Force sensor package and method of forming same

A force sensor package comprising:

• a housing comprising a surface mount technology (SMT) package having an external surface and an opening formed in said external surface;
• a force sensing element disposed in the interior of said package;
• an actuator, disposed in said opening, for transferring force to the force sensing element of said package in response to receiving an external force from an external source, said force sensing element being configured to detect said force transferred by said actuator and to generate an output signal representing said force;
• and
• a signal conditioning circuit, integrated in said package for receiving said output signal;
• wherein said SMT package comprises a base and a cover, said base and said cover being configured to assemble with one another such that said cover and said base define a SMT package cavity in which said force sensing element is located, said opening being formed in said cover or said base and said actuator being configured to transfer said external force from the external source to the force sensing element located in the interior of said SMT package cavity;
• and
• wherein said SMT package further comprises one other cover, said one other cover being configured to assemble with said base such that said one other cover and said base define one other SMT package cavity in which said signal conditioner circuit is located, wherein said SMT package cavities are isolated from one another by said package such that said signal conditioner is physically isolated from said force sensing element and such that said signal conditioner and said force sensing element are enclosed in said package;
• whereby, when said signal conditioner is electrically coupled to said force sensing element, said signal conditioner can condition said output signal and provide a conditioned output from said SMT package.

A method of packaging a force sensor comprising:

• providing a housing defining separate first and second cavities, said first and second cavities being physically isolated from one another by said housing;
• providing a force sensing element in said first cavity of said housing;
• operably coupling an actuator to said force sensing element for transferring a force generated externally of the housing to said force sensing element wherein, the actuator extends through an opening in the housing such that the actuator is directly accessible from external to the housing;
• and
• providing a signal conditioner, for receiving said output signal, in said second cavity of said housing such that said force sensing element is physically isolated from said signal conditioner, whereby, when said signal conditioner is electrically coupled to said force sensing element, said signal conditioner can condition said output signal and provide a conditioned output.