Multi-Range^™ Technology

What is Multi-Range Technology?

A conventional differential pressure sensor is factory-calibrated to a single pressure range using a fixed compensation model for that span. The calibration coefficients for offset, span, linearity, and thermal effects are optimized for a single pressure window. If the application requires a different range, those coefficients are no longer valid, and to maintain accuracy, a different sensor must be sourced, qualified, and designed in. For product lines spanning multiple pressure ranges, this results in a separate sensor SKU for each variant, with separate procurement, qualification testing, incoming inspection, and firmware driver configurations.

Multi-Range Technology addresses this at the calibration architecture level. Rather than a single set of compensation coefficients, the sensor stores up to eight independent, factory-generated calibration sets, one for each supported pressure range. Each set is generated and verified independently during production, and total error band, accuracy, and stability are maintained to the same specification regardless of the active range. When a range change is issued, the sensor loads the corresponding calibration set and applies it to subsequent measurements. No re-initialization, warm-up period, or recalibration step is required.

Range selection is performed with a single register write over I2C or SPI. The command requires no handshaking, no reset sequence, and no reconfiguration of other sensor parameters. The transition completes within one measurement cycle, making in-application range switching practical for systems that need to step across ranges during operation. An HVAC commissioning tool can step through duct sections with different pressure spans. A spirometer can adapt between adult and pediatric measurement windows without user intervention. A handheld leak test instrument can switch between test standards that require different full-scale ranges, all from a single device.

A single part number can cover the full pressure range of a product line. For a product family that requires four pressure range variants, what once required sourcing, qualifying, incoming-inspection testing, and obsolescence management for four sensor SKUs is reduced to a single component. Manufacturing simplifies to match: one calibration verification step covers all supported ranges, and product variants are differentiated in firmware rather than hardware, eliminating the need for separate PCB builds or production line configurations.

Multi-Range Technology also changes the economics of the development cycle. If the target pressure range shifts late in the design process, as often happens when system characterization reveals that the actual pressure environment differs from the initial specification, the sensor does not need to be replaced. A firmware register update immediately activates the factory-calibrated performance for the new range, with no hardware revision required. After deployment, the same register interface allows the operating range to be updated in the field without a service visit, making it practical to reconfigure installed units as system requirements evolve or to support multiple measurement functions with a single installed device.

Availability

Multi-Range Technology is included as a standard capability in all NimbleSense differential pressure sensors.

Multi-Range Technology FAQ

Does switching between pressure ranges affect calibration accuracy or total error band?

No. Each of the up to eight supported ranges stores an independent, factory-generated calibration set covering offset, span, linearity, and thermal compensation. Total error band, accuracy, and stability are maintained to the same specification regardless of the active range. There is no accuracy penalty for operating a Multi-Range device at any of its supported ranges compared with a conventional sensor calibrated for that range.

What is the interface for selecting a pressure range, and what is the switching latency?

Range selection is performed with a single register write over I²C or SPI. No reset sequence, handshaking, or reconfiguration of other sensor parameters is required. The new calibration set is loaded, and the sensor begins outputting data for the new range within one measurement cycle. The absolute duration of that cycle depends on the output data rate configured for the application.

Is there any interruption to measurement output during a range switch?

The transition completes within one measurement cycle. Output data from the previous range remains valid up to the switch command, and data at the new range specification is available one cycle after the command is issued. Applications that require continuous measurement should issue the range change command at a point in their measurement sequence where a single-cycle transition is acceptable.

How are the independent calibration sets stored, and does this affect sensor size or power consumption?

The calibration sets are stored within the sensor. This is handled entirely by the NimbleSense architecture and requires no external memory components, no additional PCB area beyond the standard sensor footprint, and no increase in power consumption compared with a conventional single-range sensor.

Does designing with Multi-Range Technology require a different PCB layout or firmware architecture?

No. All Multi-Range products share the same footprint and a common pin-out across the family. The only firmware addition is the register write for range selection; all other interface logic remains identical. A single hardware design supports the full product family across pressure ranges, with variants differentiated in firmware rather than in hardware, eliminating separate PCB builds or production-line configurations for each variant.

Can the pressure range be updated after a product is deployed in the field?

Yes. The range register is accessible through the same I²C or SPI interface used during normal operation. In the field, the pressure range is typically changed through the end product’s user interface, which can be implemented in software or through a mechanical switch. A field update requires no hardware modification, no service visit, and no recalibration; factory-calibrated performance for the new range is available immediately after the register write. This makes it practical to reconfigure installed units as system requirements evolve or to support multiple measurement functions from a single deployed device.