TEMPERATURE-SENSING AND TRANSMITTING ASSEMBLIES, PROGRAMMABLE TEMPERATURE SENSOR UNITS, AND METHODS OF MAKING AND USING THEM
First Claim
1. A temperature-sensing and transmitting assembly comprising:
- a flexible circuit substrate comprising a polymer sheet having a first area and a second area, a first plurality of interconnect pads disposed in the first area for electrically coupling to at least a temperature sensor, a second plurality of interconnect pads in the second area for electrically coupling to a programmable transmitter, and a first electrical trace extending from at least one of the first plurality of interconnect pads to at least one of the second plurality of interconnect pads;
a temperature sensor mounted to at least one of the first plurality of interconnect pads and electrically coupled to at least the first electrical trace, the temperature sensor being adapted to sense a temperature and generate an output signal representative of the sensed temperature;
a programmable transmitter mounted to at least a plurality of the second plurality of interconnect pads and electrically coupled to at least the first electrical trace, the programmable transmitter having an input to receive a signal representative of the sensed temperature, and an output to provide an output signal representative of the sensed temperature.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
In an exemplary embodiment, a temperature sensor and a 4-20 mA transmitter on a single flexible circuit subassembly with a separate housing suitable for use in industrial control or HVAC applications. In a preferred embodiment, a narrow flex circuit substrate includes a silicon diode-based surface-mount sensor at a sensor end, a surface-mount programmable transmitter IC on a flex circuit substrate in the transmitter section, conductive traces connecting the sensor to the transmitter IC, and two conductive pads at an output end for connecting the 4-20 mA output to a pair of external wires. Additional traces on the flex subassembly are provided for testing and programming the transmitter IC and sensor. The sensor end of the flex subassembly is mounted in a metal sensor tube, filled and sealed in the same manner as RTD or thermistor sensors with leads are currently assembled for use in industrial control or HVAC applications.
49 Citations
52 Claims
-
1. A temperature-sensing and transmitting assembly comprising:
-
a flexible circuit substrate comprising a polymer sheet having a first area and a second area, a first plurality of interconnect pads disposed in the first area for electrically coupling to at least a temperature sensor, a second plurality of interconnect pads in the second area for electrically coupling to a programmable transmitter, and a first electrical trace extending from at least one of the first plurality of interconnect pads to at least one of the second plurality of interconnect pads; a temperature sensor mounted to at least one of the first plurality of interconnect pads and electrically coupled to at least the first electrical trace, the temperature sensor being adapted to sense a temperature and generate an output signal representative of the sensed temperature; a programmable transmitter mounted to at least a plurality of the second plurality of interconnect pads and electrically coupled to at least the first electrical trace, the programmable transmitter having an input to receive a signal representative of the sensed temperature, and an output to provide an output signal representative of the sensed temperature. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 52)
-
-
14A. A. (canceled)
-
20. A housing suitable for DIN Form B housing applications, the housing comprising:
-
a base having a back surface, a round side surface attached to the back surface, and an open top surface, the round side surface having a diameter that conforms to DIN Form B specifications; a top adapted to be attached to the base to cover the base'"'"'s open top surface; a first aperture formed in the back surface of the base, the aperture having a center location that conforms to DIN Form B specifications; and a hinged door formed in the back surface of the base and adjacent to the first aperture, the hinged door having a closed position adapted to cause the first aperture to have a diameter and first area that conform to DIN Form B specifications, and an open position adapted to cause the first aperture to have a second area that is larger than the first area. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
-
-
27. A temperature-sensor housing comprising:
-
a base having a back surface, a plurality of side surfaces attached to the back surface, and an open top surface; a top adapted to be attached to the base to cover the base'"'"'s open top surface;
the top having a front surface that faces away from the base when the top is attached to the base, and a back surface that faces toward the base when the top is attached to the base;one or more support structures attached to the base'"'"'s back surface and adapted to hold at least a portion of an electrical component within a first area of the base; a window disposed at the front surface of the top and positioned to allow at least a portion of said first area to be viewed when the top is attached to the base. - View Dependent Claims (28)
-
-
29. A temperature-sensor housing comprising:
-
a base having a back surface, a plurality of side surfaces attached to the back surface, and an open top surface; a top adapted to be attached to the base to cover the base'"'"'s open top surface, the top having a front surface that faces away from the base when the top is attached to the base, and a back surface that faces toward the base when the top is attached to the base; one or more support structures attached to the base'"'"'s back surface and adapted to hold at least a portion of an electrical component within a first area of the base; a first aperture disposed at the front surface of the top and positioned to allow access to a first portion of the first area; and a second aperture disposed at the front surface of the top and positioned to allow access to a second portion of the first area. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31)
-
-
32-51. -51. (canceled)
Specification