Systems and methods for isolated sensor device protection

• US 9,541,568 B2
• Filed: 10/08/2014
• Issued: 01/10/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 10/08/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: Braman, Todd L Loren, Grossman, Owen D., Schlager, Matthew, Graham, Jason Daniel, Hanson, Timothy J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Caputo, Lisa
• Assistant Examiner(s): WILLIAMS, JAMEL E
• Application Number:
  US14/509,897
• Publication Number:
  US 20160103145A1
• Time in Patent Office: 825 Days
• Field of Search: 734/31
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 19/5783 Mountings or housings not specific to any of the devices covered by groups G01C19/5607 - G01C19/5719
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 1/003 used for damping
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 1/023 for acceleration measuring devices

Abstract

Systems and methods for isolated sensor device protection are provided. In one embodiment, an isolated sensor device comprises: a housing having an isolation chamber; an isolator sealed within the isolation chamber; an inertial sensor assembly sealed within the isolation chamber, the inertial sensor assembly coupled to an inner surface of the isolation chamber by the isolator; and at least one progressive impact interface applied to a periphery of the inertial sensor assembly, wherein the at least one progressive impact interface extends outward from the inertial sensor assembly towards the inner surface.

Claims

1. An isolated sensor device, the device comprising:

a housing having an isolation chamber;

an isolator sealed within the isolation chamber

an inertial sensor assembly sealed within the isolation chamber, the inertial sensor assembly coupled to an inner surface of the isolation chamber by the isolator;

at least one progressive impact interface applied to a periphery of the inertial sensor assembly, wherein the at least one progressive impact interface extends outward from the inertial sensor assembly towards the inner surface;

wherein the at least one progressive impact interface comprises an angular extended lip that extends both radially and axially away from the inertial sensor assembly and towards the inner surface.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the at least one progressive impact interface is positioned around the periphery of the inertial sensor assembly such that when the inertial sensor assembly experiences sufficient deflection within the isolation chamber to impact the inner surface, the progressive impact interface will be the first point of contact between the inertial sensor assembly and the inner surface.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein the at least one progressive impact interface comprises a geometry, and is formed from a material, such that an area of the material in contact with the inner surface, starting from an initial contact area, progressively increases when inertial forces on the inertial sensor assembly continue to further compress the at least one progressive impact interface against the inner surface.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the inertial sensor assembly comprises:

a circuit board that includes at least one of an accelerometer or a gyroscope;

a shock ring mounted around a periphery of the circuit board; and

wherein the at least one progressive impact interface comprises an elastomer material applied to at least part of the shock ring.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the angular extended lip comprises a continuous ring of elastomer material about the periphery of the inertial sensor assembly.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the angular extended lip comprises a radial impact point which, when the inertial sensor assembly deflects such as to radially exhaust a sway space between the inertial sensor assembly and the inner surface, will be the first point of contact between the at least one progressive impact interface and the inner surface.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the angular extended lip comprises an axial impact point which, when the inertial sensor assembly deflects such as to axially exhaust a sway space between the inertial sensor assembly and the inner surface, will be the first point of contact between the at least one progressive impact interface and the inner surface.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the angular extended lip comprises a wedge shape of elastomer material.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein the at least one progressive impact interface comprises a continuously curved outer surface that extends both radially and axially towards the inner surface.

10. The device of claim 9, wherein the continuously curved outer surface comprises a continuous ring of elastomer material about the periphery of the inertial sensor assembly.

11. An isolated sensor device, the device comprising:

a housing having an isolation chamber;

an isolator sealed within the isolation chamber

an inertial sensor assembly sealed within the isolation chamber, the inertial sensor assembly coupled to an inner surface of the isolation chamber by the isolator;

at least one progressive impact interface applied to a periphery of the inertial sensor assembly, wherein the at least one progressive impact interface extends outward from the inertial sensor assembly towards the inner surface;

wherein the inertial sensor assembly is secured to the inner surface by the isolator but is otherwise isolated on all sides from the inner surface of the housing by a sway space; and

wherein at least a portion of the sway space comprises a sway space augmentation material configured to compress upon deflection of the inertial sensor assembly within the isolation chamber.

12. The device of claim 11, wherein the sway space comprises an air gap.

13. An isolated sensor device, the device comprising:

a housing having an isolation chamber;

an isolator sealed within the isolation chamber;

an inertial sensor assembly sealed within the isolation chamber, the inertial sensor assembly coupled to an inner surface of the isolation chamber by the isolator, wherein the inertial sensor assembly is secured to the inner surface by the isolator but is otherwise isolated on all sides from the inner surface of the housing by a sway space; and

a sway space augmentation material occupying at least part of the sway space and configured to compress upon deflection of the inertial sensor assembly within the isolation chamber;

wherein the inertial sensor assembly includes at least one progressive impact interface applied to a periphery of the inertial sensor assembly, wherein the at least one progressive impact interface comprises an angular extended lip that extends both radially and axially away from the inertial sensor assembly and towards the inner surface.

14. The device of claim 13, the sway space at least partially further comprising an air gap.

15. The device of claim 13, further comprising:

at least one progressive impact interface applied to a periphery of the inertial sensor assembly, wherein the at least one progressive impact interface extends outward from the inertial sensor assembly towards the inner surface.

16. The device of claim 15, wherein the at least one progressive impact interface is positioned around the periphery of the inertial sensor assembly such that when the inertial sensor assembly experiences sufficient deflection within the isolation chamber to impact the inner surface, the progressive impact interface will be the first point of contact between the inertial sensor assembly and the inner surface.

17. The device of claim 16, wherein the at least one progressive impact interface comprises a geometry, and is formed from a material, such that an area of the material in contact with the inner surface, starting from an initial contact area, progressively increases when inertial forces on the inertial sensor assembly continue to further compress the at least one progressive impact interface against the inner surface.

18. The device of claim 15, wherein the inertial sensor assembly comprises:

a circuit board that includes at least one of an accelerometer or a gyroscope;

a shock ring mounted around a periphery of the circuit board; and

wherein the at least one progressive impact interface comprises an elastomer material applied to at least part of the shock ring.