Honeywell International Inc.

Brian Speldrich

Jamie Wandler Speldrich

Richard A Wade

James D Cook

Ian Bentley

Richard Alan Davis

Scott Edward Beck

Richard Charles Sorenson

Brian John Marsh

Cornel P Cobianu

James Z Liu

Richard William Gehman

Philip C Foster

Richard B Bishop

Richard A Alderman

Ioan Pavelescu

Andrew Joseph Milley

Paul Prehn Bey

Steven Daniel Lowery

Steven Speece

Vlad Buiculescu

Mark Green

A method for sensing force using a sense die is disclosed. The method may include providing a sense die comprising a chip having a slab formed thereon; applying a force to the slab of the sense die; and determining the magnitude of the force applied to the slab via one or more sense elements attached to the slab. In some examples, the ratio of the width of the slab to the distance between the sense elements is greater than 2/1.

Silicon piezoresistor force sensor

Various devices, assemblies, components, systems, and methods are provided relating to a volume flow rate smoothing device. An example smoothing device may include a body portion defining a chamber therein. The smoothing device may further include a first flow restrictor portion and a second flow restrictor portion each disposed in fluid communication with the body. The smoothing device may be configured to fluidically communicate with a pump via a first end of the smoothing device to receive a fluid flow from the pump along a fluid pathway extending through the first flow restrictor portion, the body portion, and the second flow restrictor portion. The first flow restrictor portion may be disposed upstream of the body portion. The second flow restrictor portion may be disposed downstream of the body portion.

Volume flow rate smoothing device

Methods and apparatuses associated with flow sensing devices are provided. An example flow sensing device includes a flow cap component and a sensor component. The flow cap component or sensor component may include a heating element. The flow cap component can at least partially define a flow channel configured for a media to flow therethrough. The heater element may be orthogonal or perpendicular to the flow channel. The sensor component may include at least one thermal sensing element disposed upstream of the heater element and at least one thermal sensing element disposed downstream of the heater element. The sensor component may include two or more thermal sensing elements disposed in either the upstream direction or downstream direction of the heater element. Thermal sensing elements may be spaced different distances from the heater element to increase the accuracy and precision of flow rate measurement at low flow rates.

Flow sensing device

Methods and apparatuses associated with flow sensing devices are provided. An example flow sensing device may include a sensing element disposed at least partially within the housing, and a plurality of channels disposed within the housing defining a flow path configured to convey a flowing media through the flow sensing device, wherein the flow path is disposed proximate the sensing element such that at least a portion of the flowing media makes direct contact with the sensing element.

Methods and systems for sensing a force using a sense die are provided. The sense die may include a slab die; an actuation element configured to contact the slab die and apply a force to the slab die; and one or more sense elements supported by the slab die.

High sensitivity silicon piezoresistor force sensor

Embodiments relate generally to a sensor device, method, and system are provided for housing a sensor. A pressure sensor assembly having a printed circuit board (PCB) with a pressure sensor and a ring mounted on the PCB. The pressure sensor assembly may include a force transmitting member positioned at least partially within the ring. The force transmitting member may transfer a force applied to a front side of the force transmitting member to a front side of the pressure sensor. A reservoir includes an extension that define an opening. The first side of the force transmitting member is exposed to the interior of the reservoir. The extension engages the first side of the force transmitting member to seal the opening.

Pressure sensor assembly including a cured elastomeric force transmitting member

Embodiments relate generally to a system comprising a flow sensor assembly. The flow sensor assembly includes a housing defining a flow channel. The flow channel has an inlet serpentine portion fluidly coupled to an inlet port, and an outlet serpentine portion fluidly coupled to an outlet port. The housing further defines a sensor chamber fluidly coupling the inlet serpentine portion to the outlet serpentine portion, where the sensor chamber has a split planar region. The flow sensor assembly further includes a sensor die located proximate to the split planar region and configured to sense a measure related to a flow rate of a fluid.

Flow channel for laminarizing flow in flow sensor

A switch assembly includes an M-blade snap spring, an actuation arm, and a switch. The M-blade snap spring exhibits snap-action movement between a first actuator position and a second actuator position. The switch is responsive to the snap-action movement of the M-blade to move between a first switch position and a second switch position. The actuation arm is configured to selectively cause the M-blade snap spring to move, via snap-action, between the first actuator position and the second actuator position, which in turn causes the switch to move between the first switch position and the second switch position, respectively.

M-blade actuated switch assembly

A flow sensor includes a main flow body, a laminar flow element, and first and second bypass channels. The first bypass channel is formed in, and extends at least partially around, the outer surface of the laminar flow element, and is in fluid communication with the main flow channel and defines a first bypass flow passage between the laminar flow element and the main flow body. The second bypass channel is formed in, and extends at least partially around, the outer surface of the laminar flow element, and is in fluid communication with the main flow channel and defines a second bypass flow passage between the laminar flow element and the main flow body.

Flow sensor with multi-position laminar flow element having integrated bypass channels

A sensor having a sensor bridge supported above a substrate is disclosed. A number of thermally isolating apertures are provided in the sensor bridge to help increase the thermal isolation of the sensor bridge from the substrate. In one illustrative embodiment, a heater element, an upstream sensor element, and/or a downstream sensor element are provided on the sensor bridge. A plurality of apertures may extend through the sensor bridge to thermally isolate the heater element, the upstream and/or downstream sensor element from the substrate and/or from each other. In one illustrative embodiment, the plurality of apertures may be provided at spaced locations adjacent a first lateral side of the sensor bridge, adjacent the second lateral side of the sensor bridge, between the heater element and the upstream sensor element, and/or between the heater element and the downstream sensor element. In some cases, the plurality of apertures may be substantially round, oval, rectangular and/or any other suitable shape.

Sensor bridge with thermally isolating apertures

Method for fabricating a conductive elastomeric seal, which includes a set of springs plated with an electrically conductive material. Initially, the set of springs can be held in a z-axis position in a mold cavity shaped like a seal. A liquid elastomer can be injected into the mold cavity in such a manner that the elastomer can be over molded around and through coils of each spring. Finally, the elastomer seal with the springs can be removed from the mold cavity, when the elastomer is cured. Ends of each spring can be kept free from the elastomer during over-molding such that the elastomeric seal can provide an electrical contact with a pressure sensor die and electrical leads molded into a sensor housing. Such a conductive elastomeric seal can prevent a die-edge shorting with the sense die in order to achieve long-term sensor reliability and performance.

Conductive elastomeric seal and method of fabricating the same

A method and apparatus for improving the fatigue life of a wobblefram utilized in a micro switch. The flexible circular wobblefram can be formed with a fixed edge and a solid center region utilizing a punch and die at elevated temperatures. An external lever can be attached to the solid center region of the wobblefram. The lever can be loaded and actuated to transmit motion from outside of the micro switch to a sealed internal mechanism in order to perform a switching function. Circular and/or sinusoidal shaped corrugations can then be added to the wobblefram and evaluated for performance utilizing a finite element analysis (FEA) model. The FEA model can precisely evaluate and optimize profile, number and height of the circular and/or sinusoidal corrugations. Such a wobblefram with circular and/or sinusoidal corrugations can achieve higher lifetime without affecting the operating characteristics of the micro switch.

Method and apparatus for improving fatigue life of a wobblefram

A quartz sensor method and system are disclosed in which a plurality of SAW sensing resonators can be mechanically simulated for implementation upon a quartz wafer substrate. The quartz wafer substrate can thereafter be appropriately etched to produce a quartz diaphragm from the quartz wafer substrate. A plurality of SAW sensing resonators (e.g., pressure, reference and/or temperature SAW resonators) can then be located upon the quartz wafer substrate, which is based upon the previously mechanically simulated for implementation upon the substrate to thereby produce a quartz sensor package from the quartz wafer substrate.

Method a quartz sensor

A pressure and temperature sensor system, the system comprising one or more microstructure temperature-sensing elements formed on a substrate within a hermetically sealed area thereof, wherein such microstructure temperature-sensing elements comprise SAW temperature-sensing elements. Additionally, one or more microstructure pressure-sensing elements can be located above a sensor diaphragm on the substrate, such that the microstructure pressure-sensing element is formed from a SAW pressure-sensing element. One or more contacts can also be provided, which assist in maintaining the hermetically sealed area and which protrude through the substrate for support and electrical interconnection of the pressure and temperature sensor system.

Surface acoustic wave pressure sensor with microstructure sensing elements

A sensor method and system are disclosed. A fluid flow sensor can be provided, which measures the thermal conductivity of a fluid. The sensor itself can be configured to comprise one or more sensing element associated with a sensor substrate. A heater can be associated with said sensor wherein said heater provides heat to said fluid. A film component can also be provided that that isolates said fluid from said heater and said sensor, such that said film component conducts heat in a direction from said heater to said sensor, thereby forming a thermal coupling between said sensor, said heater and said fluid, which permits said sensor to determine a composition of said fluid by measuring thermal conductivity thereof without undesired losses of heat in other directions. The film component can be configured on or in the shape of a tubing or a flow channel.

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Freeport, IL, United States of America

Brian Speldrich