Sensata Technologies, Inc.

Andrew Legendre

Andrew F Willner

Neil Petrarca

Raymond E Mandeville

Cory Bousquet

Harshad V Tadas

Dedde Hedzer Wiersma

Giovanni Fraone

Shuo Robert Chen

Tyler S Hanna

Nikita Gubanov

Ted Medeiros

Matt Nelson

Hedzer Dedde Wiersma

Ernie Shoot Uiterkamp

Edward Medeiros

Andrew Willlner

Matthew Nelson

A dielectric-constant-insensitive fluid level sensor for directly inserting into a high dielectric constant fluid is disclosed. According to one embodiment, the fluid level sensor includes a first set of stacked series capacitors where each capacitor in the first set is formed by two coplanar electrodes and a dielectric space between the electrodes. Each stack of series capacitors in the first set includes at least one capacitor having a first molded carrier as the dielectric space in series with another capacitor having a first fluid cavity as the dielectric space. In this embodiment, the total capacitance of the first set of stacked series capacitors varies as a function of the level of the fluid within the first fluid cavity.

Dielectric-constant-insensitive fluid level sensor

In an embodiment, a sensor substrate includes a first end, a second end, and a body. The body contains provisions for accommodating one or more sense elements. The first end and the second end contain attachment points for attaching the sensor substrate to a shaft. In addition, the first end and the second end include curved portions. For a particular end, a spacing of the attachment points and/or a depth of the curved portion may define, in part, a flexibility of the end. This flexibility may be used to control a sensitivity of the sense elements.

Sensor substrate

In an embodiment, a stepped spring contact may have a first portion, a transition portion, and a second portion. The first portion may include a plurality of windings whose pitch may vary. The second portion may include a plurality of windings that are closely wound. A pitch of the windings contained in the second portion may be, for example, constant. The transition portion may include a winding that may make mechanical and electrical contact with a first electrical conductor (e.g., a pad contained on a printed circuit board (PCB)). The first portion may include a tip. The tip may be, for example, flat shaped or conically shaped. The tip may make electrical contact with a second electrical conductor (e.g., a terminal connector). In operation, the stepped spring contact may provide electrical continuity between the first electrical conductor and the second electrical conductor.

Stepped spring contact

In an embodiment, a support ring may include an arm and a hook. The arm may be located at a first end of the support ring. The arm may provide a spring force to a circuit board that is loaded in the support ring. The hook may be located at a second end of the support ring. The hook may extend upward from the support ring. The second end may be opposite the first end. The hook may provide a reaction force on the circuit board. The reaction forced may be a force in reaction to the spring force. The support ring may include one or more legs. The legs may extend downward from the support ring.

Clip-in support ring

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Dedham, MA, United States of America

Andrew Legendre