The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jun. 05, 2012
Filed:
Mar. 27, 2008
Arjan Quist, Schaumburg, IL (US);
Ratnesh Lal, Goleta, CA (US);
Gregory P. Liesen, Mechanicsville, VA (US);
Sunil K. Srivastava, Oak Brook, IL (US);
Arjan Quist, Schaumburg, IL (US);
Ratnesh Lal, Goleta, CA (US);
Gregory P. Liesen, Mechanicsville, VA (US);
Sunil K. Srivastava, Oak Brook, IL (US);
Richmond Chemical Corporation, Oak Brook, IL (US);
Abstract
The disclosure presents an apparatus and method for measuring viscosity of a lubricating oil. The apparatus has a piezo-resistive cantilever sensor for sensing a first oil viscosity parameter. The sensor has a cantilever having a pressure receiving portion for receiving pressure exerted by the lubricating oil as the lubricating oil comes into contact with the pressure receiving portion. The cantilever also has first and second resistive portions in electrical communication with a first lead and a second lead, respectively, which are in electrical communication with an electrical circuit amplification element, for creating an output signal indicative of a change in the resistive characteristics of the first and second resistive portions of the cantilever as the lubricating oil comes into contact with the pressure receiving portion. The output signal can be used for determining oil viscosity. A processor and memory compare the output signal value with a stored resistance value to provide information relating to the quality of the lubricating oil.