FLUID PRESSURE SENSING METHOD AND APPARATUS
First Claim
1. A method of producing a circuit carrier for mounting components of a pressure sensing circuit, the method comprising:
- forming on a substrate a circuit portion and an antenna portion,wherein forming said antenna portion comprises forming a radio frequency antenna on said antenna portion; and
wherein forming said circuit portion comprises;
causing at least one power supply mount for a power supply for the pressure sensing circuit to be formed at a side of said substrate such that the power supply projects outwardly from said substrate;
causing a pressure sensor mount to be formed on said substrate such that when a pressure sensor is mounted to said mount a flat surface about a sensor opening of the pressure sensor is generally parallel and spaced apart from a first surface of said substrate and is adjacent the power supply;
causing ancillary component mounts to be formed in said circuit portion, said ancillary component mounts being operable to facilitate mounting of ancillary components for effecting a transmitter function; and
causing circuit interconnections between said at least one power supply mount, said pressure sensor mount and said ancillary component mounts and said antenna to be formed on said substrate such that a pressure sensor mounted to said pressure sensor mount and ancillary components mounted to said ancillary component mounts and are operable to receive power from a power supply mounted to said power supply mount and such that when the pressure sensor and ancillary components receive power from the power supply the transmitter function is effected, the transmitter function being operable to produce a transmittable signal in response to a pressure signal received from the pressure sensor, the transmittable signal being operable to be radiated by said antenna, for wireless reception by a remote receiver.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus for producing a circuit carrier for mounting components of a pressure sensing circuit, circuit carrier formed thereby, an apparatus for housing a pressure sensor circuit carrier to form a pressure sensing apparatus and a pressure sensing system using the pressure sensing apparatus and a coupler for coupling the pressure sensing apparatus to a pressurized system. A housing has provisions for aligning and urging a circuit carrier to sealingly position a pressure sensor adjacent an opening in a wall extending through of housing. The wall defines a pressure sensing chamber operable to cooperate with a pressure coupler having a profile that sealingly engages the wall.
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Citations
52 Claims
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1. A method of producing a circuit carrier for mounting components of a pressure sensing circuit, the method comprising:
forming on a substrate a circuit portion and an antenna portion, wherein forming said antenna portion comprises forming a radio frequency antenna on said antenna portion; and wherein forming said circuit portion comprises; causing at least one power supply mount for a power supply for the pressure sensing circuit to be formed at a side of said substrate such that the power supply projects outwardly from said substrate; causing a pressure sensor mount to be formed on said substrate such that when a pressure sensor is mounted to said mount a flat surface about a sensor opening of the pressure sensor is generally parallel and spaced apart from a first surface of said substrate and is adjacent the power supply; causing ancillary component mounts to be formed in said circuit portion, said ancillary component mounts being operable to facilitate mounting of ancillary components for effecting a transmitter function; and causing circuit interconnections between said at least one power supply mount, said pressure sensor mount and said ancillary component mounts and said antenna to be formed on said substrate such that a pressure sensor mounted to said pressure sensor mount and ancillary components mounted to said ancillary component mounts and are operable to receive power from a power supply mounted to said power supply mount and such that when the pressure sensor and ancillary components receive power from the power supply the transmitter function is effected, the transmitter function being operable to produce a transmittable signal in response to a pressure signal received from the pressure sensor, the transmittable signal being operable to be radiated by said antenna, for wireless reception by a remote receiver. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A circuit carrier apparatus for a fluid pressure sensor, the apparatus comprising:
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a substrate having first and second opposite edges, first and second opposite ends and first and second opposite facing surfaces; a circuit portion on said first end and an antenna portion on said second end, wherein said antenna portion comprises a radio frequency antenna; and wherein said circuit portion comprises; at least one power supply mount for a power supply for a pressure sensing circuit, said power supply mount being located at a side of said substrate and such that the power supply projects outwardly from said substrate; a pressure sensor mount formed on said substrate such that when a pressure sensor is mounted to said mount, a flat surface about a sensor opening on the pressure sensor is generally parallel and spaced apart from the first opposite facing surface and is adjacent the power supply; ancillary component mounts formed in said circuit portion, said ancillary component mounts being operable to facilitate mounting of ancillary components for effecting a transmitter function; and circuit interconnections between said at least one power supply mount, said pressure sensor mount and said ancillary component mounts and said antenna such that a pressure sensor mounted to said pressure sensor mount and ancillary components mounted to said ancillary component mounts are operable to receive power from a power supply mounted to said power supply mount and such that when the pressure sensor and ancillary components receive power from the power supply a transmitter function is effected, the transmitter function being operable to produce a transmittable signal in response to a pressure signal received from the pressure sensor, the transmittable signal being operable to be radiated by said antenna, for wireless reception by a remote receiver. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. An apparatus for housing a pressure sensor circuit, the apparatus comprising:
a body having; an outer wall defining a cavity operably configured to hold a substrate carrying a pressure sensor having a pressure sensing opening; an inner wall inside said cavity defining a pressure sensing chamber; an opening in said inner wall; a seal interface about said opening; aligning means for aligning said pressure sensor opening with said opening in said inner wall to provide for communication of fluid between said pressure sensing chamber and said pressure sensing opening; and urging means for urging said pressure sensor against a seal adjacent said seal interface, such that said pressure sensing opening is in fluid communication with said opening in said inner wall and such that the seal prevents ambient pressure from interfering with communication of fluid between said pressure sensing opening and said opening in said inner wall. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38)
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39. A pressure sensor apparatus comprising:
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a) a circuit carrier apparatus comprising; a substrate having first and second opposite edges, first and second opposite ends and first and second opposite facing surfaces; a circuit portion on said first opposite end and an antenna portion on said second opposite end, wherein said antenna portion comprises a radio frequency antenna; and wherein said circuit portion comprises; at least one power supply located at a side of said substrate and such that the power supply projects outwardly from said substrate; a pressure sensor having a flat surface and a pressure sensor opening on said flat surface, said flat surface being generally parallel and spaced apart from the first opposite facing surface and adjacent the power supply; a transmitter connected to said pressure sensor and said antenna for producing a signal for radiation by said antenna in response to a sense signal produced by said pressure sensor; b) a housing for housing said circuit carrier apparatus, said housing comprising; a body having; an outer wall defining a cavity operably configured to hold the circuit portion of said substrate; an inner wall inside said cavity defining a pressure sensing chamber; an opening in said inner wall; a seal about said opening in said inner wall; aligning means for aligning said pressure sensor opening with said opening in said inner wall to provide for communication of fluid between said pressure sensing chamber and said pressure sensor opening; and urging means for urging said pressure sensor against said seal, such that said pressure sensor opening is in fluid communication with said opening in said inner wall and such that said seal prevents ambient pressure from interfering with communication of fluid between said opening in said pressure sensor opening and said opening in said inner wall; potting material in said cavity and about said circuit portion for securing said substrate in said cavity; and a cover for covering said antenna portion, said cover being sealingly engaged with said housing to prevent ingress and egress of fluid relative to said cavity. - View Dependent Claims (40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52)
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Specification