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US 8,558,127 B2Granted
Metal dome pressure switch
AssigneeSnaptron, Inc.
InventorStephen William Blakely
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Disclosed is a pressure switch that utilizes a dome switch having a flange surrounding the dome. The flange is anchored to a substrate such that the dome portion is in contact with a contact pad on the substrate. A pressure medium applied through passageways in the substrate flexes the dome in an elastic manner so that the dome does not contact the contact pad. When the pressure medium falls below a predetermined threshold level, the dome expands and contacts the contact pad to complete a circuit that indicates that the pressure of the pressure medium has fallen below the threshold level.
Claims22
A pressure switch comprising:
- a substrate;
- a contact pad disposed on a first side of said substrate;
- an electrical connector that is electrically connected to said contact pad that passes through said substrate to a second side of said substrate;
- a dome switch comprising a dome having a predetermined diameter and thickness that causes said dome to depress when subjected to a predetermined pressure of a pressurized medium, and a flange that forms a unitary structure with said dome, said flange surrounding a perimeter portion of said dome, said flange anchored to said first side of said substrate with said dome pressed against said contact pad with a predetermined preload force that is sufficient to establish an electrical connection between said contact pad and said dome, said flange being anchored to said substrate so that an airtight seal is formed between said flange and said substrate and so that said predetermined diameter of said dome is maintained at a substantially constant diameter during deflection of said dome, which substantially removes hysteresis resulting from depression and expansion of said dome so that said dome moves substantially elastically during said depression and expansion;
- at least one passageway formed in said substrate that allows said pressurized medium on said second side of said substrate to flow through said substrate to said first side of said substrate which causes said dome to depress and separate from said contact pad and electrically disconnect from said contact pad whenever said pressurized medium is greater than said predetermined pressure, and causes said dome to expand and electrically connect to said contact pad whenever said pressurized medium is less than said predetermined pressure.
2 more elements
A method of forming a pressure switch comprising:
- providing a dome switch comprising a dome having a predetermined diameter and thickness that causes said dome to depress when said dome is subjected to a predetermined pressure of a pressurized medium and a flange that forms a unitary structure with said dome said flange surrounding a perimeter of said dome;
- providing a substrate;
- providing a contact pad on a first side of said substrate;
- providing an electrical connector that is electrically connected to said contact pad and that passes through said substrate to a second side of said substrate;
- attaching said flange to said first side of said substrate so that said dome is pressed against said contact pad with a predetermined preload force that is sufficient to establish an electrical connection between said contact pad and said dome, said flange being anchored to said first side of said substrate so that an airtight seal is formed between said flange and said substrate and so that said predetermined diameter of said dome is maintained at a substantially constant diameter during depression and expansion of said dome which substantially removes hysteresis resulting from depression and expansion of said dome so that said dome moves substantially elastically during said depression and expansion.
2 more elements
A pressure switch comprising:
- a substrate;
- a contact pad disposed on a first side of said substrate;
- an electrical connector that is electrically connected to said contact pad that passes through said substrate;
- a dome switch comprising a rigid dome having a predetermined diameter and thickness that causes said dome to depress when subjected to a predetermined pressure of a pressurized medium, and a flange that forms a unitary structure with said dome, said flange surrounding a perimeter portion of said dome, said flange anchored to said first side of said substrate so that said dome presses against said contact pad with a force that is sufficient to establish an electrical connection between said contact pad and said dome, said flange being anchored to said substrate so that an airtight seal is formed between said flange and said substrate and so that said predetermined diameter of said dome is maintained at a substantially constant diameter during deflection of said dome, which substantially removes hysteresis resulting from depression and expansion of said dome so that said dome moves substantially elastically during said depression and expansion;
- a sealed chamber on said first side of said substrate that allows said pressurized medium on said first side of said substrate to depress and electrically connect said dome to said contact pad whenever said pressurized medium is greater than said predetermined pressure, and which causes said dome to depress and electrically disconnect from said contact pad whenever said pressurized medium is less than said predetermined pressure.
2 more elements
A method of forming a pressure switch comprising:
- providing a dome having a predetermined diameter and thickness that causes said dome to depress when said dome is subjected to a predetermined pressure of a pressurized medium and a flange that surrounds and is connected to said dome;
- providing a substrate;
- providing a contact pad on a first side of said substrate;
- providing an electrical connector that is electrically connected to said contact pad and that passes through said substrate to a second side of said substrate;
- attaching said flange to said first side of said substrate so that when said dome is depressed, said dome presses against said contact pad with a force that is sufficient to establish an electrical connection between said contact pad and said dome, said flange being anchored to said first side of said substrate so that an airtight seal is formed between said flange and said substrate and so that said predetermined diameter of said dome is maintained at a substantially constant diameter during deflection of said dome which substantially removes hysteresis resulting from depression and expansion of said dome so that said dome moves substantially elastically during said depression and expansion;
- a sealed chamber disposed on said first side of said substrate that allows a pressurized medium on said first side of said substrate to depress and electrically connect said dome to said contact pad whenever said pressurized medium is greater than a predetermined pressure, and which causes said dome to depress and electrically disconnect from said contact pad whenever said pressurized medium is less than said predetermined pressure.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.