DPS measures the pressure difference between the upstream and downstream sides of exhaust particle-filter systems that capture harmful particulate emissions from diesel passenger and light-commercial vehicles. When the pressure difference between the two sides of the exhaust filter reaches a certain threshold, DPS pressure readings trigger filter regeneration: an increase in exhaust temperature that destroys captured particles and prevents filter clogging.
"Several variables make Sensata's DPS unique," declares Arnout van den Bos, Sensata's micro-electrical-mechanical systems (MEMS) engineering manager in Europe. "Competitors' products, for example, use two sense elements to determine pressure difference. Sensata measures differential pressure using only one sense element, which enables very high accuracy." Tiek adds that based on customer feedback, Sensata's sensor beats competitors' on robustness as well as accuracy. Ginamaria Espinoza-Garcia, the company's MEMS design engineering manager in the United States, says several elements of the product's design make it particularly robust and accurate.
"Sensata's sensor performs with greater than 97% accuracy at lower temperatures to greater than 99% accuracy at higher temperatures for superior emissions control even at pressures below 1Bar." She says DPS operates at temperatures ranging from -40 degrees C to 140 degrees C [-40 degrees F to 284 degrees F]. In addition, DPS's signal enables a vehicle's electronic control unit to verify that the particle filter is operating correctly, which is legally required. This and the Sensata product's other capabilities enable automakers to comply with the world's toughest emissions standards.
