CAPACITIVE PRESSURE SENSOR ASSEMBLY
First Claim
1. A pressure sensor, comprising:
- a housing ferrule defining a first inner diameter, wherein the housing ferrule is configured to receive a first capacitive plate of a capacitor; and
at least one protrusion disposed within the housing ferrule that defines a second inner diameter smaller than the first inner diameter, wherein;
the at least one protrusion is configured to provide a mounting point between the housing ferrule and a support structure of the first capacitive plate;
the housing ferrule and the support structure define a gap when the at least one protrusion is used to secure the support structure to the housing ferrule; and
the housing ferrule is configured to support a second capacitive plate substantially parallel to the first capacitive plate within the housing ferrule.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
The disclosure is directed to a capacitive pressure sensor, and the assembly of a capacitive pressure sensor, that may be used within an implantable medical pump. In one example, a housing ferrule that encloses one capacitive plate and includes at least one protrusion for attaching a support structure of the capacitive plate. The at least one protrusion defines a smaller inner diameter as a reference point for securing the support structure while the ferrule provides a larger inner diameter to allow the support structure to tilt inside the ferrule to orient the capacitive plate into a desired plane. Despite manufacturing irregularities, the capacitive plate can be mounted in the desired plane parallel to another capacitive plate, a diaphragm, mounted to an edge of the ferrule. In another example, an assembly tool provides a stage to orient the capacitive plate and support structure within the ferrule at a desired depth.
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Citations
30 Claims
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1. A pressure sensor, comprising:
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a housing ferrule defining a first inner diameter, wherein the housing ferrule is configured to receive a first capacitive plate of a capacitor; and at least one protrusion disposed within the housing ferrule that defines a second inner diameter smaller than the first inner diameter, wherein; the at least one protrusion is configured to provide a mounting point between the housing ferrule and a support structure of the first capacitive plate; the housing ferrule and the support structure define a gap when the at least one protrusion is used to secure the support structure to the housing ferrule; and the housing ferrule is configured to support a second capacitive plate substantially parallel to the first capacitive plate within the housing ferrule. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method for assembling a pressure sensor, the method comprising:
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placing a first capacitive plate and a support structure attached to the first capacitive plate within a housing ferrule defining a first inner diameter; tilting the support structure within the housing ferrule to orient the first capacitive plate in a first plane substantially parallel to a second plane of a second capacitive plate; securing the support structure to the housing ferrule via at least one protrusion, wherein the at least one protrusion defines a second inner diameter smaller than the first inner diameter; and mounting the second capacitive plate to the housing ferrule. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A pressure sensor assembly tool, the tool comprising:
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a base plate; and a stage raised from the base plate and configured to; fit within a housing ferrule to allow an edge of the housing ferrule to pass the stage and contact a top surface of the base plate; and set a uniform gap between a diaphragm plane defined by the edge of the housing ferrule and a capacitive plate mountable within the housing ferrule. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A method for assembling a pressure sensor, the method comprising:
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contacting an end of a housing ferrule to a base plate of an assembly tool, wherein the housing ferrule surrounds a stage of the assembly tool; placing a first capacitive plate and attached support structure within the housing ferrule; placing the first capacitive plate against the stage to orient the first capacitive plate in a first plane parallel to a second plane defined by the stage; securing the support structure to the housing ferrule; and mounting a second capacitive plate to the housing ferrule after removing the assembly tool. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30)
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Specification