Vishay's New Model P3 Strain Indicator and Recorder Provides Portable Measurement Solution With Advanced Feature Set and ±0.1% Accuracy

MALVERN, PENNSYLVANIA — February 13, 2004 — Vishay Intertechnology, Inc. (NYSE: VSH) announces the launch of the Model P3 Strain Indicator and Recorder, a lightweight, portable, battery-operated instrument with the industry's most unique and comprehensive feature set including four input channels, a large LCD display, and on-board data storage.

Designed for use in a variety of test and measurement applications, and for stress analysis in particular, the rugged Model P3 functions as a bridge amplifier, static strain indicator, and digital data logger to acquire, display, and record strain-gage-based measurements from strain-gage and strain-gage-based transducer applications.

The new strain indicator and recorder from Vishay Micro-Measurements is capable of accepting four inputs simultaneously from quarter-, half-, and full-bridge strain-gage circuits, including strain-gage-based transducers. Bridge completion resistors of 120, 350, and 1000 ohms are built-in for quarter-bridge operation, while input connection and switches are provided for remote shunt calibration of transducers and full-bridge circuits.

The Model P3's extensive, easy-to-use, menu-driven interface works in conjunction with a front-panel keypad and LCD screen to provide readout of set-up information and acquired data. Set-up options include active input and output channels, bridge configuration, measurement units, bridge balance, calibration method, and recording options, among others.

Data, recorded at a user-selectable rate of up to 1 reading per channel per second, is stored on a removable multimedia card and may be uploaded from the instrument via USB data link to a host computer for subsequent storage, reduction, and presentation.

The instrument's automatic zero-balancing and calibration features simplify the measurement process, which incorporates a highly stable measurement circuit, a regulated bridge excitation supply, and a precisely adjustable gage factor to provide measurements of ?0.1% accuracy and 1 microstain resolution.

The Model P3 may be powered by two internal, replaceable D-cell batteries for up to 600 hours of continuous use for a single channel, by connection to a USB port on a PC, with an external battery or power supply of 6 Vdc to 15 Vdc, or with an optional line-voltage adapter. The instrument's analog output is 0 Vdc to 2.5 Vdc. Vishay Micro-Measurements strain gages, temperature sensors, and linear displacement sensors and Vishay Transducer load cells are all suitable for use with the Model P3.

To arrange a personal demonstration of the new Model P3 Strain Indicator and Recorder, contact any Vishay Micro-Measurements sales office or sales affiliate. Sales contacts can be found on the Web at http://www.vishay.com/brands/measurements_group/sales.

Vishay Micro-Measurements is a division of Vishay Measurements Group. Vishay Measurements Group develops, manufacturers, and markets a broad range of sensors for a wide variety of test and measurement applications. These include electrical resistance strain gages for both stress analysis testing and transducer manufacturing applications, instrumentation, and hybrid strain gage assemblies under the Vishay Micro-Measurements and Vishay BLH brands, and transducers for OEM applications and certified load cells for electronic scales and other weighing applications under the Vishay Nobel, Vishay Sensortronics, Vishay Tedea-Huntleigh, Vishay BLH, and Vishay Celtron brands. Vishay Measurements Group is part of Vishay Intertechnology.

Vishay Intertechnology, Inc., a Fortune 1,000 Company listed on the NYSE (VSH), is one of the world's largest manufacturers of discrete semiconductors (diodes, rectifiers, transistors, and optoelectronics and selected ICs) and passive electronic components (resistors, capacitors, inductors, sensors, and transducers). These components are used in virtually all types of electronic devices and equipment, in the industrial, computing, automotive, consumer, telecommunications, military, aerospace, and medical markets. Its product innovations, successful acquisition strategy, and ability to provide "one-stop shop" service have made Vishay a global industry leader. Vishay can be found on the Internet at http://www.vishay.com.