Amplified pressure transducer
First Claim
1. A pressure transducer, comprising:
- a housing having a base surface and a plurality of walls attached to said base surface;
a support boss attached to said base surface;
a pressure sensitive device attached to said support boss with said support boss being disposed in contact with a central portion of a first surface of said pressure sensitive device, said pressure sensitive device being supported by said support boss in noncontact association with said plurality of walls;
first means for connecting said pressure sensitive device in fluid communication with a first region external to said housing;
a plurality of electrically conductive terminals rigidly attached to said housing and extending from a first position proximate said pressures sensitive device to a second position external to said housing; and
a cover attached to said housing to enclose said pressure sensitive device between said housing and said cover, said pressure sensitive device comprising a ceramic member and a pressure sensor disposed on said ceramic member, a first surface of said ceramic member being said first surface of said pressure sensitive device, said pressure sensitive device further comprising a cap disposed on a second surface of said ceramic member, said pressure sensor being disposed between said cap and said second surface.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A pressure transducer is provided which incorporates numerous stress reducing characteristics. A pressure sensor is mounted to a ceramic plate with a buffer plate there between to isolate the pressure sensor from stresses that could be transmitted through the ceramic plate. The ceramic plate is necessary for the purpose of supporting a plurality of electronic components which comprise an amplification and compensation circuit. The ceramic plate is separated from all parts of its housing except a minimal central surface on a support boss which provides the support for the pressure sensitive device. Electrical communication between conductive paths on the ceramic plate and terminals extending through the housing is provided by flexible electrical conductors. A cover is attached to the housing with snap acting contact which further isolate the housing from the cap. The housing and cap are constructed to support the housing in a noncontact association with an external device when feet on the cap are attached directly to the external device. This offset positioning of the housing with respect to the external component further isolates the housing from sources of external stress. The combined stress isolated techniques used in the present invention permit a pressure sensor to measure very low pressures with a high degree of sensitivity without introducing measurement problems that would otherwise be incumbent in this type of transducer because of externally caused stresses transmitted from external forces and originating in the transducer because of thermal stress.
-
Citations
36 Claims
-
1. A pressure transducer, comprising:
-
a housing having a base surface and a plurality of walls attached to said base surface; a support boss attached to said base surface; a pressure sensitive device attached to said support boss with said support boss being disposed in contact with a central portion of a first surface of said pressure sensitive device, said pressure sensitive device being supported by said support boss in noncontact association with said plurality of walls; first means for connecting said pressure sensitive device in fluid communication with a first region external to said housing; a plurality of electrically conductive terminals rigidly attached to said housing and extending from a first position proximate said pressures sensitive device to a second position external to said housing; and a cover attached to said housing to enclose said pressure sensitive device between said housing and said cover, said pressure sensitive device comprising a ceramic member and a pressure sensor disposed on said ceramic member, a first surface of said ceramic member being said first surface of said pressure sensitive device, said pressure sensitive device further comprising a cap disposed on a second surface of said ceramic member, said pressure sensor being disposed between said cap and said second surface. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
-
-
13. A pressure transducer, comprising:
-
a housing; a boss extending from said housing; a pressure sensitive device attached for support to said boss; a first conduit connecting said pressure sensitive device in fluid communication with a first region external to said housing; an electrically conductive terminal attached for support to said housing and extending through said housing from a first position proximate said pressure sensitive device to a second position external to said housing; a cover attached to said housing, said pressure sensitive device being disposed between said housing and said cover, said pressure sensitive device being supported by said boss in noncontact association with said housing and said cover; and first means for attaching said transducer to an object, said first attaching means being configured to support said housing in noncontact relation with said object. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
-
-
24. A pressure transducer, comprising:
-
a housing; a boss attached to said housing; a pressure sensitive device attached to said boss; a first conduit extending through a portion of said housing and through a portion of said boss, said conduit being connected in fluid communication with said pressure sensitive device and with a first region external to said pressure transducer; an electrically conductive terminal attached to said housing and extending through a portion of said housing, one end of said terminal being proximate and said pressure sensitive device; a cover attached to said housing, said pressure sensitive device being disposed between said housing and said cover, said pressure sensitive device being supported by said boss in noncontact relation with said housing and said cover; and first means attached to said cover for supporting said housing in noncontact relation with an object. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
-
Specification