Infrared radiation detector units and methods of assembling transducers in which said units are incorporated
First Claim
1. A method of assembling a transducer which comprises:
- (a) complementary first and second open-sided housing components, and (b) an integrated assembly comprising an infrared radiation emitter unit, an infrared radiation detector unit, and a printed circuit board, said method comprising the steps of;
installing said integrated assembly in said first housing component with said emitter unit in a first compartment-defining element in the first housing component and the detector unit in a second compartment-defining element in said first housing component;
thereafter fixing said second housing component to said first housing component with said emitter unit and said detector unit also in part housed in complementary, first and second, compartment-defining elements in said second housing component;
providing a means for heating an airway adapter assembled to said transducer;
assembling said heating means to said printed circuit board; and
installing said heating means concurrently with said integrated assembly and in a passage defined by the first and second transducer housing components and located between infrared unit-receiving and detector unit-receiving compartments bounded by the compartment-defining elements of said components.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A transducer for nondispersive infrared radiation (NDIR) gas analysis and a passive device for verifying the calibration of the transducer. The calibration verification device can be mounted on a cable by which the transducer is attached to an associated signal processing-control-display unit (SPCDU) or monitor. Calibration parameters for the transducer are stored in a plug at the monitor end of the cable. The transducer includes an integrated subassembly of an infrared radiation source unit, an infrared radiation detector unit, and a flex connector and may be employed with an airway adapter preferably maintained by a thick film heating element at an above-dewpoint temperature to ascertain the concentration of a specie potentially present in gases flowing through the adapter. The transducer may also be employed for other purposes.
45 Citations
15 Claims
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1. A method of assembling a transducer which comprises:
- (a) complementary first and second open-sided housing components, and (b) an integrated assembly comprising an infrared radiation emitter unit, an infrared radiation detector unit, and a printed circuit board, said method comprising the steps of;
installing said integrated assembly in said first housing component with said emitter unit in a first compartment-defining element in the first housing component and the detector unit in a second compartment-defining element in said first housing component; thereafter fixing said second housing component to said first housing component with said emitter unit and said detector unit also in part housed in complementary, first and second, compartment-defining elements in said second housing component; providing a means for heating an airway adapter assembled to said transducer; assembling said heating means to said printed circuit board; and installing said heating means concurrently with said integrated assembly and in a passage defined by the first and second transducer housing components and located between infrared unit-receiving and detector unit-receiving compartments bounded by the compartment-defining elements of said components.
- (a) complementary first and second open-sided housing components, and (b) an integrated assembly comprising an infrared radiation emitter unit, an infrared radiation detector unit, and a printed circuit board, said method comprising the steps of;
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2. A method of assembling a transducer which comprises:
- (a) complementary first and second open-sided housing components, and (b) an integrated assembly comprising an infrared radiation emitter unit and an infrared radiation detector unit, said method comprising the steps of;
installing said integrated assembly in said first housing component with said emitter unit in a first compartment-defining element in the first housing component and the detector unit in a second compartment-defining element in said first housing component; and thereafter fixing said second housing component to said first housing component with said emitter unit and said detector unit also in part housed in complementary, first and second, compartment-defining elements in said second housing component; said method being further characterized by the step of so configuring said compartment-defining elements as to;
(a) position said emitter unit in said first compartment with an emitter means in said unit aligned with a first infrared radiation passing aperture in said first component, and (b) position said detector unit in said second compartment in alignment with a second infrared radiation passing aperture in said second compartment and with an infrared radiation detector means of said unit oriented to intercept infrared radiation propagated from the emitter unit through said first and second apertures to said detector unit. - View Dependent Claims (3)
- (a) complementary first and second open-sided housing components, and (b) an integrated assembly comprising an infrared radiation emitter unit and an infrared radiation detector unit, said method comprising the steps of;
- 4. An infrared radiation detector unit which is a physically integrated combination of an infrared radiation sensitive detector means, an enclosure for said detector means, a printed circuit board, and an electrical heater means for maintaining said infrared radiation sensitive detector means at a selected operating temperature, said heater means comprising thick film heating elements on said printed circuit board and said printed circuit board comprising means for connecting said thick film heating elements across an electrical power supply.
Specification