Pressure sensor capsule with improved isolation

• US 6,508,129 B1
• Filed: 01/06/2000
• Issued: 01/21/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 01/06/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Rosemount Incorporated (Emerson Electric Company)
• Original Assignee: Rosemount Incorporated (Emerson Electric Company)
• Inventors: Sittler, Fred C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Fuller, Benjamin R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): ALLEN, ANDRE J
• Application Number:
  US09/477,689
• Time in Patent Office: 1,111 Days
• Field of Search: 737/23, 737/17, 737/15, 737/292, 737/06
• US Class Current: 73/756
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 19/0046 using isolation membranes G01L13/026 and G01L19/0645 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 19/0681 Protection against excessive heat
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 9/0075 using a ceramic diaphragm, e.g. alumina, fused quartz, glass

Abstract

A pressure sensor capsule with a beam shaped sensor body, made of direct bonded layers of single crystal sapphire, surrounding a hollow central channel. A first beam end receives pressure and a second beam end has electrical contact pads and there is a mounting surface between the ends. The central channel has a narrower width passing through the mounting surface. An isolation plate is brazed to the mounting surface. Pressure sensing film is in the first end with leads extending through the channel to the electrical contact pads. The beam having a notch at the second end, forming an isolated lead surface on the central channel where the electrical contact pads are accessible.

Claims

1. A pressure sensor capsule with improved isolation, comprising:

a pressure sensing body formed as a beam made of direct bonded layers of single crystal sapphire, the beam forming a beam wall around a central channel defined therein, the beam having a first end having a diaphragm adapted for fluid pressurization, and an opposite second end, the beam wall having an outer beam mounting surface between the ends;

the central channel having a first width near the first end and having a second width, near the mounting surface, that is narrower than the first width;

an isolation plate having a mounting hole therethrough and the beam mounting through the mounting hole;

a braze joint sealingly joining the outer beam mounting surface to the mounting hole, sealingly isolating the second end from the fluid pressurization; and

conductive film disposed in the central channel, including a pressure sensing film portion on the diaphragm, and a sensor lead portion extending from the pressure sensing portion, the beam having a notch at the second end, the notch forming an isolated lead surface on the central channel; and

electrical contact pads disposed on the isolated lead surface.

2. The pressure sensor capsule of claim 1 wherein the braze joint is formed essentially of gold and germanium.

3. The pressure sensor capsule of claim 1 wherein the isolation plate consists essentially of Alloy 46 and the braze joint is formed essentially of gold and germanium.

4. The pressure sensor capsule of claim 1 further comprising a seal disposed in the notch, and the braze joint has a melting temperature that is lower than the melting temperature of the seal.

5. The pressure sensor capsule of claim 1 wherein isolation of the electrical contact pads reduces hysteresis during pressure cycling.

6. The pressure sensor capsule of claim 1 further comprising a temperature sensor disposed in the narrower width of the channel.

7. The pressure sensor capsule of claim 6 wherein the isolation of the electrical contact pads reduces hysteresis during temperature cycling.

8. A pressure sensor capsule with improved isolation, comprising:

a beam made of direct bonded layers of single crystal sapphire, the beam forming a beam wall around a central channel defined therein, the beam having a first end including a diaphragm adapted for fluid pressurization, the beam having an opposite second end, the beam wall having an outer beam mounting surface between the ends;

the central channel having a first width near the first end and having a second width, near the mounting surface, that is narrower than the first width;

an isolation cup having a mounting hole therethrough and the beam mounting through the mounting hole;

a braze joint sealingly joining the outer beam mounting surface to the mounting hole, sealingly isolating the isolated lead surface on the central channel from the fluid pressurization; and

conductive film disposed in the central channel, including a pressure sensing film portion adjacent the first end, and a sensor lead portion extending from the pressure sensing portion, the beam having a notch at the second end, the notch forming an isolated lead surface on the central channel; and

electrical contact pads accessible on the isolated lead surface, and wherein the sensor lead portion extends to the electrical contact pads.

9. The pressure sensor capsule of claim 8 wherein the beam is batch fabricated.

10. The pressure sensor capsule of claim 8, further comprising:

isolation fluid filling the isolation cup; and

an isolator diaphragm having a rim sealed to the isolator cup, the isolator diaphragm being adapted for separating a process fluid from the pressurized isolation fluid.

11. A pressure transmitter with improved isolation, comprising:

a beam made of direct bonded layers of single crystal sapphire, the beam forming a beam wall around a central channel, the beam having a first end including a diaphragm adapted for fluid pressurization, the beam having an opposite second end, the beam wall having an outer beam mounting surface between the ends;

the central channel having a first width near the first end and having a second width, near the mounting surface, that is narrower than the first width;

an isolation cup having a mounting hole therethrough and the beam mounting through the mounting hole;

a braze joint sealingly joining the outer beam mounting surface to the mounting wall, sealingly isolating the isolated lead surface on the central channel from the fluid pressurization;

conductive film disposed in the central channel, including a pressure sensing film portion adjacent the first end, and a sensor lead portion extending from the pressure sensing portion to electrical contact pads, the beam having a notch at the second end, the notch forming an isolated lead surface on the central channel where the electrical contact pads are accessible; and

an electronic circuit coupled to the electrical contact pads and providing a transmitter output representative of the sensed pressure.

12. The pressure transmitter of claim 11 wherein the beam is batch fabricated.

13. The transmitter of claim 11, further comprising:

isolator fluid disposed in the isolator cup; and

an isolator diaphragm sealing the isolator fluid in the isolator cup.

14. The transmitter of claim 11 further comprising:

a second sensing arrangement sensing a second pressure, the second sensing arrange including a second beam made of direct bonded layers of single crystal sapphire, second isolator cup, second conductive film and second braze joint and second electrical contact pads, the second electrical contact pads coupling to the electronic circuit, the transmitter sensing a pressure difference and generating an output representing differential pressure.

15. A turbine engine pressure probe with improved isolation, comprising:

a mounting pedestal having a first end adapted for mounting to a turbine engine housing and having a second end spaced apart from the first end and having a mounting hole shaped to receive a pressure sensor;

a beam made of direct bonded layers of single crystal sapphire, the beam forming a beam wall around a central channel, the beam having a first end including a diaphragm adapted for fluid pressurization, the beam an opposite second end, the beam wall having an outer beam mounting surface between the ends that is mounted in the mounting hole;

the central channel having a first width near the first end and having a second width, near the mounting surface, that is narrower than the first width;

a braze joint sealingly joining the outer beam mounting surface to the mounting hole, sealingly isolating an isolated lead surface on the central channel from the fluid pressurization; and

conductive film disposed in the central channel, including a pressure sensing film portion adjacent the first end, and a sensor lead portion extending from the pressure sensing portion to electrical contact pads, the notch forming the isolated lead surface on the central channel where the electrical contact pads are accessible.

16. A pressure sensor capsule with improved isolation, comprising:

means for forming a pressure sensing body as a beam made of direct bonded layers of single crystal sapphire, the beam forming a beam wall around a central channel defined therein, the beam having a first end having a diaphragm adapted for fluid pressurization, and an opposite second end the beam wall having an outer beam mounting surface between the ends;

the central channel having a first width near the first end and having a second width, near the mounting surface, that is narrower than the first width;

means for forming an isolation plate having a mounting hole therethrough and the beam mounting through the mounting hole;

means for sealingly joining the outer beam mounting surface to the mounting hole, including a braze joint sealingly isolating the second end from the fluid pressurization; and

means for providing a conductive film disposed in the central channel, including a pressure sensing film portion on the diaphragm, and a sensor lead portion extending from the pressure sensing portion to electrical contact pads, the beam having a notch at the second end, the notch forming an isolated lead surface on the central channel where the electrical contact pads are accessible.