Miniature combination valve and pressure transducer and system
First Claim
1. An improved method of pressure measuring, wherein improvements are made in placing a miniaturized pressure measuring device into contact with a medium of pressure to be measured, and wherein said improved method comprises the steps of:
- (a) providing an assembly comprising an appropriately shaped and dimensioned pressure transducer assembled into an appropriately shaped and dimensioned housing, said housing having an inner and an outer surface, said inner and outer surfaces being opposite of each other, said housing having an appropriate opening between said opposite surfaces for said shaped pressure transducer to be placed such that said pressure transducer extends at least part way through from one surface to the opposite, and said pressure transducer being substantially an integrated circuit with an improved shape,(b) providing within said pressure transducer a means for signaling a measured pressure value to the opposite surface of said housing from the surface to which the medium of pressure to be measured is applied,(c) providing a means of mating said assembly with an appropriately sized and shaped sealable opening of a container holding said pressure medium or with a similar opening of a tube in communication with the pressure medium, and upon mating creating a seal between said assembly, including said housing, and said sealable opening such that the pressure medium does not leak from the sealed opening,(d) mating said assembly into said sealable opening, afterward applying pressurized medium to the mated assembly, and(e) thereafter measuring pressure by means of said transducer and signaling at least one parameter indicative of the applied pressure.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A valve/transducer and system for pressure measuring: which has a valve/transducer (24) comprised of an appropriately dimensioned tapered barrel (30) of rigid material with a gasket (40) near the barrel'"'"'s larger diameter proximal end. The valve/transducer has an opening closable by valve cup (32) which is operated by a pin (34) extending from the barrel. The valve/transducer has within the barrel an integrated silicon circuit (44) and flex circuit electrical interface (76). The integrated circuit provides a pressure transducer (58) and an integrated processor/encoder (68). The system includes wireless transmitter/receiver paired circuits consisting of a transponder (26) and a transmit/receive channel circuit (164). The system includes a control/display processor (162) and an indicator (182) with novel displays of useful tire inflation and maintenance parameters.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. An improved method of pressure measuring, wherein improvements are made in placing a miniaturized pressure measuring device into contact with a medium of pressure to be measured, and wherein said improved method comprises the steps of:
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(a) providing an assembly comprising an appropriately shaped and dimensioned pressure transducer assembled into an appropriately shaped and dimensioned housing, said housing having an inner and an outer surface, said inner and outer surfaces being opposite of each other, said housing having an appropriate opening between said opposite surfaces for said shaped pressure transducer to be placed such that said pressure transducer extends at least part way through from one surface to the opposite, and said pressure transducer being substantially an integrated circuit with an improved shape, (b) providing within said pressure transducer a means for signaling a measured pressure value to the opposite surface of said housing from the surface to which the medium of pressure to be measured is applied, (c) providing a means of mating said assembly with an appropriately sized and shaped sealable opening of a container holding said pressure medium or with a similar opening of a tube in communication with the pressure medium, and upon mating creating a seal between said assembly, including said housing, and said sealable opening such that the pressure medium does not leak from the sealed opening, (d) mating said assembly into said sealable opening, afterward applying pressurized medium to the mated assembly, and (e) thereafter measuring pressure by means of said transducer and signaling at least one parameter indicative of the applied pressure. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A transducer apparatus mountable in a passage between an interior and an exterior of a pressure container for sensing pressure of a fluid in said interior, comprising:
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a valve core having a barrel and a movable member with a first surface selectably movable between a closed position in which said first surface is in sealing engagement with another surface to prevent fluid flow through said passage and an open position in which said first surface is not in sealing engagement with said second surface to allow fluid flow through said passage; a pressure transducer attached to said valve core, said pressure transducer comprising at least one integrated circuit mounted at least part way through an opening in a wall of said barrel; and a transmission circuit coupled to said pressure transducer for transmitting a signal responsive to said pressure to a remote location. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 16)
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15. A transducer apparatus mountable in a passage between an interior and an exterior of a pressure container for sensing pressure of a fluid in said interior, comprising:
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a transducer apparatus body having a barrel and a mounting end, said mounting end having a first engagement engageable with a second engagement in said passage; an integrated circuit mounted partially inside said transducer apparatus body, a portion of said integrated circuit sensitive to said pressure protruding through an opening in a wall of said barrel; and a transmission circuit coupled to said pressure transducer for transmitting a signal responsive to said pressure to a remote location.
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Specification