Carbon nanotube or graphene based pressure switch
First Claim
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1. A pressure switch assembly, comprising:
- a semiconductor substrate;
a cavity defined within the semiconductor substrate having a cross-sectional area and a depth;
a bottom conductor disposed within the bottom of the cavity, wherein the bottom conductor has a top surface;
a conductive membrane disposed above the cavity, wherein the conductive membrane has a bottom surface, and wherein the conductive membrane is configured to deflect toward the top surface of the bottom conductor upon an applied fluid pressure;
an insulating layer disposed between the bottom surface of the conductive membrane and the top surface of the bottom conductor; and
a switching element, wherein the switching element is configured to activate upon sufficient deflection of the conductive membrane toward the top surface of the bottom conductor such that electron tunneling through the insulating layer produces sufficient electrical communication between the conductive membrane and the bottom conductor to activate the switching element.
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Abstract
The present invention describes systems and methods for providing a carbon or graphene based pressure switch. An exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes a semiconductor substrate; a cavity defined within the semiconductor substrate having a cross-sectional area and a depth; a bottom conductor disposed within the cavity; a conductive membrane disposed above the cavity and adapted to deflect towards the bottom conductor upon an applied pressure; an elastic, insulating layer disposed between the conductive membrane and the bottom conductor; and a switching element adapted to activate upon electrical communication between the conductive membrane and the bottom conductor.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A pressure switch assembly, comprising:
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a semiconductor substrate; a cavity defined within the semiconductor substrate having a cross-sectional area and a depth; a bottom conductor disposed within the bottom of the cavity, wherein the bottom conductor has a top surface; a conductive membrane disposed above the cavity, wherein the conductive membrane has a bottom surface, and wherein the conductive membrane is configured to deflect toward the top surface of the bottom conductor upon an applied fluid pressure; an insulating layer disposed between the bottom surface of the conductive membrane and the top surface of the bottom conductor; and a switching element, wherein the switching element is configured to activate upon sufficient deflection of the conductive membrane toward the top surface of the bottom conductor such that electron tunneling through the insulating layer produces sufficient electrical communication between the conductive membrane and the bottom conductor to activate the switching element. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method of indicating whether a fluid pressure exerted by a medium is above a certain threshold pressure comprising:
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applying the fluid pressure to a conductive membrane suspended across a cavity, wherein the cavity has a geometry and a cavity bottom having a top surface, and wherein the fluid pressure causes the conductive membrane to deflect toward the top surface of the cavity bottom; creating an electrical potential difference between the conductive membrane and the cavity bottom; and upon the conductive membrane sufficiently deflecting toward the top surface of the cavity bottom such that sufficient current flows between the conductive membrane and the cavity bottom, activating a load, wherein a substantial increase in current sufficient to activate the load indicates the fluid pressure is above the threshold pressure. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification