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US 2023/0375432 A1Published application
Flat flexible conductive fluid sensor cable and connector
AssigneePICA Product Development, LLC
InventorsRichard Shevelow, Scott Stapleford, Patrick Walsh, Mark W. Pare
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Described embodiments provide a flat conductive fluid sensor cable capable of manufacture in long lengths comprising a flexible substrate, two or more flat conductors, and a fluid-permeable cover material arranged to allow a conductive fluid to form an electrically conductive path between the two or more conductors when conductive fluid contacts the conductive fluid sensor cable.
Claims18
A flat flexible cable (FFC) for sensing conductive fluids, the FFC comprising:
- a substrate having a B-stage adhesive surface extending in an extension direction;
- first and second uninsulated flat conductors, each laterally positioned and each extending in the extension direction, and each electrically isolated from one another in the absence of conductive fluid, wherein each of the first and second uninsulated flat conductors is laminated directly to the substrate solely by way of the B-stage adhesive surface;
- a fluid-permeable cover layer laminated directly to the substrate solely by way of the B-stage adhesive surface, the fluid-permeable cover layer overlaying and directly contacting the conductors thereby sealing the conductors in fixed position between the substrate and the fluid-permeable cover layer, wherein a conductive path between the first and second uninsulated flat conductors is formed in the presence of a conductive fluid;
- and
- a third uninsulated flat conductor, the third uninsulated flat conductor laterally positioned to the first and second uninsulated flat conductors, extending in the extension direction, and laminated directly to the substrate solely by way of the B-stage adhesive surface,
- wherein each of the first, second, and third conductors comprise a first surface and an opposite-facing second surface.
3 more elements
A fluid sensing system configured to detect the presence of a fluid, the system comprising:
- a flat flexible cable (FFC) comprising:
- a substrate having a B-stage adhesive surface extending in an extension direction;
- first and second uninsulated flat conductors, each laterally positioned and each extending in the extension direction, and each electrically isolated from one another in the absence of conductive fluid, wherein each of the first and second uninsulated flat conductors is laminated directly to the substrate solely by way of the B-stage adhesive surface;
- a fluid-permeable cover layer laminated directly to the substrate solely by way of the B-stage adhesive surface, the fluid-permeable cover layer overlaying and directly contacting the conductors thereby sealing the conductors in fixed position between the substrate and the fluid-permeable cover layer, wherein a conductive path between the first and second uninsulated flat conductors is formed in the presence of a conductive fluid;
- a third uninsulated flat conductor, the third uninsulated flat conductor laterally positioned to the first and second uninsulated flat conductors, extending in the extension direction, and laminated directly to the substrate solely by way of the B-stage adhesive surface, wherein each of the first, second, and third conductors comprise a first surface and an opposite-facing second surface;
- a sensor coupled to the FFC, the sensor comprising:
- a processor configured to receive an electrical signal indicative of the formed conductive path and generate a fluid detection signal in response thereto, the fluid detection signal transmitted to one or more remote devices;
- and
- a jumper conductor configured to electrically connect the third conductor to a first one of the first conductor and the second conductor, such that the third conductor is electrically coupled to the first one of the first conductor and the second conductor, and electrically isolated from another of the first conductor and the second conductor, wherein the jumper conductor is configured to complete a circuit between the third conductor and the first one of the first conductor and the second conductor.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.