ACTUATING AND SENSING MODULE

• US 20190331558A1
• Filed: 02/14/2019
• Published: 10/31/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 04/27/2018
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microjet Technology Co Limited (Microjet Technology)
• Original Assignee: Microjet Technology Co Limited (Microjet Technology)
• Inventors: Mou, Hao-Jan, Chen, Shih-Chang, Huang, Chi-Feng, Han, Yung-Lung, Kuo, Chun-Yi
• Granted Patent: US 10,962,452 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 45/047 Pumps having electric drive
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 1/2273 Atmospheric sampling
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 15/06 Investigating concentration of particle suspensions by weighing G01N5/00; investigating sedimentation of particle suspensions G01N15/04; investigating individual particles G01N15/10
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2001/2276 Personal monitors
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/0009 General constructional details of gas analysers, e.g. portable test equipment devices for withdrawing samples in the gaseous state G01N1/22
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/004 CO or CO2
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/0047 Organic compounds

Abstract

An actuating and sensing module includes a first substrate, a second substrate, an actuating device and a sensor. The first and second substrates are stacked on each other as a gas flow channel is formed therebetween. The gas inlet, the gas flow channel and the gas outlet are in communication with each other to define a gas flow path. The actuating device is disposed in the gas outlet of the second substrate and electrically connected to a control circuit to obtain driving power. The sensor is disposed in the gas flow path and misaligned with the gas inlet. The sensor is spaced apart from the actuating device and is electrically connected to the control circuit. Being driven by the actuating device, the gas is transported from the outside into the gas flow path and monitored by the sensor.

Claims

1. An actuating and sensing module, comprising:

a first substrate with at least one control circuit disposed thereon;

a second substrate having a gas inlet and a gas outlet, wherein the second substrate and the first substrate are stacked on each other as a gas flow channel is formed therebetween, wherein the gas inlet, the gas flow channel and the gas outlet are in communication with each other to form a gas flow path;

at least one actuating device disposed in the gas outlet of the second substrate and electrically connected to the at least one control circuit; and

at least one sensor disposed in the gas flow path and misaligned with the gas inlet, wherein the sensor is spaced apart from the actuating device and is electrically connected to the at least one control circuit;

wherein the actuating device is enabled to drive gas to flow from the exterior of the actuating and sensing module into the gas flow channel through the gas inlet, and the gas flows through the sensor and is discharged out through the gas outlet, so that the gas circulated in the gas flow path is monitored by the sensor.

2. The actuating and sensing module according to claim 1, wherein the first substrate comprises at least one control circuit formed on the first substrate by a semiconductor process, wherein the actuating device and the sensor are electrically connected to the at least one control circuit so as to obtain a driving power and to calculate and process a sensed data generated by the sensor.

3. The actuating and sensing module according to claim 1, wherein the sensor is disposed on the first substrate by a semiconductor process.

4. The actuating and sensing module according to claim 1, wherein the first substrate comprises a recess formed by a semiconductor process, and the first substrate and the second substrate are stacked on each other as the gas flow channel is formed between the recess of the first substrate and the second substrate.

5. The actuating and sensing module according to claim 1, wherein the sensor includes at least one selected from the group consisting of an oxygen sensor, a carbon monoxide sensor, a carbon dioxide sensor, a temperature sensor, an ozone sensor, a volatile organic compound sensor and a combination thereof.

6. The actuating and sensing module according to claim 1, wherein the actuating device is a microelectromechanical system gas pump and the microelectromechanical system gas pump comprises:

an inlet plate including at least one inlet and a convergence chamber;

a resonance membrane having a suspension structure and a central aperture, wherein the suspension structure is flexible and is made by a surface micromachining process;

an actuating membrane having a hollow and suspension structure made by the surface micromachining process and comprising a suspension part, an outer frame and at least one connection part, wherein at least one vacant space is formed among the at least one connection part, the suspension part and the outer frame; and

a piezoelectric membrane attached on a surface of the suspension part,

wherein the inlet plate, the resonance membrane and the actuating membrane are stacked sequentially and a compressing chamber is formed between the resonance membrane and the actuating membrane, wherein while the piezoelectric membrane is enabled to drive the actuating membrane, the gas is inhaled through the at least one inlet, transferred and converged to the convergence chamber, transferred to the compressing chamber through the central aperture of the resonance membrane and discharged out through the at least one vacant space, by which the gas outside the actuating device is introduced in the gas flow channel.

7. The actuating and sensing module according to claim 6, wherein the actuating membrane includes one of a metallic membrane and a polysilicon membrane.

8. The actuating and sensing module according to claim 6, wherein the piezoelectric membrane includes a metal oxide membrane made by a sol-gel process.

9. The actuating and sensing module according to claim 6, wherein the microelectromechanical system gas pump is an integrally formed structure.

10. The actuating and sensing module according to claim 6, wherein the actuating and sensing module further comprises at least one first protective film and at least one second protective film, wherein the first protective film is disposed to cover one of the inlet and the gas inlet, and the second protective film is disposed to cover the gas outlet, wherein the first protective film and the second protective film include a waterproof, dustproof and gas-allowed film structure, respectively.

11. The actuating and sensing module according to claim 1, wherein the actuating device is a resonant-type piezoelectrically-actuated gas pump and the resonant-type piezoelectrically-actuated gas pump comprises:

an inlet plate comprising at least one inlet and a convergence chamber;

a resonance membrane including a suspension structure and comprising a central aperture;

an actuating membrane including a hollow and suspension structure and comprising a suspension part, an outer frame and at least one connection part, wherein at least one vacant space is defined among the at least one connection part, the suspension part and the outer frame; and

a piezoelectric membrane attached on a surface of the suspension part,

wherein the inlet plate, the resonance membrane and the actuating membrane are stacked sequentially and a compressing chamber is formed between the resonance membrane and the actuating membrane, wherein while the piezoelectric membrane is enabled to drive the actuating membrane, the gas is inhaled through the at least one inlet, transferred and converged to the convergence chamber, transferred to the compressing chamber through the central aperture of the resonance membrane and discharged out through the at least one vacant space, by which the gas outside the actuating device is introduced in the gas flow channel.

12. The actuating and sensing module according to claim 11, wherein the actuating and sensing module further comprises at least one first protective film and at least one second protective film, wherein the first protective film is disposed to cover one of the inlet and the gas inlet, and the second protective film is disposed to cover the gas outlet, wherein the first protective film and the second protective film include a waterproof, dustproof and gas-allowed film structure, respectively.

13. The actuating and sensing module according to claim 12, wherein the first protective film and the second protective film comply with Rating IP64 of International Protection Marking (IEC 60529).

14. The actuating and sensing module according to claim 12, wherein the first protective film and the second protective film comply with Rating IP65 of International Protection Marking (IEC 60529).

15. The actuating and sensing module according to claim 12, wherein the first protective film and the second protective film comply with Rating IP66 of International Protection Marking (IEC 60529).

16. The actuating and sensing module according to claim 12, wherein the first protective film and the second protective film comply with Rating IP67 of International Protection Marking (IEC 60529).

17. The actuating and sensing module according to claim 12, wherein the first protective film and the second protective film comply with Rating IP68 of International Protection Marking (IEC 60529).

18. An actuating and sensing module, comprising:

at least one first substrate with at least one control circuit disposed thereon;

at least one second substrate having at least one gas inlet and at least one gas outlet, wherein the second substrate and the first substrate are stacked on each other as at least one gas flow channel is formed therebetween, wherein the gas inlet, the gas flow channel and the gas outlet are in communication with each other to form at least one gas flow path;

at least one actuating device disposed in the gas outlet of the second substrate and electrically connected to the at least one control circuit; and

at least one sensor disposed in the gas flow path and misaligned with the gas inlet, wherein the sensor is spaced apart from the at least one actuating device and is electrically connected to the at least one control circuit;

wherein the actuating device is enabled to drive at least one gas to flow from the exterior of the actuating and sensing module into the gas flow channel through the gas inlet, and the gas flows through the sensor and is discharged out through the gas outlet, so that the gas circulated in the gas flow path is monitored by the sensor.