Acoustic wave flow sensor
First Claim
1. An acoustic wave flow sensor, comprising;
- a sensor substrate;
an acoustic wave diaphragm etched upon said sensor substrate, wherein a mechanical stress or strain is concentrated in said acoustic wave diaphragm; and
at least one interdigital transducer configured upon said acoustic wave diaphragm, wherein said sensor substrate, said acoustic wave diaphragm and said at least one interdigital transducer form an acoustic wave flow sensor, such that when said at least one interdigital transducer and said acoustic wave diaphragm are exposed to a fluid in flow, wherein said fluid flow is parallel to said acoustic wave diaphragm, said fluid in flow causes said acoustic wave diaphragm to experience a pulling force, wherein said pulling force pulls said acoustic wave diaphragm inward towards said fluid in flow creating a change in said mechanical stress or strain resulting in a detectable frequency change in order to provide an indication of said fluid in flow.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An acoustic wave flow sensor is disclosed, which includes a sensor substrate and an acoustic wave diaphragm etched upon the sensor substrate, wherein mechanical stress or strain is concentrated in the acoustic wave diaphragm. One or more interdigital transducers can be configured upon the acoustic wave diaphragm, wherein the sensor substrate, the acoustic wave diaphragm and the interdigital transducer(s) form an acoustic wave flow sensor, such that when the interdigital transducer and the acoustic wave diaphragm are exposed to a fluid in flow, the fluid in flow causes the acoustic wave diaphragm to experience a change in the mechanical stress or strain resulting in a detectable frequency and/or phase change in order to provide an indication of fluid flow.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. An acoustic wave flow sensor, comprising;
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a sensor substrate; an acoustic wave diaphragm etched upon said sensor substrate, wherein a mechanical stress or strain is concentrated in said acoustic wave diaphragm; and at least one interdigital transducer configured upon said acoustic wave diaphragm, wherein said sensor substrate, said acoustic wave diaphragm and said at least one interdigital transducer form an acoustic wave flow sensor, such that when said at least one interdigital transducer and said acoustic wave diaphragm are exposed to a fluid in flow, wherein said fluid flow is parallel to said acoustic wave diaphragm, said fluid in flow causes said acoustic wave diaphragm to experience a pulling force, wherein said pulling force pulls said acoustic wave diaphragm inward towards said fluid in flow creating a change in said mechanical stress or strain resulting in a detectable frequency change in order to provide an indication of said fluid in flow. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. An acoustic wave flow sensor, comprising;
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a sensor substrate comprising a piezoelectric material; an acoustic wave diaphragm etched upon said sensor substrate, wherein a mechanical stress or strain is concentrated in said acoustic wave diaphragm; and at least one interdigital transducer configured upon said acoustic wave diaphragm, wherein said sensor substrate, said acoustic wave diaphragm and said at least one interdigital transducer form an acoustic wave flow sensor, wherein when said at least one interdigital transducer and said acoustic wave diaphragm are exposed to a fluid in flow, wherein said acoustic wave diaphragm is parallel to said fluid in flow, said fluid in flow causes said acoustic wave diaphragm to experience a pulling force, wherein said pulling force pulls said acoustic wave diaphragm inward towards said fluid in flow creating a change in said mechanical stress or strain resulting in a detectable frequency or phase change in order to provide an indication of said fluid in flow. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15)
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16. An acoustic wave flow sensing method, comprising;
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providing a sensor substrate comprising a piezoelectric material; etching an acoustic wave diaphragm upon said sensor substrate, wherein a mechanical stress or strain is concentrated in said acoustic wave diaphragm; and configuring at least one interdigital transducer upon said acoustic wave diaphragm, wherein said sensor substrate, said acoustic wave diaphragm and said at least one interdigital transducer form an acoustic wave flow sensor, exposing said at least one interdigital transducer and said acoustic wave diaphragm to a fluid in flow, wherein said acoustic wave diaphragm is parallel to said fluid in flow, wherein said fluid in flow causes said acoustic wave diaphragm to experience a pulling force, wherein said pulling force pulls said acoustic wave diaphragm inward towards said fluid in flow creating a change in said mechanical stress or strain resulting in a detectable frequency change in order to provide an indication of said fluid in flow. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification