Multi-functional water quality sensor

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016209346-A1
Application number	US-201514934499-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Nov 6, 2015
Priority date	Jan 20, 2015
Publication date	Jul 21, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A multi-functional sensor assembly includes an electrically non-conductive substrate defining at least a distal region, intermediary region, and proximal region that are each covered with electrically conductive traces. The proximal region is configured to be exposed to a media to be sensed and the distal and intermediary regions are configured to be protected from the media. The electrically conductive traces comprise at least electrical circuits to sense temperature and flow of the media and one or more electrodes to sense one or more of conductivity, oxidation reduction potential (ORP), and acidity (pH) of the media.

First claim

1 . A multi-functional sensor assembly comprising:
an electrically non-conductive substrate defining at least a distal region, intermediary region, and proximal region that are each covered with electrically conductive traces, and wherein the proximal region is configured to be exposed to a media to be sensed and wherein the distal and intermediary regions are configured to be protected from the media, and wherein the electrically conductive traces comprise at least electrical circuits to sense temperature and flow of the media and one or more electrodes to sense one or more of conductivity, oxidation reduction potential (ORP) and acidity (pH).

2 . The multi-functional sensor assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the proximal region includes the one or more electrodes, the intermediary region includes the electrical circuits to sense temperature and flow, and the distal region includes electrically conductive trace segments connected to the electrical circuits and to the one or more electrodes, and wherein the trace segments terminate in pads serving as an external electrical connection interface.

3 . The multi-functional sensor assembly according to claim 2 , wherein the one or more electrodes comprises at least three electrodes configured to sense conductivity, ORP and pH.

4 . The multi-functional sensor assembly according to claim 3 , wherein the at least three electrodes comprise three concentric circles interrupted for connection to the electrically conductive traces, and wherein a radially outer electrode comprises a counter electrode, a radially inner electrode comprises a working electrode, and a radially intermediary electrode between the counter and working electrodes comprises a reference electrode.

5 . The multi-functional sensor assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the electrically non-conductive substrate comprises a single piece substrate that is approximately 4.0 mm by 1.0 mm by 0.5 mm or less.

6 . The multi-functional sensor assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the electrically non-conductive substrate comprises a glass, a polymer, or a ceramic material including electrically insulating properties.

7 . The multi-functional sensor assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the electrically non-conductive substrate comprises a material of high thermal conductivity.

8 . The multi-functional sensor assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the electrically conductive traces comprise platinum or an alloy of platinum.

9 . The multi-functional sensor assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the electrical circuits are operated in a pulsed power load to determine temperature and flow of the media.

10 . The multi-functional sensor assembly according to claim 9 , wherein the electrical circuits comprises a heater circuit and a Resistive Temperature Detector (RTD) circuit, and wherein a power pulse for the heater circuit produces a temperature increase that is dissipated through the substrate and which allows the RTD circuit to determine both temperature and flow of the media.

11 . The multi-functional sensor assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the distal region of the substrate is connected to a printed circuit board that is at least partially enclosed within a housing, and wherein the proximal region of the substrate extends outwardly of the housing.

12 . A multi-functional sensor assembly comprising:
an electrically non-conductive substrate defining at least a distal region, intermediary region, and proximal region that are each covered with electrically conductive traces; a printed circuit board connected to the distal region; and a housing enclosing the intermediary and distal regions, and surrounding at least one end of the printed circuit board, and wherein the proximal region extends outwardly of the housing to be exposed to a media to be sensed, and wherein the electrically conductive traces comprise at least electrical circuits to sense temperature and flow of the media and one or more electrodes to sense one or more of conductivity, oxidation reduction potential (ORP) and acidity (pH).

13 . The multi-functional sensor assembly according to claim 12 , wherein the electrical circuits are located in the intermediary region and comprise a heater circuit and a Resistive Temperature Detector (RTD) circuit that is used to determine temperature and flow rate of the media.

14 . The multi-functional sensor assembly according to claim 13 , wherein the proximal region includes the one or more electrodes, and wherein the one or more electrodes comprises at least three electrodes configured to sense conductivity, ORP and pH.

15 . The multi-functional sensor assembly according to claim 14 , wherein the at least three electrodes comprise three concentric circles interrupted for connection to the electrically conductive traces, and wherein a radially outer electrode comprises a counter electrode, a radially inner electrode comprises a working electrode, and a radially intermediary electrode between the counter and working electrodes comprises a reference electrode.

16 . The multi-functional sensor assembly according to claim 14 , wherein the distal region includes electrically conductive trace segments connected to the electrical circuits and the three electrodes, and wherein the trace segments terminate in pads serving as an external electrical connection interface to the printed circuit board.

17 . A pulse anemometer mode of operating a flow sensor comprising:
creating a temperature profile comprised of peak and valley temperatures of a substrate exposed to a media via heat pulses defined by a power, a power duration, and a power off duration; and documenting the peak and valley temperatures of the substrate as a measure of flow and velocity of the media.

18 . The pulse anemometer mode of operating a flow sensor according to claim 17 , further including:
establishing a first constant potential or a first constant current between a working electrode and a counter electrode and documenting a first documented potential between the working electrode and a reference electrode as a measure of the ORP; establishing a second constant potential or a second constant current between the working electrode and the counter electrode and documenting a second documented potential between the working electrode and the reference electrode; establishing a third constant potential or a third constant current between the working electrode and the counter electrode and documenting a third documented potential between the working electrode and the reference electrode; and determining a difference between the second and third documented potentials between the working and reference electrodes as a measure of the pH.

19 . A dynamic mode of operating a three electrode setup for ORP and pH documentation of a media comprising:
establishing a first constant potential or a first constant current between a working electrode and a counter electrode and documenting a first documented potential between the working electrode and a reference electrode as a measure of ORP of a media; establishing a second constant potential or a second constant current between the working electrode and the counter electrode and documenting a second documented potential between the working electrode and the reference electrode; establishing a third constant potential or a third constant current between the working electrode and the counter electrode and documenting a third documented potential between the working electrode and the reference electrode; and determ

Assignees

• Masco Corp

Inventors

• Brondum Klaus
• Burns Mark A
• Lin Wen-Chi
• Mccague Michael
• Stec Stephen Michael
• Johnson Brian J
• Marty Garry

Classifications

• G01N27/302

  pH sensitive, e.g. quinhydron, antimony or hydrogen electrodes (ion selective electrodes G01N27/333, glass electrodes G01N27/36) · CPC title

• G01N27/4166

  measuring a particular property of an electrolyte · CPC title

• G01N33/18

  Water · CPC title

• G01N27/07 Primary

  Construction of measuring vessels; Electrodes therefor · CPC title