Elastomer type low pressure sensor
First Claim
1. An elastomeric low pressure sensor comprising a pair of spaced apart and independent planar electrodes, a first one of said electrodes comprising a conductive elastomeric layer and the second electrode comprising a conductive layer supported on a rigid dielectric, said electrodes being arranged such that the rigid dielectric is located intermediate said conductive layers.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A capacitance elastomeric pressure sensor includes top and bottom mounting plates arranged to support a pair of electrode layers. The first electrode layer is supported on the upper surface of a dielectric disc held by an upper mounting plate. The second electrode layer is located beneath the disc and includes a conductive elastomeric layer overlying an elastomeric support layer. In the preferred embodiment, the elastomer is a silicone elastomer and the conductive layer is formed by admixing a conductive carbon powder with the silicone. The sensor is particularly effective in sensing pressure changes in this low range, e.g. 0-1 inch of water. In the most preferred embodiment the elastomeric layer is prestrained for temperature compensation.
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Citations
29 Claims
- 1. An elastomeric low pressure sensor comprising a pair of spaced apart and independent planar electrodes, a first one of said electrodes comprising a conductive elastomeric layer and the second electrode comprising a conductive layer supported on a rigid dielectric, said electrodes being arranged such that the rigid dielectric is located intermediate said conductive layers.
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16. An elastomer low pressure sensor comprising:
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a lower mounting plate having upper and lower faces, a recess in said upper face and a rim extending upwardly from said upper face and surrounding said recess; an elastomeric electrode disposed over said rim, said elastomeric electrode comprising a lower elastomeric support layer and an upper elastomeric electrode layer; a solid electrode disposed over said elastomeric electrode, said solid electrode comprising a lower dielectric layer and an upper conductive layer, a generally annular conductive contact ring disposed on the lower surface of said solid dielectric layer; an upper mounting plate having upper and lower faces; an aperture through each of said mounting plates and said solid electrode; and fastener means for joining said mounting plates and sandwiching said electrodes therebetween. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. An elastomer low pressure sensor comprising:
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a lower mounting plate having a generally circular lower plate and a generally cylindrical portion extending axially therefrom and terminating in an upper face, a recess in said upper face and a rim extending upwardly from said upper face and surrounding said recess; a generally circular elastomeric electrode disposed over said rim, said elastomeric electrode comprising a lower elastomeric support layer and an upper elastomeric electrode layer, a peripheral ring being provided about said elastomeric electrode; a solid electrode disposed over said elastomeric electrode, said solid electrode comprising a lower dielectric layer and an upper conductive layer, a generally annular conductive contact ring disposed on the lower surface of said solid dielectric layer; an upper mounting plate having a generally circular upper plate and a generally cylindrical skirt depending from the periphery thereof; an aperture through each of said mounting plates and said solid electrode; means for holding said peripheral ring during assembly of said sensor; and fastener means for joining said mounting plates to sandwich said electrodes therebetween and radially prestrain said elastomeric electrode over said rim. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. An elastomeric low pressure sensor comprising:
a pair of spaced apart planar electrodes, a first one of said electrodes comprising a conductive elastomeric layer and the second electrode comprising a conductive layer support on a solid dielectric, said electrodes being arranged such that the solid dielectric is located intermediate said conductive layers, the sensor including first and second mounting plate means arranged to contain said electrodes and solid dielectric, and fastening means for urging said plate means toward one another, wherein a raised rim is provided on a face of one of said mounting plates and said conductive elastomeric layer is strained thereover during assembly of said sensor, said raised rim being adapted to prevent said strained elastomeric layer from slipping after assembly is completed. - View Dependent Claims (29)
Specification