Pressure sensor
AssigneeCTS Corporation
InventorCraig Ernsberger
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A pressure sensor for sensing a pressure level of a medium. The pressure sensor includes a rigid substrate having a medium contacting side and a pressure sensitive resistor mounted on the medium contacting side. The resistor exhibits a change in resistance in response to pressure changes on the resistor above a predetermined threshold. Other embodiments of the invention are shown using a wheatstone bridge with pressure sensitive resistors and resistors that are insensitive to pressure changes.
Claims24
A method for measuring pressure of a pressurized medium above a predetermined threshold pressure, the method comprising:
- providing a rigid substrate bearing a pressure sensitive resistor;
- exposing the pressure sensitive resistor directly to the pressurized medium;
- and
- detecting the electrical resistance of the pressure sensitive resistor.
A pressure sensor for sensing a pressure level of a pressurized medium, comprising:
- a) a substrate having a first surface and a second surface, the first surface communicated with the medium;
- and
- b) at least one resistor mounted to the first surface, the resistor having a surface area, the resistor being directly exposed to the pressurized medium such that the pressurized medium isostatically compresses the resistor, the resistor being adapted to change resistance in response to the pressure level.
A high pressure sensor for detecting the pressure of a pressurized medium above a predetermined threshold pressure, the sensor comprising:
- a) a rigid substrate having a medium contacting side;
- and
- b) an applied film resistor mounted on the medium contacting side, the resistor exhibiting a change in resistance in response to pressure changes on the resistor above a predetermined threshold.
A pressure sensor for use with a pressurized medium, comprising:
- a) at least one resistor having a length, a width and a height, the length width and height defining a resistor volume, the resistor having a resistance that varies with applied pressure, the resistor adapted to be in direct contact with the pressurized medium, the resistor adapted to be uniformly compressed by the pressurized medium such that the resistor volume changes with a change in pressure, the change in resistor volume generating a change in the resistance of the resistor;
- and
- b) a pair of terminals attached to opposing sides of the resistor, the terminals providing an electrical connection between the resistor and an external electrical circuit.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.