The Foxboro Company

John G Panagou

Clifford D Fung

Kevin H-l Chau

Gary A Dahrooge

P Rowe Harris

Paul M Zavracky

Everett O Olsen

Richard H Morrison, Jr

Gordon W Chitty

An overpressure-protected, differential pressure sensor 37 is formed by depositing diaphragm material 24 over a cavity 23 formed and filled with sacrificial material 22 into a front surface of a substrate. The sacrificial material 22 is then removed to create a free diaphragm. The floor of the cavity 23 defines a first pressure stop to limit the deflection of the diaphragm in response to pressure applied to the top of the diaphragm. A port 33 is created to allow pressure to be applied to the bottom side of the diaphragm 24. An optional second pressure stop, which limits the deflection of the diaphragm in response to pressure applied to the bottom side of the diaphragm, is formed by bonding a cap 35 to standoffs 34 placed around the top of the diaphragm. The standoffs are spaced to allow pressure to be applied to the top of the diaphragm.

Removing sacrificial material through temporary channels as a method of

An overpressure-protected, differential pressure sensor (37) is formed by depositing diaphragm material (24) over a cavity (23) formed and filled with sacrificial material (22) into a front surface of a substrate. The sacrificial material (22) is then removed to create a free diaphragm. The floor of the cavity (23) defines a first pressure stop to limit the deflection of the diaphragm in response to pressure applied to the top of the diaphragm. A port (33) is created to allow pressure to be applied to the bottom side of the diaphragm (24). An optional second pressure stop, which limits the deflection of the diaphragm in response to pressure applied to the bottom side of the diaphragm, is formed by bonding a cap (35) to stand-offs (34) placed around the top of the diaphragm. The stand-offs are spaced to allow pressure to be applied to the top of the diaphragm.

Overpressure-protected, differential pressure sensor

An overpressure-protected, differential pressure sensor (37) is formed by depositing diaphragm material (24) over a cavity (23) formed and filled with sacrificial material (22) into a front surface of a substrate. The sacrificial material (22) is then removed to create a free diaphragm. The floor of the cavity (23) defines a first pressure stop to limit the deflection of the diaphragm in response to pressure applied to the top of the diaphragm. A port (33) is created to allow pressure to be applied to the bottom side of the diaphragm (24). An optional second pressure stop, which limits the deflection of the diaphragm in response to pressure applied to the bottom side of the diaphragm, is formed by bonding a cap (35) to standoffs (34) placed around the top of the diaphragm. The standoffs are spaced to allow pressure to be applied to the top of the diaphragm.

Overpressure-protected, differential pressure sensor and method of

Microminiature resonant sensor structures are prepared according to micromachining/microfabrication techniques, which structures include thin-film deposits of piezoelectric materials. Such piezoelectric deposits may be excited electrically by including metallized conductive paths during fabrication, or optically. The resonant frequency of the sensor structure is varied by subjecting it to a physical variable, or measurand, such as pressure, temperature, flow rate, etc. Similarly, the resonant frequency of the devices may be detected electrically or optically. The microminiature resonant structures include ribbons and wires, hollow beam and cantilevered hollow beams, and single- and double-ended double beam resonant structures such as tuning forks.

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South Attleboro, MA, United States of America

John G Panagou