Comparison calibration system for digital-output infrasound sensors

Recent advancements in micro electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) have enabled the application of digital-output MEMS modules in infrasound monitoring. These modules, combining MEMS pressure sensors and microcontrollers, provide timestamped digital pressure data. Compared with conventional analog infrasound sensors, the affordability and compactness of MEMS modules allow the construction of infrasound monitoring networks with a high density of measurement stations. However, dynamic frequency response characteristics of the MEMS modules, including both sensitivity modulus and phase, remain unassessed. In this study, we developed a comparison calibration system for digital-output infrasound sensors, with special attention paid to ensuring phase synchronization between the analog-output of reference standards and the digital-output of MEMS modules. Using a pulse per second signal synchronized with a time frequency standard, we successfully timestamped the reference analog signals, achieving synchronization between reference analog standards and digital-output sensors. Example calibrations were conducted on a digital-output MEMS module consisting of a DPS310 MEMS pressure sensor and an ESP32 microcontroller, in the 0.2 Hz to 4 Hz range. The sensitivity modulus matched the reference within a few percent, but the phase delayed by approximately 10 ms. We anticipate that the appliying corrections based on the results reported herein will enhance the reliability of infrasound measurements with digital-output sensors.