Pressure sensor

• US 20050139011A1
• Filed: 12/15/2004
• Published: 06/30/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/24/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Jtekt Corporation (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toyoda Koki Kabushiki Kaisha
• Inventors: Yamakawa, Tomonari
• Granted Patent: US 7,194,375 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 73/753
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 19/0645 using isolation membranes, specially adapted for protection
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 19/086 for remote indication
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 19/143 Two part housings
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 27/005 Apparatus for calibrating pressure sensors

Abstract

A pressure sensor 11 is provided with a connecter housing 30 having a pressure sensing element 20 arranged on an end surface thereof, a sensor housing 40 constructed to have the connecter housing 30 inserted thereinto, a pressure chamber 452 defined between the end surface of the connecter housing 30 and the sensor housing 40, and a compensation circuit 21 for performing the processing and operation of a measured signal of the pressure sensing element 20 to output the measured signal. The compensation circuit 21 is composed of a data communication interface section 211 for receiving the compensation data radio-transmitted thereto, a memory section 212 for storing the compensation data, a compensation data writing section 214 for taking thereinto the compensation data from the data communication interface section 211 and for writing the compensation data in the memory section 212, and a signal processing section 213 for performing the processing and operation of the measured signal based on the compensation data stored in the memory section 212.

Claims

1. A pressure sensor having a pressure sensing element for measuring the magnitude of a pressure acting thereon and a compensation circuit for performing the processing and operation of a measured signal of the pressure sensing element to output the measure signal, the compensation circuit comprising:

a data communication interface section for receiving compensation data radio-transmitted thereto;

a memory section for storing the compensation data;

a compensation data writing section for taking the compensation data from the data communication interface section and for writing the compensation data in the memory section; and

a signal processing section for performing the processing and operation of the measured signal based on the compensation data stored in the memory section.

2. The pressure sensor as set forth in claim 1, wherein the pressure sensing element has the compensation circuit formed integrally thereon.

3. The pressure sensor as set forth in claim 1, further comprising:

a fuse section arranged on an electric power supply path for supplying the compensation data writing section with operating electric power and is adapted to be melt and cut when supplied with the electric power whose magnitude is equal to or greater than a predetermined value.

4. The pressure sensor as set forth in claim 2, further comprising:

a fuse section arranged on an electric power supply path for supplying the compensation data writing section with operating electric power and is adapted to be melt and cut when supplied with the electric power whose magnitude is equal to or greater than a predetermined value.

5. The pressure sensor as set forth in claim 3, wherein:

the compensation data writing section is electrically connected to a power supply terminal of the compensation circuit through the electric power supply path; and

the fuse section is constructed to be melt and cut by having applied thereto a voltage which is greater in value than an appropriate voltage to be applied to the power supply terminal of the compensation circuit and which is within a permissible range of the voltage permissible to be applied to the compensation circuit.

6. The pressure sensor as set forth in claim 4, wherein:

the compensation data writing section is electrically connected to a power supply terminal of the compensation circuit through the electric power supply path; and

the fuse section is constructed to be melt and cut by having applied thereto a voltage which is greater in value than an appropriate voltage to be applied to the power supply terminal of the compensation circuit and which is within a permissible range of the voltage permissible to be applied to the compensation circuit.

7. The pressure sensor as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

the pressure sensor is constituted by combining a connecter housing holding the pressure sensing element, with a sensor housing constituted to have the connecter housing inserted thereinto and has a pressure chamber defined between the connecter housing and the sensor housing; and

the pressure sensing element is arranged in the pressure chamber.

8. The pressure sensor as set forth in claim 3, wherein:

the pressure sensor is constituted by combining a connecter housing holding the pressure sensing element, with a sensor housing constituted to have the connecter housing inserted thereinto and has a pressure chamber defined between the connecter housing and the sensor housing; and

the pressure sensing element is arranged in the pressure chamber.

9. The pressure sensor as set forth in claim 4, wherein:

the pressure sensor is constituted by combining a connecter housing holding the pressure sensing element, with a sensor housing constituted to have the connecter housing inserted thereinto and has a pressure chamber defined between the connecter housing and the sensor housing; and

the pressure sensing element is arranged in the pressure chamber.

10. The pressure sensor as set forth in claim 7, wherein the pressure chamber is fluid-tightly sealed with a seal diaphragm and has pressure transmission medium filled therein.

11. The pressure sensor as set forth in claim 8, wherein the pressure chamber is fluid-tightly sealed with a seal diaphragm and has pressure transmission medium filled therein.

12. The pressure sensor as set forth in claim 9, wherein the pressure chamber is fluid-tightly sealed with a seal diaphragm and has pressure transmission medium filled therein.

13. A pressure sensor having a pressure sensing element for measuring the magnitude of a pressure acting thereon and a pressure chamber for accommodating the pressure sensing element therein, the pressure sensor further comprising:

an annular induction coil;

a first communication interface section for receiving a measured signal of the pressure sensing element radio-transmitted thereto, the annular induction coil and the first communication interface section being provided independently of the pressure chamber;

a secondary coil adapted to be magnetically connected to the induction coil; and

a second communication interface section for radio-transmitting the measured signal of the pressure sensing element, the secondary coil and the second communication interface section being arranged in the pressure chamber.

14. The pressure sensor as set forth in claim 13, further comprising:

a compensation circuit arranged in the pressure chamber and including;

(a) a memory section for storing compensation data;

(b) a compensation data writing section for writing the compensation data in the memory section; and

(c) a signal processing section for performing the processing and operation of the measured signal based on the compensation data stored in the memory section;

wherein the second communication interface section is provided for receiving the compensation data radio-transmitted thereto and for writing the compensation data in the compensation data writing section.

15. The pressure sensor as set forth in claim 14, further comprising:

a fuse section arranged on an electric power supply path for supplying the compensation data writing section with operating electric power from the secondary coil and adapted to be melt and cut when supplied with the electric power whose magnitude is equal to or greater than a predetermined value.

16. The pressure sensor as set forth in claim 13, wherein:

the pressure sensor is constituted by combining a connecter housing holding the pressure sensing element, with a sensor housing constituted to have the connecter housing inserted thereinto and has the pressure chamber defined between the connecter housing and the sensor housing; and

the connecter housing is made by forming synthetic resin and incorporates the induction coil and the first communication interface section therein by insert forming.

17. The pressure sensor as set forth in claim 14, wherein:

the pressure sensor is constituted by combining a connecter housing holding the pressure sensing element, with a sensor housing constituted to have the connecter housing inserted thereinto and has the pressure chamber defined between the connecter housing and the sensor housing; and

the connecter housing is made by forming synthetic resin and incorporates the induction coil and the first communication interface section therein by insert forming.

18. The pressure sensor as set forth in claim 15, wherein:

the pressure sensor is constituted by combining a connecter housing holding the pressure sensing element, with a sensor housing constituted to have the connecter housing inserted thereinto and has the pressure chamber defined between the connecter housing and the sensor housing; and

the connecter housing is made by forming synthetic resin and incorporates the induction coil and the first communication interface section therein by insert forming.

19. The pressure sensor as set forth in claim 13, wherein the pressure chamber is fluid-tightly sealed with a seal diaphragm and has pressure transmission medium filled therein.

20. The pressure sensor as set forth in claim 14, wherein the pressure chamber is fluid-tightly sealed with a seal diaphragm and has pressure transmission medium filled therein.

21. The pressure sensor as set forth in claim 15, wherein the pressure chamber is fluid-tightly sealed with a seal diaphragm and has pressure transmission medium filled therein.