to increasing pressure;
• a second piezoresistor located on a second surface region of the elastically deformable membrane, the second surface region becoming increasingly concave in response to increasing pressure;
• a third piezoresistor located on a third surface region of the elastically deformable membrane, the first surface region becoming increasingly convex in response to increasing pressure;
• and
• a fourth piezoresistor located on a fourth surface region of the elastically deformable membrane, the second surface region becoming increasingly concave in response to increasing pressure,
• wherein the first piezoresistors of both the first and second absolute-pressure sensors are electrically configured in a first Wheatstone bridge operatively generating a first measurement signal indicative of a pressure difference between the first and second environments,
• wherein the second piezoresistors of both the first and second absolute-pressure sensors are electrically configured in a second Wheatstone bridge operatively generating a second measurement signal indicative of the pressure difference between the first and second environments.

A method for providing redundant measurements of pseudo differential pressure, the method comprising:

• exposing a first absolute pressure sensor to the first environment having a first pressure;
• exposing a second absolute pressure sensor to the second environment having a second pressure;
• generating complementary first and second output signals, each indicative of the first pressure of the first environment;
• generating complementary third and fourth output signals, each indicative of the second pressure of the second environment;
• calculating a first difference signal between the first and third output signals;
• calculating a second difference signal between the second and fourth output signals;
• selecting a measurement signal from among the first and second difference signals for use as a signal indicative of a pressure difference between the first and second environments;
• and
• outputting the selected measurement signal.