Strain detector and pressure sensor

• US 7,194,923 B2
• Filed: 02/25/2005
• Issued: 03/27/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/03/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nagano Keiki Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Nagano Keiki Company Limited
• Inventors: Yoshida, Naoki, Kodama, Hiroshi, Nagasaka, Hiroshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Lefkowitz; Edward
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kirkland, III; Freddie
• Application Number:
  US11/066,907
• Publication Number:
  US 20050193836A1
• Time in Patent Office: 760 Days
• Field of Search: 737/18, 737/23, 737/60, 738/623.81, 738/626.21, 738/626.25, 738/626.27, 738/626.28
• US Class Current: 73/862.628
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 9/0051 using variations in ohmic resistance
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49103 Strain gauge making

Abstract

A thin-film resistor (5) provided on a strain-generating part (2) via an insulating film (4) and an electrode thin-film (6) including an electrode pad (10) arranged in the thin-film resistor (5) are provided. The thin-film resistor (5) includes a strain-detecting thin-film resistive part (8) and an electrode connection (9) connected to the resistive part (8). The electrode connection (9) is formed to extend to the electrode pad (10). The electrode pad (10) includes an external-connection bonding area (12) and a testing probe area (13) formed at different positions. The electrode pad (10) is disposed on a tubular rigid body (1) provided at the outer peripheral edge of a strain-generating part (2).

Claims

1. A strain detector, comprising:

a strain-generating part formed as a thin plate inside a tubular rigid body;

a strain-detecting thin-film resistive part provided on the strain-generating part through an insulating film; and

an electrode thin-film forming an electrode pad to cover an electrode connection connected to the strain-detecting thin-film resistive part without any steps, wherein;

the electrode pad includes an external-connection bonding area and a testing probe area that are arranged at a side of the tubular rigid body and formed at different positions; and

the electrode connection extends to the electrode pad.

2. The strain detector according to claim 1, wherein:

the strain-detecting thin-film resistive part is provided with a strain gauge including four resistors;

each of the four resistors of the strain gauge is connected to each of the electrode connections;

said electrode connections are covered with a conductor including the electrode pad;

areas of a pair of the electrode connections and the conductors, which are on signal input sides opposing each other, are equal; and

areas of a pair of the electrode connections and the conductors, which are on signal output sides opposing each other, are equal.

3. The strain detector according to claim 1, wherein:

the strain-generating part is made of a metal material or a semiconductor material;

the insulating film extends to an outer peripheral edge of a thin film forming surface of the tubular rigid body;

the external-connection bonding area and the testing probe area are arranged side by side along the outer peripheral edge of the thin film forming surface;

an outer peripheral edge of the electrode pad is equally spaced from an outer peripheral edge of the insulating film; and

a distance between the outer peripheral edge of the electrode pad and the outer peripheral edge of the insulating film is at least 0.5 mm.

4. The strain detector according to claim 1, wherein:

the electrode thin-film is formed on the thin film forming surface, and has a pattern that broadens as the electrode thin film extends from the electrode connection toward the electrode pad and the electrode pad is arranged to one side on the thin film forming surface.

5. The strain detector according to claim 1, wherein:

the strain-detecting thin-film resistive part and the electrode connection are formed in an identical thin film layer; and

the strain-detecting thin-film resistive part serves as a full-bridge circuit.

6. A pressure sensor, comprising:

a strain-generating part formed as a thin film inside a tubular rigid body;

a strain-detecting thin-film resistive part provided on the strain-generating part through an insulating film; and

an electrode thin-film forming an electrode pad to cover an electrode connection connected to the strain-detecting thin-film resistive part without any steps, wherein;

the electrode pad includes an external-connection bonding area and a testing probe area that are arranged at a side of the tubular rigid body and formed at different positions; and

the electrode connection extends to the electrode pad.

7. The pressure sensor according to claim 6, wherein:

the strain-detecting thin-film resistive part is provided with a strain gauge including four resistors;

each of the four resistors of the strain gauge is connected to each of the electrode connections;

said electrode connections are covered with a conductor including the electrode pad;

areas of a pair of the electrode connections and the conductors, which are on signal input sides opposing each other, are equal; and

areas of a pair of the electrode connections and the conductors, which are on signal output sides opposing each other, are equal.

8. The pressure sensor according to claim 6, wherein:

the strain-generating part is made of a metal material or a semiconductor material;

the insulating film extends to an outer peripheral edge of a thin film forming surface of the tubular rigid body;

the external-connection bonding area and the testing probe area are arranged side by side along the outer peripheral edge of the thin film forming surface;

an outer peripheral edge of the electrode pad is equally spaced from an outer peripheral edge of the insulating film; and

a distance between the outer peripheral edge of the electrode pad and the outer peripheral edge of the insulating film is at least 0.5 mm.

9. The pressure sensor according to claim 6, wherein:

the electrode thin-film is formed on the thin film forming surface, and has a pattern that broadens as the electrode thin film extends from the electrode connection toward the electrode pad and the electrode pad is arranged to one side on the thin film forming surface.

10. The pressure sensor according to claim 6, wherein:

the strain-detecting thin-film resistive part and the electrode connection are formed in an identical thin film layer; and

the strain-detecting thin-film resistive part serves as a full-bridge circuit.