Kulite Semiconductor Products

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Kulite Semiconductor Products Inc. is a global leader in the engineering of transducers, including pressure transducer sensors, with over 400 patents across varying technologies. They have developed high-performance, state-of-the-art custom and stock products for extreme and harsh environment applications. Globally recognized as the leader in transducer technology, Kulite Semiconductor Products, Inc. stays ahead through innovative research, creative designs, and forward-thinking minds.

Kulite Semiconductor Products Inc. has a long-standing history of providing specialized transducer products to the federal government through both prime and subcontract awards. As a prime contractor, Kulite has supplied pressure sensors, transmitters, switches, resistors, and various electronic components to agencies such as the Department of Defense, NASA, the Army Corps of Engineers, and others supporting aviation, aerospace, shipbuilding, weapons systems, and research programs. Their contributions have included equipment for the Air Force’s Minuteman III, the Navy’s hovering system technology, NASA’s wind tunnel and ballistics range instrumentation, and DLA Aviation’s military aircraft parts. Kulite frequently secures awards through indefinite delivery vehicles, including total small business set-asides. Additionally, the company has been a significant subcontractor, providing transducers integrated into platforms for major defense contractors like Lockheed Martin, Boeing, Bell, General Electric, Northrop Grumman, BAE Systems, and Huntington Ingalls Industries.

With over 400 patents, Kulite has developed high-performance, state-of-the-art custom and stock products, including transducers for extreme and harsh environments across numerous fields and industries worldwide. Kulite’s continuous investment in research and development has led to pioneering new sensing technologies and enhancing existing products in aerospace, automotive, military, marine, and process control.

Today, high-accuracy pressure transducers are made using a variety of materials, including stainless steel, copper, ceramic, titanium, carbon, and more. Wetted materials, parts of the transducer that come into contact with pressurized media, can include metals like stainless steel, bronze, plastics, glass, and silicon. Pressure transducers vary widely in size and material construction, with average sensors measuring about one cubic inch, though they can be as small as less than 1/100th of a cubic inch.

As the premier supplier, designer, and manufacturer for both commercial and military aircraft applications, Kulite revolutionized the pressure transducer for the aerospace industry. Their time-tested technology also applies to other transportation forms. Collaborating with automotive engineers, Kulite designs transducers for testing and measuring pressure in competitive racing circuits like Formula One and IndyCar.

Kulite transducers are unique for their size options, high accuracy, and long-term reliability. Their engineering team has experience across industries including military, aerospace, medical, industrial, commercial, semiconductor, and oil/gas. Kulite’s US-based engineering and manufacturing team ensures a streamlined approach from prototypes to production with the highest quality. Kulite manufactures a variety of pressure transducers: heavy-duty, explosion-proof, non-incendive, intrinsically safe, hall effect, high-accuracy with serial interface, high-volume OEM, thick film sensor, and miniature pressure transducers.

Kulite’s relationships with global universities and research centers, along with their numerous patents and continuous technological breakthroughs, solidify their position at the forefront of the transducer industry.

ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY FOR ADVANCED PERFORMANCE

A brilliantly progressive engineering and scientific staff has propelled Kulite to its position as the global leader in the pressure transducer industry.

At the heart of the Kulite pressure transducer is the piezoresistive silicon sensor, evolving from a simple strain gage sensor to the advanced silicon-on-insulator (SOI) sensor used today. Kulite developed the revolutionary Leadless Sensor, a SOI sensor without gold leads, enabling use in high vibration, high acceleration, and high-temperature environments.

Kulite continues to develop novel sensor materials for the next generation of pressure sensors while advancing SOI pressure sensor technology for even higher performance. Their investment in R&D has led to innovations like the world’s smallest pressure transducers, pressure scanners, digital output transducers, high accuracy signal conditioners, high-temperature flat packs for flight testing, and high-temp electronics. Kulite is committed to developing the world’s best transducers and helping customers achieve the best possible measurements.

Kulite designs and manufactures all products at its global headquarters in Leonia, New Jersey, keeping pace with industry advancements with over 400 patents.

KULITE CAPABILITIES

Pressure Sensors:

• High Proof Pressure: Handles 5 to 200 times overload pressure without affecting performance, including overload pressures in both directions for differential pressure sensors.
• Pressure Ranges: From 1 PSI Full Scale to 60,000 PSI Full Scale (Absolute, Gage, Sealed Gage, Differential).
• Temperature Extremes: Operates continuously at very high (932ºF/500ºC) and very low cryogenic temperatures (-320ºF/-196ºC).
• Simultaneous Static and Dynamic Pressure Measurements: Measures steady-state and dynamic pressure with the same sensor.
• Bridge Resistance: Typically 1,000 ohms, with custom options from 350 to 15,000 ohms.
• High Vibration: 100g Peak, Sine 10 to 5,000 Hz.
• Shunt Calibration: Available upon request.

Completed Pressure Transducers:

• Transducer Outputs: Un-Amplified (100mV typical Full Scale) and Amplified (0-5 VDC, 0.5-5 VDC, 0-10 VDC, 4-20 mA).
• Special Amplified Outputs: Potentiometer Replacement, LVDT or Variable Reluctance Replacement.
• Sensor Physical Shape/Configuration: Customizable configurations, including pressure and electrical connections.
• Submersible Transducers/Transmitters: Depths up to 1100 ft.
• Pressure Switches: Single or multiple switched outputs for high vibration and hostile environments, with accurate set point settings.
• Dual and Triple Redundant Sensor Designs: For extreme reliability applications, including gage pressure measurements within a hermetically sealed transducer.

KULITE PRESSURE TRANSDUCERS DISTINCTIVELY DIFFERENT

Kulite sensors are dielectrically isolated, silicon-on-insulator (SOI) devices, a key distinction from most other silicon pressure transducers. Kulite sensors consist of three layers atomically bonded together: a micromachined N-type silicon diaphragm, a silicon dioxide dielectric isolation layer, and a P-type silicon Wheatstone bridge circuit layer. This structure ensures robust, long-lasting mechanical sensor operation and high-temperature capabilities.

The strain gage elements’ physical relationship with the diaphragm allows for precise pressure measurements. Applied pressure causes resistance imbalances in the Wheatstone bridge, directly proportional to the applied stress, forming the basis of all “strain gage” pressure transducers.

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