Coplanar pressure sensor mounting for remote sensor

• US 5,596,147 A
• Filed: 11/17/1995
• Issued: 01/21/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 11/17/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Honeywell Incorporated (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Honeywell Incorporated (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Inventors: Mathias, Milton W., Lane, Charles E. III, Wilda, Douglas W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chilcot, Richard
• Assistant Examiner(s): Oen, William L.
• Application Number:
  US08/559,810
• Time in Patent Office: 431 Days
• Field of Search: 73/717, 73/718, 73/719, 73/720, 73/721, 73/722, 73/716, 73/736, 73/756, 73/861.61, 73/861.44, 73/4 R, 137/597, 137/886, 137/343
• US Class Current: 73/717
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 13/025 using diaphragms
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 19/0038 being part of the housing other details about the housing G01L19/14
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 19/0645 using isolation membranes, specially adapted for protection
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 19/142 Multiple part housings
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 19/148 Details about the circuit board integration, e.g. integrated with the diaphragm surface or encapsulation

Abstract

A pressure transmitter comprises a first housing having a first and second diaphragm for receiving a first and second process fluid under a first and second pressure, respectively. The first and second diaphragm is deflected in response to the first and second pressure of the process fluid. A second housing includes a printed wire board. A first and second capillary tube is included, the first capillary tube being operatively coupled to the first diaphragm and the second capillary tube being operatively coupled to the second diaphragm, each corresponding capillary tube having an internal fluid therein. A sensor package, having a sensor element, is mounted internally within the second housing, and is coupled to the first and second capillary tubes such that the sensor element provides a first signal which is coupled to electrical circuit components mounted on the printed wire board to output a signal representative of the differential pressure of the process fluid.

Claims

1. A pressure transmitter, comprising:

a) a first housing having a first and second diaphragm for receiving a first and second process fluid under a first and second pressure, respectively, the first and second diaphragm being deflected in response to the first and second pressure of the process fluid;

b) a second housing having a printed wire board housed therein for mounting electrical circuit components thereon;

c) a first and second capillary tube, the first capillary tube coupled to a first chamber formed by the first diaphragm and the second capillary tube coupled to a second chamber formed by the second diaphragm, each chamber and corresponding capillary tube having an internal fluid therein;

d) a sensor package, having a sensor element, the sensor package mounted internal to the second housing, the sensor package being coupled to the first and second capillary tubes such that the sensor element provides a first signal representative of the difference in pressure of the internal fluid of the capillary tubes, the first signal being coupled to electrical circuit components mounted on the printed wire board to output a second signal

indicating a difference between the first and second pressure of the process fluid.

2. A pressure transmitter according to claim 1, wherein said sensor package is mounted on said printed wire board.

3. A pressure transmitter according to claim 2, wherein said sensor package has a dual-in-line package configuration.

4. A pressure transmitter according to claim 3, wherein further processing of said first signal is provided for by said electrical circuit components.

5. A pressure transmitter according to claim 4, wherein said first and second capillary tubes are coupled to a predetermined surface of the sensor package.

6. A pressure transmitter according to claim 5, wherein said predetermined surface of the sensor package is one which permits a direct, shortest path coupling of the capillary tubes to the respective chambers.

7. A pressure transmitted according to claim 4, wherein said first and second capillary tubes are coupled to a first and second surface of said sensor package, the first and second surface being parallel to one another.

8. A pressure transmitter according to claim 4, wherein said first and second capillary tubes are coupled to a first and second surface of said sensor package, the first and second surface being normal to one another.

9. A pressure transmitter, comprising:

a) a housing having a first and second diaphragm for receiving a first and second process fluid under a first and second pressure, respectively, the first and second diaphragm being deflected in response to the first and second pressure of the process fluid;

b) a printed wire board housed in said housing for mounting electrical circuit components thereon;

c) a first and second capillary tube, the first capillary tube coupled to a first chamber formed by the first diaphragm and the second capillary tube coupled to a second chamber formed by the second diaphragm, each chamber and corresponding capillary tube having an internal fluid therein.

d) a sensor package, having a sensor element, the sensor package mounted internally within the housing remote from the first and second diaphragm, the sensor package being coupled to the first and second capillary tubes such that the sensor element provides a first signal representative of the difference in pressure of the internal fluid of the capillary tubes, the first signal being coupled to electrical circuit components mounted on the printed wire board to output a second signal indicating a difference between the first and second pressure of the process fluid.

10. A pressure transmitter, comprising:

a) a first housing having a first and second input port for receiving a first and second process fluid under a first and second pressure, respectively,

b) a second housing having a printed wire board housed therein for mounting electrical circuit components thereon;

c) a first and second capillary tube, the first capillary tube coupled to the first input port of said first housing and the second capillary tube coupled to the second input port of said first housing;

d) a sensor package, having a sensor element, the sensor package mounted internal to the second housing, the sensor package being coupled to the first and second capillary tubes such that the sensor element provides a first signal representative of the difference in pressure of the process fluid within the capillary tubes, the first signal being coupled to electrical circuit components mounted on the printed wire board to output a second signal indicating a difference between the first and second pressure of the process fluid.