Capacitive pressure transducer with improved electrode support
First Claim
1. A pressure transducer assembly comprising:
- (A) a body defining an interior cavity;
(B) a diaphragm mounted in said body and dividing said interior cavity into a first chamber and a second chamber, a portion of said diaphragm flexing in a first direction in response to a pressure in said first chamber being higher than a pressure in said second chamber, said portion of said diaphragm flexing in a second direction opposite said first direction in response to said pressure in said second chamber being higher than said pressure in said first chamber;
(C) a plate, said plate being fixed to said body in said first chamber;
(D) an insulator disposed in said first chamber, said insulator being fixed to said plate, a first portion of said plate overlying a first portion of said insulator, said first portion of said plate being spaced apart from said first portion of said insulator;
(E) a conductor disposed on said insulator, said conductor and said diaphragm being characterized by a capacitance, said capacitance being representative of a difference between said pressures in said first and second chambers.
5 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The disclosed pressure transducer assembly includes metallic body, a diaphragm, a metallic plate, an insulator, and a conductor. The body defines an interior cavity. The diaphragm is mounted in the body and divides the interior cavity into a first chamber and a second chamber. A portion of the diaphragm flexes in a first direction in response to a pressure in the first chamber being greater than a pressure in the second chamber, and that portion of the diaphragm flexes in a second direction opposite the first direction in response to the pressure in the second chamber being greater than the pressure in the first chamber. The metallic plate is fixed to the metallic body in one of the first and second chambers. The insulator is also disposed in that chamber and is fixed to the metallic plate. The conductor is disposed on the insulator. The diaphragm and the conductor are characterized by a capacitance. The capacitance is representative of a difference between the pressures in the first and second chambers.
115 Citations
34 Claims
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1. A pressure transducer assembly comprising:
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(A) a body defining an interior cavity; (B) a diaphragm mounted in said body and dividing said interior cavity into a first chamber and a second chamber, a portion of said diaphragm flexing in a first direction in response to a pressure in said first chamber being higher than a pressure in said second chamber, said portion of said diaphragm flexing in a second direction opposite said first direction in response to said pressure in said second chamber being higher than said pressure in said first chamber; (C) a plate, said plate being fixed to said body in said first chamber; (D) an insulator disposed in said first chamber, said insulator being fixed to said plate, a first portion of said plate overlying a first portion of said insulator, said first portion of said plate being spaced apart from said first portion of said insulator; (E) a conductor disposed on said insulator, said conductor and said diaphragm being characterized by a capacitance, said capacitance being representative of a difference between said pressures in said first and second chambers. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A pressure transducer assembly comprising:
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(A) a body defining an interior cavity; (B) a diaphragm mounted in said body and dividing said interior cavity into a first chamber and a second chamber, a portion of said diaphragm flexing in a first direction in response to a pressure in said first chamber being higher than a pressure in said second chamber, said portion of said diaphragm flexing in a second direction opposite said first direction in response to said pressure in said second chamber being higher than said pressure in said first chamber; (C) a plate fixed to said body in said first chamber, said plate comprising a first material; (D) an insulator disposed in said first chamber, said insulator comprising a second material different from said first material; (E) a fastener fixing a central portion of said insulator to said plate; (F) a conductor disposed on said insulator, said conductor and said diaphragm being characterized by a capacitance, said capacitance being representative of a difference between said pressures in said first and second chambers. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A pressure transducer assembly comprising:
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(A) a body defining an interior cavity; (B) a diaphragm mounted in said body and dividing said interior cavity into a first chamber and a second chamber, a portion of said diaphragm flexing in a first direction in response to a pressure in said first chamber being higher than a pressure in said second chamber, said portion of said diaphragm flexing in a second direction opposite said first direction in response to said pressure in said second chamber being higher than said pressure in said first chamber; (C) a plate fixed to said body in said first chamber; (D) an insulator disposed in said first chamber; (E) a spacer disposed between said plate and said insulator; (F) a fastener fixing a central portion of said insulator and said spacer to said plate; (G) a conductor disposed on said insulator, said conductor and said diaphragm being characterized by a capacitance, said capacitance being representative of a difference between said pressures in said first and second chambers. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A pressure transducer assembly comprising:
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(A) a metallic body defining an interior cavity; (B) a diaphragm mounted in said body and dividing said interior cavity into a first chamber and a second chamber, a portion of said diaphragm flexing in a first direction in response to a pressure in said first chamber being higher than a pressure in said second chamber, said portion of said diaphragm flexing in a second direction opposite said first direction in response to said pressure in said second chamber being higher than said pressure in said first chamber; (C) a metallic member fixed to at least a portion of said metallic body in said first chamber; (D) an insulator disposed in said first chamber, said insulator being fixed to said metallic member; (E) a conductor disposed on said insulator, said conductor and said diaphragm being characterized by a capacitance, said capacitance being representative of a difference between said pressures in said first and second chambers.
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23. A pressure transducer assembly comprising:
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(A) a body defining an interior cavity; (B) a diaphragm mounted in said body and dividing said interior cavity into a first chamber and a second chamber, a portion of said diaphragm flexing in a first direction in response to a pressure in said first chamber being higher than a pressure in said second chamber, said portion of said diaphragm flexing in a second direction opposite said first direction in response to said pressure in said second chamber being higher than said pressure in said first chamber; (C) a conductor disposed in one of said first and second chambers, said conductor and said diaphragm being characterized by a capacitance, said capacitance being representative of a difference between said pressures in said first and second chambers; (D) a resilient element disposed in said one chamber, said resilient element providing a force that biases said conductor away from said diaphragm. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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32. A pressure transducer assembly comprising:
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(A) a body defining an interior cavity; (B) a diaphragm mounted in said body and dividing said interior cavity into a first chamber and a second chamber, a portion of said diaphragm flexing in a first direction in response to a pressure in said first chamber being higher than a pressure in said second chamber, said portion of said diaphragm flexing in a second direction opposite said first direction in response to said pressure in said second chamber being higher than said pressure in said first chamber; (C) a metallic plate fixed to said body in said first chamber; (D) an insulator disposed in said first chamber, said insulator being fixed to said plate; (E) a conductor disposed on said insulator, said conductor and said diaphragm being characterized by a capacitance, said capacitance being representative of a difference between said pressures in said first and second chambers.
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33. A pressure transducer assembly comprising:
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(A) a body defining an interior cavity; (B) a diaphragm mounted in said body and dividing said interior cavity into a first chamber and a second chamber, a portion of said diaphragm flexing in a first direction in response to a pressure in said first chamber being higher than a pressure in said second chamber, said portion of said diaphragm flexing in a second direction opposite said first direction in response to said pressure in said second chamber being higher than said pressure in said first chamber; (C) a plate welded to said body in said first chamber; (D) an insulator disposed in said first chamber, said insulator being fixed to said plate; (E) a conductor disposed on said insulator, said conductor and said diaphragm being characterized by a capacitance, said capacitance being representative of a difference between said pressures in said first and second chambers.
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34. A pressure transducer assembly comprising:
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(A) a body defining an interior cavity; (B) a diaphragm mounted in said body and dividing said interior cavity into a first chamber and a second chamber, a portion of said diaphragm flexing in a first direction in response to a pressure in said first chamber being higher than a pressure in said second chamber, said portion of said diaphragm flexing in a second direction opposite said first direction in response to said pressure in said second chamber being higher than said pressure in said first chamber; (C) a plate fixed to said body in said first chamber, said plate comprising a first material; (D) an insulator disposed in said first chamber, said insulator being fixed to said plate, said insulator comprising a second material different from said first material; (E) a conductor disposed on said insulator, said conductor and said diaphragm being characterized by a capacitance, said capacitance being representative of a difference between said pressures in said first and second chambers.
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Specification