Pressure sensor with a deformable electrically resistive membrane
First Claim
1. A pressure sensing element comprising:
- a housing defining a tubular fluid chamber containing a fluid therein;
a pressure application surface operably coupled to a moveable piston positioned proximal to a first end of the tubular fluid chamber and in contact with the fluid, the piston configured to shift relative to the housing when an external pressure is applied to the pressure application surface, thereby affecting a change in fluid pressure; and
a deformable piezoresistive membrane in contact with the fluid, wherein the deformable piezoresistive membrane comprises an elastomer having conductive carbon nanoparticles distributed therein, and is configured to change in electrical resistance when deformed by pressure changes in the fluid.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A pressure sensing element has at least a housing containing a fluid. The housing has at least two moveable surfaces in contact with the fluid in the housing; There is a first moveable surface comprising a pressure application surface which, when moved towards, away from, into or out of the fluid, creates a change in fluid pressure and a second moveable surface in contact with the fluid in the housing comprising a membrane which, when deformed by pressure changes in the fluid, alters its electrical resistance. The membrane has two electrodes attached to deformable material in the membrane. The membrane my have an elastomer having conductive particles distributed therein. The elastomer may be a dielectric and the particles are conductive nanoparticles.
44 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A pressure sensing element comprising:
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a housing defining a tubular fluid chamber containing a fluid therein; a pressure application surface operably coupled to a moveable piston positioned proximal to a first end of the tubular fluid chamber and in contact with the fluid, the piston configured to shift relative to the housing when an external pressure is applied to the pressure application surface, thereby affecting a change in fluid pressure; and a deformable piezoresistive membrane in contact with the fluid, wherein the deformable piezoresistive membrane comprises an elastomer having conductive carbon nanoparticles distributed therein, and is configured to change in electrical resistance when deformed by pressure changes in the fluid. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification