Pressure sensor with a flexible membrane

• US 8,640,547 B2
• Filed: 04/20/2009
• Issued: 02/04/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 04/29/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Swatch Group Research And Development Ltd
• Original Assignee: The Swatch Group Research And Development Ltd
• Inventors: Winkler, Yves, Meylan, Frdric, Grupp, Joachim
• Primary Examiner(s): Caputo, Lisa
• Assistant Examiner(s): JENKINS, JERMAINE L
• Application Number:
  US12/990,191
• Publication Number:
  US 20110056301A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,751 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 73/714
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 9/0044 Constructional details of non-semiconductive diaphragms
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 9/008 using piezoelectric devices piezoelectric resonators G01L9/0022; surface acoustic waves G01L9/0025
• CPC Class Codes: G04B 47/06 with attached measuring instruments, e.g. pedometer, barometer, thermometer or compass in combination with a tachometer which winds up the clockwork G04B5/206
• CPC Class Codes: G04B 47/066 with a pressure sensor
• CPC Class Codes: G04G 21/02 Detectors of external physical values, e.g. temperature

Abstract

The invention relates to a pressure sensor (6). This pressure sensor (6) comprises a flexible membrane (11) cooperating with a transmission device (10) that enables a value representing the pressure to be supplied on the basis of the deformation of the membrane (11). The membrane (11) is made from an at least partially amorphous material in order to optimise the dimensions of the sensor (6).

Claims

1. A pressure sensor comprising a flexible membrane cooperating with a transmission device that enables a value representing the pressure to be supplied on the basis of the deformation of the membrane, wherein the membrane is made from an at least partially amorphous metal alloy in order to optimise the dimensions of the sensor, and wherein the at least partially amorphous metal alloy comprises at least one precious type element included in the list comprising gold, platinum, palladium, rhenium, ruthenium, rhodium, silver, iridium or osmium.

2. The pressure sensor according to claim 1, wherein the membrane is made of a completely amorphous material.

3. The pressure sensor according to claim 2, wherein the material has a ratio of elastic limit to its Young'"'"'s modulus of more than 0.01.

4. A watch, wherein it comprises a pressure sensor according to claim 2.

5. The pressure sensor according to claim 1, wherein the material has a ratio of elastic limit to its Young'"'"'s modulus of more than 0.01.

6. The pressure sensor according to claim 5, wherein the material has a Young'"'"'s modulus of more than 50 GPa.

7. A watch, wherein it comprises a pressure sensor according to claim 6.

8. A watch, wherein it comprises a pressure sensor according to claim 5.

9. The pressure sensor according to claim 1, wherein the membrane is substantially discoidal and is secured to the sensor by its periphery.

10. A watch, wherein it comprises a pressure sensor according to claim 9.

11. The pressure sensor according to claim 1, wherein the membrane has a non-rectilinear profile in order to increase its deformation surface.

12. A watch, wherein it comprises a pressure sensor according to claim 11.

13. The pressure sensor according to claim 11, wherein the profile of the membrane has at least one sinusoidal portion.

14. A watch, wherein it comprises a pressure sensor according to claim 13.

15. A watch, wherein it comprises a pressure sensor that includes a flexible membrane cooperating with a transmission device that enables a value representing the pressure to be supplied on the basis of the deformation of the membrane, wherein the membrane is made from an at least partially amorphous metal alloy in order to optimise the dimensions of the sensor, wherein the at least partially amorphous metal alloy comprises at least one precious type element included in the list comprising gold, platinum, palladium, rhenium, ruthenium, rhodium, silver, iridium or osmium.

16. The watch according to claim 15, wherein it additionally comprises a means for converting the value representing the pressure into a depth value to allow the watch to perform a depth gauge function.