Preloaded pressure sensor module

• US 8,434,369 B2
• Filed: 05/23/2011
• Issued: 05/07/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 05/23/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Universal Cement Corporation
• Original Assignee: Universal Cement Corporation
• Inventors: Hou, Chih-Sheng, Chern, Yann-Cherng
• Primary Examiner(s): ALLEN, ANDRE J
• Application Number:
  US13/113,426
• Publication Number:
  US 20120297885A1
• Time in Patent Office: 715 Days
• Field of Search: 73700-756
• US Class Current: 73/718
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 1/18 using properties of piezo-resistive materials, i.e. materials of which the ohmic resistance varies according to changes in magnitude or direction of force applied to the material

Abstract

A preloaded pressure sensor module (PPSM) is disclosed, where the PPSM outputs a linear Conductivity Response versus Pressure Force input. The PPSM has a convex or concave profile which is prepared by pressing a flat pressure sensor device onto to a convex or concave base respectively so that the pressure sensitive layer inside the sensor module is bent and displays a preloaded effect.

Claims

1. A preloaded pressure sensor module, comprising:

a substrate, having a curved surface; and

a pressure sensor, configured on and along the curved surface such that said pressure sensor has a profile in conformance to the profile of said curved surface.

2. A preloaded pressure sensor module as claimed in claim 1, wherein said pressure sensor further comprising:

a top pressure sensitive layer; and

a bottom pressure sensitive layer, configured under the top pressure sensitive layer;

wherein a bottom center of said top pressure sensitive layer contacts a top center of said bottom pressure sensitive layer.

3. A preloaded pressure sensor module as claimed in claim 2, wherein

both said pressure sensitive layer are bent to form an arc in a section view.

4. A preloaded pressure sensor module as claimed in claim 3, wherein

said arc is selected from a group consisted of a convex and a concave.

5. A preloaded pressure sensor module as claimed in claim 4, wherein

one of said pressure sensitive layer is a piezoresistive or dielectric material.

6. A preloaded pressure sensor module as claimed in claim 5, further comprising:

a top electrode, configured on the top pressure sensitive layer; and

a bottom electrode, configured under the bottom pressure-sensitive layer.

7. A preloaded pressure sensor module as claimed in claim 6, further comprising:

a top substrate, configured on the top electrode; and

a bottom substrate, configured under the bottom electrode.

8. A preloaded pressure sensor module as claimed in claim 1, wherein

said curved surface is selected from a group consisted of a convex surface and a concave surface.

9. A preloaded pressure sensor module as claimed in claim 1, wherein said pressure sensor further comprising:

a top electrode;

a bottom electrode; and

a single piece of pressure sensitive layer, configured in between the top electrode and the bottom electrode.

10. A preloaded pressure sensor module as claimed in claim 9, wherein

said pressure sensitive layer is selected from a group consisted of piezoresistive material and dielectric material.

11. A preloaded pressure sensor module as claimed in claim 9, further comprising:

an air space in between the pressure sensitive layer and the top electrode.

12. A preloaded pressure sensor module as claimed in claim 9, further comprising:

an air space in between the pressure sensitive layer and the bottom electrode.

13. A preloaded pressure sensor module as claimed in claim 9, further comprising:

a top substrate, configured on the top electrode; and

a bottom substrate, configured under the bottom electrode.

14. A preloaded pressure sensor module as claimed in claim 9, wherein

said curved surface is selected from a group consisted of a convex and a concave.

15. A preloaded pressure sensor module as claimed in claim 1, wherein

said pressure sensor is selected from a group consisted of piezoresistive sensor and capacitor sensor.

16. A portable electronic device, comprising:

a cover glass; and

a preloaded pressure sensor module of claim 1, configured under the cover glass.

17. A portable electronic device as claimed in claim 16, wherein

said preloaded pressure sensor module has a convex top;

and

four said convex preloaded pressure sensor modules are used;

each is configured under one of four corners of said cover glass with said convex top contacting said cover glass.

18. A portable electronic device as claimed in claim 17, further comprising

a concave bump, configured in between the cover glass and one of the convex preloaded pressure sensor modules.

19. A portable electronic device as claimed in claim 17, further comprising

a concave indentation, made on bottom surface of said cover glass;

matching with one of said preloaded pressure sensor modules underside.

20. A portable electronic device as claimed in claim 16, wherein

said preloaded pressure sensor module has a convex top;

a first strip of said preloaded pressure sensor module, configured on a first side under the cover glass with said convex top contacting said cover glass; and

a second strip of said preloaded pressure sensor module, configured on a second side opposite to the first side under the cover glass with said convex top contacting said cover glass.

21. A portable electronic device as claimed in claim 20, wherein

said first side and second side are top side and bottom side respectively.

22. A portable electronic device as claimed in claim 20, wherein

said first side and second side are left side and right side respectively.

23. A portable electronic device as claimed in claim 20, further comprising:

a first concave indentation, made on the bottom surface of said cover glass for matching with said first strip of convex preloaded pressure sensor module; and

a second concave indentation, made on the bottom surface of said cover glass for matching with said second strip of preloaded pressure sensor module.

24. A portable electronic device as claimed in claim 16, wherein

said preloaded pressure sensor module has a convex top and a flat bottom;

and

one said convex preloaded pressure sensor module is configured under said cover glass with said flat bottom contacting said cover glass.

25. A portable electronic device, comprising:

a display module; and

a preloaded pressure sensor module of claim 1, configured under the display module.

27. A portable electronic device, comprising:

a display module with an integrated touch sensor; and

a preloaded pressure sensor module of claim 1, configured under the display module.

28. A portable electronic device, comprising:

a cover glass, having a bottom bump; and

a sensor module of claim 5, configured under the bump;

wherein said bump has a bottom profile in conformance to the top profile of the preloaded pressure sensor.

29. A portable electronic device, comprising:

a cover glass, having a bottom bump; and

a sensor module of claim 11, configured under the bump;

wherein said bump has a bottom profile in conformance to the top profile of the preloaded pressure sensor.

31. A process for preparing a preloaded pressure sensor module as claimed in claim 29, wherein

said curved surface is selected from a group consisted of a convex and a concave.

26. A portable electronic device, comprising:

a cover glass;

a space, configured under the cover glass;

a display module, configured under the space; and

two preloaded pressure sensor modules, one configured on a first side under said cover glass, and the other one configured on a second side under said cover glass;

wherein

said display module is configured in between said two preloaded pressure sensor modules in a section view.

30. A process for preparing a preloaded pressure sensor module, comprising:

preparing a substrate with a curved surface;

preparing a pressure sensor; and

configuring said pressure sensor onto said curved surface.