All Sensors Pressure Points are application tips to simplify designing with microelectromechanical (MEMS) pressure sensors and avoiding common pitfalls.

In most applications, accuracy is one of the more critical specifications that a product needs to meet. However, accuracy is also one of the more, if not the most, confusing parameter for any product including MEMS pressure sensors. This application tip provides system designers with insight to deal with the numerous sources of confusion.

Accuracy versus Precision

Accuracy and precision are frequently used interchangeably, especially in promotional literature for sensor products. Two figures identify the obvious differences between the two specifications. Figure 1 shows the statistical distribution for precision versus the proximity to an actual, target or reference value for accuracy. A more precise sensor has a narrower distribution and a more accurate sensor is closer to the actual value. Alternatively, Figure 2 shows how precision and accuracy can increase or decrease independently.

Keep Reading