Pressure sensor including a resistor commutator for providing unambiguous atmospheric pressure data

摘要

A pressure transducer such as for use in a radiosonde includes a substrate and a plurality of conductive contacts formed thereon. An arm is movable over the contacts in accordance with the sensed ambient pressure. A group of resistors of different values of resistance are operatively connected to the contacts whereby each contact is characterized by a unique value of resistance. The resistance may be connected as the frequency-determining element of an oscillator, such that each unique value of resistance may be converted to a unique corresponding frequency and upon decoding determine which unique contact is operatively connected.