Sensor

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2017364039-A1
Application number	US-201515544210-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Nov 25, 2015
Priority date	Jan 27, 2015
Publication date	Dec 21, 2017
Grant date	—

Abstract

A sensor having a chamber with a sensor element arranged therein comprises a first volume of air. The sensor has a tubular air supply to the chamber, the air supply comprising a second volume of air, and penetration of water through the air supply to the sensor element being prevented by the dimensions of the air supply that define the second volume.

First claim

1 . A sensor,
having a chamber with a sensor element arranged therein, the chamber comprising a first volume (V 1 ) of air, and having a tubular air supply to the chamber, the air supply comprising a second volume (V 2 ) of air, penetration of water through the air supply to the sensor element being prevented by the dimensions of the air supply that define the second volume (V 2 ).

2 . The sensor according to claim 1 , in which water is prevented from getting into the chamber by the dimensions of the air supply.

3 . The sensor according to claim 1 , in which the maximum inside diameter of the air supply is significantly less than the extent of the chamber ( 3 ) perpendicular to the inflow direction of the air.

4 . The sensor according to claim 1 , in which the second volume (V 2 ) is at least as large as the first volume (V 1 ).

5 . The sensor according to claim 1 , in which penetration of water to the sensor element is prevented at least to a prescribed maximum water depth d max in meters, the following condition applying for the ratio of the second volume (V 2 ) to the first volume (V 1 ): V 2 /V 1 >0.1 m −1 ·d max .

6 . The sensor according to claim 1 , in which penetration of water to the sensor element is prevented at least to a water depth of 20 m.

7 . The sensor according to claim 1 , which does not have a barrier element to protect against penetration of water to the sensor element.

8 . The sensor according to claim 9 , which does not have a barrier element formed as a membrane.

9 . The sensor according to either of claims 7 , which does not have a barrier element formed as a gel.

10 . The sensor according to claim 1 , in which the air supply is formed from a flexible material.

11 . The sensor according to claim 1 , in which the air supply is integrated in a housing.

12 . The sensor according to claim 11 , in which the housing is injection-molded, the air supply being formed during the injection molding.

13 . The sensor according to claim 1 , in which the air supply has at least one kink or bend.

14 . The sensor according to claim 1 , in which the sensor element is surrounded laterally and upwardly by the first volume (V 1 ).

15 . The sensor according to claim 1 , which is suitable for use in a cell phone, a wristwatch or an armband.

16 . The sensor according to claim 1 , which is designed as a pressure sensor, as an air humidity sensor or as a gas sensor.

17 . The sensor according to claim 1 , wherein the length of the air supply is significantly greater than an inside diameter of the air supply.

18 . The sensor according to claim 1 , wherein a maximum inside diameter of the air supply is so small that, when immersed in water, enclosed air cannot escape to the outside through the air supply.

Assignees

• Tdk Corp

Inventors

• Schober Armin
• Kuivalainen Jani

Classifications

• G04B47/066

  with a pressure sensor · CPC title

• G01N33/0011

  Sample conditioning (preparing specimens for investigation G01N1/28) · CPC title

• G01L19/143

  Two part housings · CPC title

• G04G21/02 Primary

  Detectors of external physical values, e.g. temperature · CPC title

• G01L19/149

  of immersion sensor, e.g. where the sensor is immersed in the measuring medium or for in vivo measurements, e.g. by using catheter tips · CPC title