US 6,718,827 B1 · Center-mount capacitive sensor with overload protection

Abstract

A capacitive sensor includes an elastic member extending about a central axis, having a central region, a peripheral region, a first side, and a second side. An overpressure stop member has an inner surface and an outer surface. The inner surface of the overpressure stop member has a contour adapted to limit deflection of the elastic member caused by a differential pressure between the two regions across the elastic member. The outer surface of the overpressure stop member has an first electrically conductive region. A second plate is spaced apart from the outer surface of the overpressure stop member, and being connected to the central region of the elastic member by a post, wherein the post transfers deformation of the elastic member caused by differential pressure across the elastic member to movement of the second plate along the central axis. The second plate has a second electrically conductive region opposite the first electrically conductive region, wherein the first electrically conductive region and the second electrically conductive region form a capacitor.

Claims41

Dependent claims

A capacitive sensor comprising:

A. an elastic member disposed about a central axis of said sensor, said elastic member having a central region, a peripheral region, a first side, and a second side;
B. a support member supporting the peripheral region of said elastic member;
C. an overpressure stop member rigidly coupled to said support member, said overpressure stop member extending over said elastic member except for an aperture region, and having an inner surface and outer surface, said inner surface facing said elastic member;
D. a first plate rigidly coupled to said support member and extending over said elastic member except for an aperture region, and having a first surface including a first electrically conductive region thereon;
E. a post affixed to and extending from said second side of said elastic member along said central axis, said post passing through said aperture regions;
and
F. a second plate extending from said post transverse to said central axis, said second plate having a second electrically conductive region opposite said first electrically conductive region of said first surface of said first plate, wherein said opposite electrically conductive regions are electrically insulated from each other.

4 more elements

A capacitive sensor comprising:

A. an elastic member extending about a central axis, said elastic member having a central region, a peripheral region, a first side, and a second side;
B. a support member supporting the peripheral region of said elastic member;
C. an overpressure stop member coupled to said peripheral region of said elastic member, said overpressure stop member having an inner surface and an outer surface, said inner surface of said overpressure stop member facing said second side of said elastic member and being spaced apart from said central region of said elastic member by a predetermined distance;
D. a first plate coupled to said support member, said first plate having a first surface comprising a first electrically conductive region thereon;
and
E. a second plate spaced apart from and being substantially parallel to said first plate, said second plate being connected to said central region of said elastic member by a post, wherein said post transfers deformation of said central region of said elastic member caused by differential pressure across said elastic member to movement of said second plate along said central axis, said second plate having a second electrically conductive region opposite said first electrically conductive region, wherein said first electrically conductive region and said second electrically conductive region form a capacitor.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Center-mount capacitive sensor with overload protection

Life of this patent

Center-mount capacitive sensor with overload protection

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims41