Delco Electronics Corporation

Andres Deogracias Viduya

Paul J Pitzer

Lewis Henry Little

Douglas Ray Sparks

Marion Edmond Ellis

A pressure port for attaching a stainless steel high pressure sensor to an automotive pressure line includes a cold rolled steel ring having a hex-shaped perimeter and a central bore, and a stainless steel stud welded in the ring. A flange of the stud abuts one face of the ring and an interlocking feature between the stud and the ring relieves stress on the weld during installation and removal of the assembly. An end of the stud extends beyond the ring and is threaded for attachment to the housing of a pressure vessel.

Pressure sensor assembly

A sensor (10) having polysilicon strain-sensing elements (20) on a metal diaphragm (16). A thick-film insulating layer (18) covers the metal diaphragm (16), and thin-film polysilicon resistive elements (20) are formed on the thick-film insulating layer (18). Thick-film conductors (22) are formed on the thick-film insulating layer (18) and contact the thin-film polysilicon resistive elements (20) to form electrical interconnects to the resistive elements (20). The thick-film conductors (22) preferably contain silicon in order to reduce diffusion of silicon from the polysilicon resistive elements (20). The thick-film insulating layer (18) may be made up of a number of individual thick-film layers, the uppermost of which is stable and nonreactive with the thin-film polysilicon resistive elements (20) and the thick-film conductors (22) at temperatures of at least 600.degree. C. A passivation layer (24) overlies the thin-film polysilicon resistive elements (20) and the thick-film conductors (22). The sensor (10) can be made sufficiently rugged to be used as a structural member of a fluid-containing vessel.

Metal diaphragm sensor with polysilicon sensing elements and methods

A pressure sensor comprises a diaphragm mounted on a housing and subject to pressure. Stress sensitive resistors are connected to circuit traces on the diaphragm which in turn are wirebonded to a compensation IC. The IC is directly mounted on the diaphragm principally or wholly in an area which is not subject to flexing. A connector has a dome partially covering the diaphragm and holds terminal blades having ends extending away from the diaphragm and opposite ends carrying bond pads located adjacent the diaphragm. An opening in the dome permits wirebonder access to connect bond pads on the traces with terminal bond pads. A cover is installed over the connector and sensor.

Electrical terminal apparatus

A pressure port has a diaphragm at one end for exposure to combustion pressure, an electrical connector attached to the other end, terminal blades and a lead frame molded in the connector and carrying an optoelectronic circuit, and a fiber optic assembly between the circuit and the diaphragm. The fiber optic assembly illuminates the diaphragm which reflects light according to its deflection to two fiber elements that carry reflected light to the circuit. The assembly includes a high temperature plastic body and a ceramic tip for temperature isolation to protect the plastic body and the optoelectronic circuit.

Growing community of inventors

Carmel, IN, United States of America

Andres Deogracias Viduya