Differential pressure sensor and method of using the same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11953391-B2
Application number	US-202218048385-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 20, 2022
Priority date	Oct 7, 2020
Publication date	Apr 9, 2024
Grant date	Apr 9, 2024

Abstract

Various embodiments are directed to a pressure sensor and method of using the same. A pressure sensor may comprise a substrate having a substrate thickness extending between a first substrate surface and a second substrate surface, wherein the first substrate surface and the second substrate surface define opposing ends of the substrate thickness; a first pressure sensing assembly attached to the first substrate surface and configured to detect a first pressure force associated with a first fluid volume, wherein a portion of the first substrate surface adjacent the first pressure sensing assembly is fluidly isolated from the first volume of fluid; and a second pressure sensing assembly attached to the second substrate surface and configured to detect a second pressure force associated with a second volume of fluid, wherein a portion of the second substrate surface adjacent the second pressure sensing assembly is fluidly isolated from the second fluid volume.

First claim

That which is claimed:

1. A method of determining a pressure differential, the method comprising:
providing a pressure sensor comprising:
a substrate defining a first substrate surface and a second substrate surface;
a first pressure sensing assembly attached to the first substrate surface and configured to detect a first pressure force associated with a first volume of fluid, wherein at least a portion of the first substrate surface to which the first pressure sensing assembly is attached is fluidly isolated from the first volume of fluid by a first force transmitting member retainer, wherein the first force transmitting member retainer extends from the first substrate surface; and
a second pressure sensing assembly attached to the second substrate surface and configured to detect a second pressure force associated with a second volume of fluid, wherein at least a portion of the second substrate surface to which the second pressure sensing assembly is attached is fluidly isolated from the second volume of fluid by a second force transmitting member retainer, wherein the second force transmitting member retainer extends from the second substrate surface; and

determining a pressure differential based at least in part on the first pressure force and the second pressure force,
wherein the first substrate surface and the second substrate surface define opposing ends of a thickness of the substrate.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first substrate surface and the second substrate surface define coplanar surfaces such that the first pressure sensing assembly and the second pressure sensing assembly are laterally distanced apart within an at least substantially similar plane.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising receiving a first output signal from the first pressure sensing assembly and a second output signal from the second pressure sensing assembly and determining the pressure differential based at least in part on the first output signal and the second output signal.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first pressure sensing assembly comprises a first pressure sensing element positioned at least substantially adjacent the first substrate surface and configured to detect the first pressure force; and wherein the second pressure sensing assembly comprises a second pressure sensing element positioned at least substantially adjacent the second substrate surface and configured to detect the second pressure force.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first pressure sensing assembly comprises a first force transmitting member disposed within a first sensor housing and configured to receive the first pressure force; and wherein the second pressure sensing assembly comprises a second force transmitting member disposed within a second sensor housing and configured to receive the second pressure force.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the first force transmitting member comprises a first volume of gel; and wherein the second force transmitting member comprises a second volume of gel.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the first volume of gel comprises a food-grade gel; and wherein the first sensor housing is secured relative to the first substrate surface using a food-grade adhesive.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein a portion of the first pressure sensing assembly defining a first pressure port and a portion of the second pressure assembly defining a second pressure port.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the substrate comprises a printed control board (PCB).

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first pressure sensing assembly comprises a first pressure sensing element in electronic communication with the first substrate surface and configured to detect the first pressure force; and wherein the second pressure sensing assembly comprises a second pressure sensing element in electronic communication with the second substrate surface and configured to detect the second pressure force.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the first pressure sensing element is configured to receive the first pressure force at a first receiving surface, and wherein the second pressure sensing element is configured to receive the second pressure force at a second receiving surface.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the first receiving surface is arranged so as to face a substantially opposite direction as the second receiving surface.

13. The method of claim 1 , further comprising defining a first internal pressure chamber configured to house the first volume of fluid; and defining a second internal pressure chamber configured to house the second volume of fluid.

14. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first pressure sensing assembly further comprises a first pressure sensing element disposed within a first sensor housing, wherein the first force transmitting member is configured to transfer at least a portion of the first pressure force to the first pressure sensing element, and wherein the first force transmitting member is configured to at least substantially surround the first pressure sensing element so as to fluidly isolate the first pressure sensing element from the first volume of fluid.

15. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second pressure sensing assembly further comprises a second pressure sensing element disposed within a second sensor housing, wherein the second force transmitting member is configured to transfer at least a portion of the second pressure force to the second pressure sensing element, and wherein the second force transmitting member is configured to at least substantially surround the second pressure sensing element so as to fluidly isolate the second pressure sensing element from the second volume of fluid.

16. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first and the second force transmitting member retainers are configured to retain a force transmitting media within one or more retainer sidewalls in a position engaged with the pressure sensing element of the assembly.

17. A pressure sensor comprising:
a substrate defining a first substrate surface and a second substrate surface;
a first pressure sensing assembly attached to the first substrate surface, wherein at least a portion of the first substrate surface to which the first pressure sensing assembly is attached is fluidly isolated from a first volume of fluid by a first force transmitting member retainer, wherein the first force transmitting member retainer extends from the first substrate surface; and
a second pressure sensing assembly attached to the second substrate surface, wherein at least a portion of the second substrate surface to which the second pressure sensing assembly is attached is fluidly isolated from a second volume of fluid by a second force transmitting member retainer, wherein the second force transmitting member retainer extends from the second substrate surface:
wherein the first substrate surface and the second substrate surface define opposing ends of a thickness of the substrate.

18. The pressure sensor of claim 17 , wherein a portion of the first pressure sensing assembly defining a first pressure port and a portion of the second pressure assembly defining a second pressure port.

19. The pressure sensor of claim 17 , wherein the first and the second force transmitting member retainers are configured to retain a force transmitting media within one or more retainer sidewalls in a position engaged with a pressure sensing element of the assembly.

Assignees

• Honeywell Int Inc

Inventors

• Vadlamudi Sathish
• B Manjesh Kumar
• Sreeramu Sudheer Beligere

Classifications

• G01L13/025 Primary

  using diaphragms · CPC title

• G01L9/0052

  of piezoresistive elements (circuits therefor G01L9/06) · CPC title

• G01L19/0627

  Protection against aggressive medium in general · CPC title

• G01L19/147

  Details about the mounting of the sensor to support or covering means · CPC title

• G01L15/00

  Devices or apparatus for measuring two or more fluid pressure values simultaneously · CPC title