Relative pressure sensor

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2019226930-A1
Application number	US-201916375409-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Apr 4, 2019
Priority date	Oct 28, 2015
Publication date	Jul 25, 2019
Grant date	—

Abstract

An apparatus may include a liquid container and a sense unit mounted to the liquid container. The sense unit may include a substrate, a liquid level sensor supported by the substrate and a pressure sensor. The sense unit may further include an electrical interconnect, wherein the liquid level sensor and a pressure sensor are to each communicate through the electrical interconnect.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . An apparatus comprising:
a liquid container; a sense unit mounted to the liquid container, the sense unit comprising:
a substrate;
a liquid level sensor supported by the substrate; and
a pressure sensor; and
an electrical interconnect, wherein the liquid level sensor and a pressure sensor are to each communicate through the electrical interconnect.

2 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the substrate supports the electrical interconnect.

3 . The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a second pressure sensor supported by the substrate and connected to the electrical interconnect to communicate through the electrical interconnect.

4 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the pressure sensor is supported by the substrate.

5 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the electrical interconnect is supported external to the liquid container and is electrically connected to the liquid level sensor by wiring extending from within the liquid container, through a wall of the liquid container, to electrical interconnect.

6 . The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the substrate has a length extending within the liquid container towards an internal floor of the liquid container and wherein the liquid level sensor extends along a majority of the length.

7 . The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a second pressure sensor supported by the substrate and connected to the electrical interconnect to communicate through the electrical interconnect.

8 . The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the electrical interconnect is supported external to the liquid container and is electrically connected to the liquid level sensor by wiring extending from within the liquid container, through a wall of the liquid container, to electrical interconnect.

9 . The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the substrate has a length extending within the liquid container towards an internal floor of the liquid container and wherein the liquid level sensor extends along a majority of the length.

10 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the electrical interconnect is supported external to the liquid container and is electrically connected to the liquid level sensor by wiring extending from within the liquid container, through a wall of the liquid container, to electrical interconnect.

11 . The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the substrate has a length extending within the liquid container towards an internal floor of the liquid container and wherein the liquid level sensor extends along a majority of the length.

12 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the substrate has a length extending within the liquid container towards an internal floor of the liquid container and wherein the liquid level sensor extends along a majority of the length.

13 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the pressure sensor comprises:
a cavity in a face of the substrate, the cavity having a floor in the substrate; a passage extending from the cavity; and a membrane supporting a pressure sensing device, the membrane being mounted to the substrate opposite the floor.

14 . The apparatus of claim 13 , further comprising:
a channel in the face of the substrate; and a cover secured to the substrate opposite the channel to form the passage.

15 . The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the cover comprises an adhesive.

16 . The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the cover comprises a film.

17 . The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the cavity comprises:
a floor formed by the substrate; and sidewalls formed by the substrate.

18 . The apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the membrane has major dimensions extending in a plane and wherein the sidewalls and the plane form an acute angle within the cavity.

19 . The apparatus of claim 13 further comprising a liquid chamber, wherein the passage extends from an interior and an exterior of the liquid chamber.

20 . The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising an acumen controller chip supported by the substrate.

Assignees

• Hewlett Packard Development Co

Inventors

• Cumbie Michael W
• Chen Chien-Hua

Classifications

• B41J2/17513

  Inner structure · CPC title

• B41J2/17556

  Means for regulating the pressure in the cartridge · CPC title

• G01L7/08 Primary

  of the flexible-diaphragm type · CPC title

• G01L27/005

  Apparatus for calibrating pressure sensors · CPC title

• G01L9/06

  of piezo-resistive devices · CPC title