A wireless communication device includes a pressure sensor to generate a first signal in response to a pressure variation. A variable offset capacitor is coupled in parallel with the pressure sensor. A first analog-to-digital converter (ADC) is coupled to the variable offset capacitor and to convert the first signal to a digital signal. The pressure sensor is a capacitive pressure sensor. The variable offset capacitor is a digitally controlled variable capacitor and the ADC is a low-resolution and low-power ADC.

A water detecting pressure-sensing device includes a metal housing including a cavity. A pressure sensor is disposed on a die and configured to generate a signal in response to a pressure variation. A protection medium at least partially fills the cavity and covers the die. One or more electrodes are disposed on the die and are used to detect a presence of a water droplet on the protection medium.

A water detecting pressure-sensing device includes a metal housing including a cavity. A pressure sensor is disposed on a die and configured to generate a signal in response to a pressure variation. A protection medium at least partially fills the cavity and covers the die. One or more electrodes are disposed on the die and are used to detect a presence of a water droplet on the protection medium.

A semiconductor device for ambient sensing including: a cap traversed by a hole; and a main body mechanically coupled to the cap so as to delimit a cavity, which is interposed between the main body and the cap. The main body includes a semiconductor body and a coupling structure, which is interposed between the semiconductor body and the cap and laterally delimits a channel, which fluidically couples the cavity and the hole. The channel performs a mechanical filtering that is finer than the mechanical filtering performed by the hole.

A semiconductor device for ambient sensing including: a cap traversed by a hole; and a main body mechanically coupled to the cap so as to delimit a cavity, which is interposed between the main body and the cap. The main body includes a semiconductor body and a coupling structure, which is interposed between the semiconductor body and the cap and laterally delimits a channel, which fluidically couples the cavity and the hole. The channel performs a mechanical filtering that is finer than the mechanical filtering performed by the hole.

According to the invention, a diagnostic system is provided for diagnosing a misfire condition is provided of individual engine cylinders in a turbocharged diesel engine having at least a first and a second cylinder associated with a common exhaust path. The system comprises a pressure sensor in an exhaust path, for measuring a pressure value; a crankshaft position sensor, for detecting a rotational crankshaft position; and a processor unit for reading the pressure sensor and the crankshaft position sensor. The processor unit is arranged for performing acts of: sampling pressure values of the pressure sensor in the common exhaust path as a function of crankshaft angle position; attributing for each cylinder fired in succession at least two sampling values (P.sub.α, P.sub.β) for at least two successive crankshaft angle positions of a pressure pulse during a cylinder firing operation; determining a boundary for a coordinate (P.sub.α, P.sub.β) formed by a tuple of sampling values (P.sub.α, P.sub.β); diagnosing a misfire condition if the coordinate formed by said tuple of sampling values is outside the boundary.

According to the invention, a diagnostic system is provided for diagnosing a misfire condition is provided of individual engine cylinders in a turbocharged diesel engine having at least a first and a second cylinder associated with a common exhaust path. The system comprises a pressure sensor in an exhaust path, for measuring a pressure value; a crankshaft position sensor, for detecting a rotational crankshaft position; and a processor unit for reading the pressure sensor and the crankshaft position sensor. The processor unit is arranged for performing acts of: sampling pressure values of the pressure sensor in the common exhaust path as a function of crankshaft angle position; attributing for each cylinder fired in succession at least two sampling values (P.sub.α, P.sub.β) for at least two successive crankshaft angle positions of a pressure pulse during a cylinder firing operation; determining a boundary for a coordinate (P.sub.α, P.sub.β) formed by a tuple of sampling values (P.sub.α, P.sub.β); diagnosing a misfire condition if the coordinate formed by said tuple of sampling values is outside the boundary.

A strain sensor for capacitive strain measurement has a flat and electrically conductive first conductor element and a flat and electrically conductive second conductor element. The two conductor elements oppose one another and are laterally displaceable relative to one another, so that the two conductor elements, proceeding from a first condition, may be displaced relative to one another into a second condition. An overlap between the two conductor elements is different in the first condition from the second condition. First and second springs attach the conductor elements to first and second attaching regions of the strain sensor. The first attaching region is disposed at a first reference point of a body to be measured, and/or the second attaching region is disposed at a second reference point of the body to be measured.

A strain sensor for capacitive strain measurement has a flat and electrically conductive first conductor element and a flat and electrically conductive second conductor element. The two conductor elements oppose one another and are laterally displaceable relative to one another, so that the two conductor elements, proceeding from a first condition, may be displaced relative to one another into a second condition. An overlap between the two conductor elements is different in the first condition from the second condition. First and second springs attach the conductor elements to first and second attaching regions of the strain sensor. The first attaching region is disposed at a first reference point of a body to be measured, and/or the second attaching region is disposed at a second reference point of the body to be measured.

A diaphragm vacuum gauge includes: a sensor chip that includes a first electrode provided on a base and a second electrode provided on a diaphragm so as to face the first electrode, the diaphragm and the base being disposed with a gap therebetween, and in which a distance between the first electrode and the second electrode changes in accordance with displacement of the diaphragm caused by pressure of a measurement target medium; an operational amplifier that converts a current output from the first electrode to a voltage and amplifies the voltage; and a coaxial cable that connects the first electrode and the operational amplifier with each other. The first electrode is connected to a virtual ground of the operational amplifier by a core wire of the coaxial cable.