Sensor assembly with lead attachment
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A sensor, comprising:
- a first sheet of piezoelectric material defining first and second broad sides, and, in registry on said first and second broad sides, first, second and third nonoverlapping regions, said first sheet of piezoelectric material further defining proximal and distal ends;
a first sheet of electrical conductor extending over, and in contact with, said second and third regions of said first broad side of said first sheet of piezoelectric material, and not over or in contact with said first region;
a second sheet of electrical conductor extending over, and in contact with, said first and second regions of said second broad side of said first sheet of piezoelectric material, and not over or in contact with said third region;
whereby that second region of said first sheet of piezoelectric material lying between said second regions of said second and third sheets of conductive material, when strained, produces a sensor voltage between said second and third sheets of electrical conductor; and
first and second electrically conductive means making contact with said first and second sheets of electrical conductor, for making signals from said first sheet of piezoelectric material available as a sensor signal.
6 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A beam-type sensor capable of measuring displacement or acceleration includes a thin, flexible sheet of piezoresponsive material defining broad sides and a proximal end. In order to optimize boundary conditions, the proximal end of the sheet is supported by a clamp that provides a “clean” transition between support and no-support. Electrical connections to conductors associated with the broad sides are integrated into the clamp. In one embodiment, two sheets of piezoelectric material are connected electrically in parallel. In another embodiment, two sheets of piezoelectric material are connected electrically in series.
22 Citations
32 Claims
-
1. A sensor, comprising:
-
a first sheet of piezoelectric material defining first and second broad sides, and, in registry on said first and second broad sides, first, second and third nonoverlapping regions, said first sheet of piezoelectric material further defining proximal and distal ends;
a first sheet of electrical conductor extending over, and in contact with, said second and third regions of said first broad side of said first sheet of piezoelectric material, and not over or in contact with said first region;
a second sheet of electrical conductor extending over, and in contact with, said first and second regions of said second broad side of said first sheet of piezoelectric material, and not over or in contact with said third region;
whereby that second region of said first sheet of piezoelectric material lying between said second regions of said second and third sheets of conductive material, when strained, produces a sensor voltage between said second and third sheets of electrical conductor; and
first and second electrically conductive means making contact with said first and second sheets of electrical conductor, for making signals from said first sheet of piezoelectric material available as a sensor signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
-
-
28. A piezoelectric device comprising:
-
a flexible, beam-like substrate defining proximal and distal ends;
a piezoelectric assembly attached to at least a portion of said substrate, said piezoelectric assembly comprising a sheet of piezoelectric material defining first and second broad surfaces, and first outer and second inner sheets of electrically conductive material overlying, and in contact with, said first and second broad sides, respectively;
a support structure affixed near said proximal end of said substrate for holding said substrate in a cantilever manner whereby said substrate can flex in the region between said support structure and said distal end of said substrate, and said substrate cannot flex in the region supported by said support structure;
electrical connection means associated with and supported at least in part by said support structure, for making contact with said first and second sheets of conductive material and providing electrical access to said first and second sheets of conductive material by way of said support structure; and
a mass element affixed near said distal end of said substrate. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32)
-
Specification