Pressure sensor for space rocket

Since the specifications required for different products vary depending on the application and operating environment, the materials and shapes need to be adjusted accordingly. They are broadly divided into metal foil strain gauges and semiconductor strain gauges, and MinebeaMitsumi customizes an appropriate substance for optimal application among numerous materials. Development originally began for use in detecting stress applied to aircraft, and the technology has been adopted in the automobile strength analysis and the like as well. The technology is currently applied to large-scale measurements from the load capacity of heavy-duty trucks and the weight of wine casks to the load cell for precision scales used in shops and beverage bottling. Applications also include weight scales for microwaves, pointing devices for PC keyboards, force sensors for medical equipment measuring intravenous tube pressure infusion, and the soil pressure system for tunnel shield excavation. MinebeaMitsumi is active in a wide variety of applications, from torque sensors for detecting the torque of a motor vehicle engine to a pressure sensor to measure pneumatic and hydraulic pressure. In recent years in the North American market, a sensor for measuring the weight of the occupant has been mounted in the passenger seats of automobiles in order to control the deployment of airbags during a collision.

Notebook PC pointing device and strain gauge

Strain gauge incorporated in the medical infusion pump

The Road to the development of pressure sensors for space rockets

MinebeaMitsumi has transferred Shinko's technologies to its sensing device business unit, and since 1974 produced strain gauges and a variety of sensors applying that technology. After twenty years, in 1996, MinebeaMitsumi started developing the first product for use in space upon the request from Mitsubishi Heavy Industries to develop pressure sensors for the H-II A rocket, which used a MinebeaMitsumi pressure gauge in engine test equipment for the previous space rocket. The development of parts used in space, which can withstand the harsh environment, stands in some sense the pinnacle of manufacturing. This called for a production system satisfying the need to develop products that are highly waterproof, anticorrosive, and further, capable of achieving a stable supply of parts. MinebeaMitsumi's challenge toward both high reliability and stable supply has begun.

Thorough quality inspection and production control

Since sensors mounted on space rockets are placed under harsh environments, they are subject to rigorous environmental testing through vibration tests. Since even slight impurities in the liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen that make up rocket engine fuels could result in a fatal chemical reaction, thorough cleaning is performed. While specialized inspection equipment for use in space is prepared, a final in-house quality control is implemented. In order to maintain a cost benefit in the process of production, we do not prepare the production line for use in space separately, and use the same mass production line as the one for consumer products. Firm management of the people, facility, and production in manufacturing enables production of value-added expensive products on a production line for consumer products, and the expertise and production members' skills cultivated in this experience are applied to produce other measurement sensors.