Micromachined capacitive flow sensor, packaged flow sensor product comprising the same, and method thereof

Abstract

A micromachined capacitive flow sensor includes a movable membrane having one or more venting holes and a perforated backplate having perforation holes or through holes. A gas gap (such as an air gap) is formed between the movable membrane and the perforated backplate. The movable membrane, the gas gap and the perforated backplate form a variable capacitor whose capacitance varies with a movement of the membrane relative to the perforated backplate. The sensor may be used to manufacture a packaged flow sensor product which may find numerous applications, for example, using the product as a switch to turn on and off the electric power to the heating elements of the aerosol delivery device in response to the puff and/or smoking action of the user.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.