Sensor assembly and liquid level detection device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10928264-B2
Application number	US-201715695452-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 5, 2017
Priority date	Sep 5, 2016
Publication date	Feb 23, 2021
Grant date	Feb 23, 2021

Abstract

A sensor assembly comprises a housing, a pressure interface, a piezoelectric sensor, a mechanical interface, and an electrical interface. The pressure interface is disposed on the housing and communicates with a pressure transmission tube. The piezoelectric sensor is disposed in the housing and senses a pressure input at the pressure interface. The mechanical interface is disposed at a first side of the housing and detachably engages a mounting mechanism. The electrical interface is disposed at a second side of the housing opposite to the first side.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A sensor assembly, comprising:
a housing;
a pressure interface disposed on the housing and communicating with a pressure transmission tube;
a piezoelectric sensor disposed in the housing and configured to sense a pressure input at the pressure interface;
a mechanical interface disposed directly on and extending laterally from a first side of the housing;
an electrical interface disposed directly on and extending laterally from a second side of the housing opposite to the first side, the electrical interface including at least one connection terminal extending through the second side of the housing; and
a mounting mechanism having a mounting portion detachably mountable on a support frame, and a mating interface disposed on the mounting portion and detachably engageable with the mechanical interface.

2. The sensor assembly of claim 1 , wherein the electrical interface is electrically connected to a mating electrical interface of an external controller by plugging the electrical interface into the mating electrical interface.

3. The sensor assembly of claim 2 , wherein the electrical interface further includes a socket portion contacting and extending from the second side of the housing, and wherein the at least one connection terminal comprises a plurality of connection terminals each having a first end extending through the second side of the housing and electrically connected to the piezoelectric sensor and an opposite second end disposed in the socket portion.

4. The sensor assembly of claim 3 , wherein the second end of each connection terminal is electrically connected with a mating connection terminal of the mating electrical interface inserted into the socket portion.

5. The sensor assembly of claim 3 , wherein the piezoelectric sensor has:
a printed circuit board electrically connected with the connection terminals; and
a semiconductor strain gauge disposed on the printed circuit board, the pressure input at the pressure interface acting on the printed circuit board at the semiconductor strain gauge and varying a resistance value of the semiconductor strain gauge.

6. The sensor assembly of claim 5 , wherein the semiconductor strain gauge is electrically connected to a bridge arm of a Wheatstone bridge.

7. The sensor assembly of claim 1 , wherein the mechanical interface has:
a plug portion extending from the housing; and
an engagement portion disposed on the plug portion and engaging the mounting mechanism.

8. The sensor assembly of claim 7 , wherein an end of the plug portion has a plurality of first cantilevers separated from each other and one engagement portion is disposed on each of the first cantilevers.

9. The sensor assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a cover disposed on the housing.

10. A liquid level detection device, comprising:
a sensor assembly, having:
(a) a housing having a sensor receiving passageway extending through a top surface thereof and into a sensor receiving space;
(b) a pressure interface disposed on the housing and communicating with a pressure transmission tube;
(c) a piezoelectric sensor disposed in the sensor receiving passageway and configured to sense a pressure input at the pressure interface;
(d) a mechanical interface disposed directly on and extending laterally from a first side of the housing;
(e) an electrical interface disposed directly on and extending laterally from a second side of the housing opposite to the first side; and
(f) a cover positioned over the sensor receiving space and sealing the sensor receiving passageway; and

a mounting mechanism, having:
(a) a mounting portion detachably mounted on a support frame; and
(b) a mating interface disposed on the mounting portion and detachably engageable with the mechanical interface.

11. The liquid level detection device of claim 10 , wherein the electrical interface is electrically connected to a mating electrical interface of an external controller by plugging the electrical interface into the mating electrical interface.

12. The liquid level detection device of claim 10 , further comprising a pressure transmitting tube having a first end communicating with a container receiving a liquid and an opposite second end communicating with the pressure interface, a pressure in the pressure transmission tube varying with a liquid level of the liquid in the container.

13. The liquid level detection device of claim 10 , wherein the mechanical interface has:
a plug portion contacting and extending laterally from the first side of the housing and inserted into the mating interface; and
an engagement portion disposed on the plug portion and engaging a mating engagement portion disposed in the mating interface.

14. The liquid level detection device of claim 13 , wherein the engagement portion is a protrusion and the mating engagement portion is a groove receiving the protrusion.

15. The liquid level detection device of claim 10 , wherein the mounting portion has:
an insertion portion extending through a mounting through hole of the support frame;
a holder extending outwardly from the mating interface and contacting a front surface of the support frame around the mounting through hole; and
a locking portion disposed on the insertion portion.

16. The liquid level detection device of claim 15 , wherein the locking portion has:
a second cantilever obliquely extending toward the support frame from an end of the insertion portion; and
a latch disposed on the second cantilever.

17. The liquid level detection device of claim 16 , wherein the second cantilever is elastically deformed to pass through the mounting through hole with the insertion portion and, when elastically restored, the latch abuts an edge of the mounting through hole on a back surface of the support frame such that the support frame is held between the holder and the latch.

18. The liquid level detection device of claim 15 , wherein the holder extends obliquely toward the front surface of the support frame and is in resilient contact with the front surface of the support frame.

19. The liquid level detection device of claim 18 , wherein the mating interface has a support portion abutting the holder and preventing excessive deformation of the holder.

20. A liquid level detection device, comprising:
a sensor assembly, having:
(a) a housing having a sensor receiving passageway extending through a top surface thereof and into a sensor receiving space;
(b) a pressure interface disposed on the housing and communicating with a pressure transmission tube;
(c) a piezoelectric sensor disposed in the sensor receiving passageway and configured to sense a pressure input at the pressure interface;
(d) a mechanical interface disposed at a first side of the housing and having a plug portion extending from the housing and inserted into the mating interface, and an engagement portion disposed on the plug portion and engaging a mating engagement portion disposed in the mating interface, wherein an end of the plug portion has a plurality of first cantilevers separated from each other and one engagement portion is disposed on each of the first cantilevers;
(e) an electrical interface disposed at a second side of the housing opposite to the first side; and
(f) a cover positioned over the sensor receiving space and sealing the sensor receiving passageway; and

a mounting mechanism, having:
(a) a mounting portion detachably mounted on a support frame; and
(b) a mating interface disposed on the mounting portion and deta

Assignees

• Tyco Electronics Shanghai Co Ltd

Inventors

• Pan Lei
• Rajendra Pai
• Ding tongbao
• Li Weiguo

Classifications

• G01F23/14

  by measurement of pressure · CPC title

• G01F15/14 Primary

  Casings, e.g. of special material · CPC title

• G01F15/06

  Indicating or recording devices · CPC title

• G01L19/143 Primary

  Two part housings · CPC title

• D06F39/087 Primary

  Water level measuring or regulating devices · CPC title