Piezoresistive silicon pressure sensor implementing long diaphragms with large aspect ratios
First Claim
1. A two function pressure sensor disposed on a single sensor chip and having an absolute pressure sensor means for accurately measuring high absolute pressure based on the sensing of the flexing of a plate and also having a differential pressure sensor means sensitive to slight differences in pressure also based on the sensing of the flexing of a plate, each said sensor means having sensing pickoff means associated physically therewith for sensing the flexing of said sensor means plates and wherein the absolute pressure sensor means is a long rectangular plate diaphragm transducer having an aspect ratio of 3 to 1 or greater.
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Abstract
A form of pressure sensor diaphragm and method of making that allows for the formation of long rectangular plate structures in semiconducting material, especially Silicon. A plurality or multiplicity of sensors may be constructed on a single chip, thus providing for absolute and relative sensing of pressure on a single device.
131 Citations
15 Claims
- 1. A two function pressure sensor disposed on a single sensor chip and having an absolute pressure sensor means for accurately measuring high absolute pressure based on the sensing of the flexing of a plate and also having a differential pressure sensor means sensitive to slight differences in pressure also based on the sensing of the flexing of a plate, each said sensor means having sensing pickoff means associated physically therewith for sensing the flexing of said sensor means plates and wherein the absolute pressure sensor means is a long rectangular plate diaphragm transducer having an aspect ratio of 3 to 1 or greater.
- 11. A multiple pressure sensor apparatus having a multiplicity of long rectangular diaphragm plates at least two of which are arranged so as to have their long edges in parallel and being of substantially the same dimensions as each other and each long rectangular plate having two linear sensing resistors each and being configured to provide a fully active wheatstone bridge configuration.
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14. A pressure responsive apparatus, comprising:
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a substrate bearing a cavity in an exterior surface; a long rectangular diaphragm plate, having an aspect ratio of greater than ten to one, disposed across the cavity and fixed at both ends of the plate to the substrate; at least two thin traces of electrically conductive resistive material disposed on the plate, so that a first trace is centered on the long axis of the diaphragm plate and a second trace is located proximate a peripheral long edge of the plate; at least two other thin traces of electrically conductive resistive material disposed on the plate, so that a first of the other thin traces is centered on the long axis of the diaphragm plate and a second of the other thin traces is located proximate a peripheral long edge of the plate; bonding pads electrically coupled to the traces; and wherein the at least two thin traces and the at least two other thin traces are all oriented on the long rectangular diaphragm plate so that the longitudinal axis of each trace is parallel to the longitudinal axis of each other trace disposed on the long rectangular diaphragm plate.
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15. A multifunctional pressure sensing apparatus comprising:
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a substrate bearing two closely situated cavities in an exterior surface of the substrate; two long rectangular diaphragm plates, each having a proximal and distal end, wherein the proximal end of the first plate is fixed to the substrate proximate the first cavity and the first plate is disposed lengthwise across the first cavity so that the distal end is fixed to the substrate opposite the proximal end; and
wherein the proximal end of the second plate is fixed to the substrate proximate the second cavity and the second plate is also disposed lengthwise across the second cavity so that the distal end is fixed to the substrate opposite its proximal end so that the first and second plates are oriented parallel to each other; andon each plate a first and a second electrically resistive trace disposed on a longitudinal axis of both the first and second plates, and wherein each first trace is disposed centered longitudinally on the first and second plates and each second trace is disposed proximate a lengthwise periphery of the first and second plates, and wherein the first and second electrically resistive traces associated with the first and second plates are electrically coupled in a fully active Wheatstone bridge configuration.
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Specification