PRESSURE SENSOR WITH PRESSURE-ACTUATED SWITCH
First Claim
1. A pressure sensor comprising:
- a substrate including a first metallic contact;
a membrane attached to the substrate, the membrane including a second metallic contact and responding to pressure by deflection;
a cavity wherein the first and second metallic contacts are located;
a contact area between the first and second metallic contacts that enables contact between the first and second contacts when the membrane deflects at a defined pressure; and
a signal path that allows a current flow when the first metallic contact makes contact with the second metallic contact.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Various embodiments relate to a pressure sensor and related methods of manufacturing and use. A pressure sensor may include an electrical contact included in a flexible membrane that deflects in response to a measured ambient pressure. The electrical contact may be separated from a signal path through a cavity formed using a sacrificial layer and PVD plugs. At one or more defined touch-point pressure thresholds, the membrane of the pressure sensor may deflect so that the state of contact between an electrical contact and one or more sections of a signal path may change. In some embodiments, the change of state may cause the pressure sensor to trigger an alarm in the electrical circuit. Various embodiments also enable the operation of the electrical circuit for testing and calibration through the use of one or more actuation electrode layers.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A pressure sensor comprising:
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a substrate including a first metallic contact; a membrane attached to the substrate, the membrane including a second metallic contact and responding to pressure by deflection; a cavity wherein the first and second metallic contacts are located; a contact area between the first and second metallic contacts that enables contact between the first and second contacts when the membrane deflects at a defined pressure; and a signal path that allows a current flow when the first metallic contact makes contact with the second metallic contact. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method comprising:
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providing, by a substrate, a first metallic contact; measuring, by a pressure sensor having a membrane including a second metallic contact, a defined pressure; deflecting, by the membrane in response to the defined pressure, through a height of a cavity to the substrate; making, by the second metallic contact, contact with the first metallic contact when the membrane deflects at the defined pressure; and conducting, by a signal path, a current flow when the first metallic contact makes contact with the second contact.
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20. A method of producing a pressure sensor comprising:
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depositing and patterning a first metallic layer on a substrate; depositing and patterning a sacrificial layer upon the first metallic layer and substrate; depositing and patterning a second metallic layer on the sacrificial layer; etching a hole to the sacrificial layer; removing the sacrificial layer; and plugging the etched hole with a plug. - View Dependent Claims (21)
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Specification