# US 11,112,340 B2 · Gas analyzer and gas analyzing device > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,112,340 B2 - Document ID: US11112340B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/471,162 - Filed: 2017-11-22 - Published: 2019-10-17 - Granted: 2021-09-07 - Earliest claimed: 2016-12-20 - Assignees: Endress + Hauser Flowtec AG - Applicants: Endress+Hauser Flowtec AG; Truedyne Sensors AG - Inventors: Christof Huber; Patrick Reith; Anastasios Badarlis - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11112340B2 ## CPC - G01N 9/002: {using variation of the resonant frequency of an element vibrating in contact with the material submitted to analysis (G01N9/34 takes precedence)} - G01N 11/16: by measuring damping effect upon oscillatory body - G01N 29/022: {Fluid sensors based on microsensors, e.g. quartz crystal-microbalance [QCM], surface acoustic wave [SAW] devices, tuning forks, cantilevers, flexural plate wave [FPW] devices (microdevices per se B81B)} - G01N 29/036: by measuring frequency or resonance of acoustic waves - G01N 29/222: {Constructional or flow details for analysing fluids (optoacoustic fluid cells G01N29/2425)} - G01N 29/2431: {using other means for acoustic excitation, e.g. heat, microwaves, electron beams (sound producing devices not otherwise provided for G10K15/04)} - G01N 27/18: caused by changes in the thermal conductivity of a surrounding material to be tested (G01N27/20 takes precedence) - G01N 2291/021: Gases - G01N 2291/02818: Density, viscosity - G01N 2291/0427: Flexural waves, plate waves, e.g. Lamb waves, tuning fork, cantilever - G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q) ## Abstract The present disclosure relates to a gas analyzer for measuring density and/or viscosity of a medium. The gas analyzer includes a connection panel having first and second media openings, each of which extends from a first surface to a second surface of the connection panel. A sensor panel is joined together with the connection panel on a first joint plane, and a cover panel is joined together with the sensor panel on a second joint plane, on a sensor panel face facing away from the connection panel. The cover panel has a cover panel cavity which communicates with the first and second media openings, and the sensor panel has at least one oscillator cavity which communicates with the first and second media openings. The sensor panel has a micromechanical oscillator arranged in the oscillator cavity and excitable to mechanically vibrate perpendicularly to the joint planes. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A gas analyzer for measuring the density or viscosity of a medium, including: a connection panel having a first media opening and a second media opening, wherein each of the first and second media openings extends from a first surface to a second surface of the connection panel; a sensor panel joined together with the connection panel on a first joint plane; and a cover panel joined together with the sensor panel on a second joint plane on a sensor panel face facing away from the connection panel, wherein the cover panel has a cover panel cavity which communicates with the first and second media openings, wherein the sensor panel has at least one oscillator cavity which communicates with the first and second media openings, wherein the sensor panel has a micromechanical oscillator which is arranged in the oscillator cavity and excitable to mechanically vibrate perpendicularly to the joint planes, wherein the gas analyzer further includes a first fluid channel extending from the first media opening to the oscillator cavity and formed between the connection panel and the sensor panel or a second fluid channel extending from the second media opening to the oscillator cavity and formed between the connection panel and the sensor panel, wherein the sensor panel has a first media opening aperture extending from the first media opening to the cover panel cavity or the sensor panel has a second media opening aperture extending from the second media opening to the cover panel cavity, wherein the first media opening aperture has a first area centroid on an upper side of the sensor panel facing the cover panel and the second media opening aperture has a second area centroid on the upper side of the sensor panel, wherein the first area centroid has an area centroid clearance from the second area centroid, wherein the oscillator cavity has a third area centroid on the upper side of the sensor panel, and wherein the third area centroid has a clearance from a connecting line between the first and the second area centroids that is at least half of a geometric mean arising from the area centroid clearance and a clearance of the cover panel from the upper side of the sensor panel, averaged along the connecting line. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The gas analyzer of claim 1, wherein the oscillator cavity includes a first aperture through the sensor panel. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The gas analyzer of claim 1, wherein the cover panel cavity covers the oscillator cavity and the first media opening aperture and the second media opening aperture. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The gas analyzer of claim 1, wherein the first fluid channel has a depression formed in a surface of the sensor panel, wherein the first fluid channel opens into the first media opening aperture; or wherein the second fluid channel has a depression that is formed in the surface of the sensor panel, wherein the second fluid channel opens into the second media opening aperture. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The gas analyzer of claim 1, wherein the sensor panel is made by structuring an SOI wafer. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The gas analyzer of claim 5, wherein the micromechanical oscillator comprises amorphous silicon deposited on an insulator layer of the SOI wafer. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The gas analyzer of claim 1, wherein the micromechanical oscillator has a resistive converter with at least one resistive element having a resistance value that is dependent on deformation. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The gas analyzer of claim 1, wherein the micromechanical oscillator has at least one conductor loop to generate a first magnetic field; wherein the gas analyzer has a field source for a second magnetic field; and wherein the first magnetic field and the second magnetic field have at least one component that runs parallel to a surface normal of the sensor panel. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The gas analyzer of claim 1, wherein the cover panel comprises Si and the connection panel comprises glass. ### Claim 10 A gas analysis arrangement, including: a gas analyzer, including: a connection panel having a first media opening and a second media opening, wherein each of the first and second media openings extends from a first surface to a second surface of the connection panel; a sensor panel joined together with the connection panel on a first joint plane; and a cover panel joined together with the sensor panel on a second joint plane on a sensor panel face facing away from the connection panel, wherein the cover panel has a cover panel cavity which communicates with the first and second media openings, wherein the sensor panel has at least one oscillator cavity which communicates with the first and second media openings, wherein the sensor panel has a micromechanical oscillator which is arranged in the oscillator cavity and excitable to mechanically vibrate perpendicularly to the joint planes, wherein the gas analyzer further includes a first fluid channel extending from the first media opening to the oscillator cavity and formed between the connection panel and the sensor panel or a second fluid channel extending from the second media opening to the oscillator cavity and formed between the connection panel and the sensor panel, wherein the sensor panel has a first media opening aperture extending from the first media opening to the cover panel cavity or the sensor panel has a second media opening aperture extending from the second media opening to the cover panel cavity, wherein the first media opening aperture has a first area centroid on an upper side of the sensor panel facing the cover panel and the second media opening aperture has a second area centroid on the upper side of the sensor panel, wherein the first area centroid has an area centroid clearance from the second area centroid, wherein the oscillator cavity has a third area centroid on the upper side of the sensor panel, and wherein the third area centroid has a clearance from a connecting line between the first and the second area centroids that is at least half of a geometric mean arising from the area centroid clearance and a clearance of the cover panel from the upper side of the sensor panel, averaged along the connecting line; and a temperature sensor, or a pressure sensor, or a thermal conductivity sensor. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The gas analysis arrangement of claim 10, further including an operating and evaluation circuit for exciting the micromechanical oscillator, detecting vibrations of the micromechanical oscillator, driving at least one of the temperature sensor, pressure sensor, and thermal conductivity sensor, and detecting signals of the at least one of the temperature sensor, pressure sensor, and thermal conductivity sensor. ### Claim 12 A gas analyzer for measuring the density or viscosity of a medium, including: a connection panel having a first media opening and a second media opening, wherein each of the first and second media openings extends from a first surface to a second surface of the connection panel; a sensor panel joined together with the connection panel on a first joint plane; and a cover panel joined together with the sensor panel on a second joint plane on a sensor panel face facing away from the connection panel, wherein the cover panel has a cover panel cavity which communicates with the first and second media openings; wherein the sensor panel has at least one oscillator cavity which communicates with the first and second media openings, wherein the sensor panel has a micromechanical oscillator which is arranged in the oscillator cavity and excitable to mechanically vibrate perpendicularly to the joint planes, wherein the gas analyzer further includes a first fluid channel extending from the first media opening to the oscillator cavity and formed between the connection panel and the sensor panel or a second fluid channel extending from the second media opening to the oscillator cavity and formed between the connection panel and the sensor panel, wherein the sensor panel has a first media opening aperture extending from the first media opening to the cover panel cavity or the sensor panel has a second media opening aperture extending from the second media opening to the cover panel cavity, and wherein the first and second media opening apertures, the oscillator cavity, and the cover panel cavity are positioned and matched to one another such that an average flow velocity of a gas in the oscillator cavity is not more than one-quarter of the average flow velocity in the first and second media opening apertures.