Dual Pressure Sensor Apparatus Integrating Manifold and Barometric Sensing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing dual pressure sensor systems for internal combustion engines are not widely adopted due to high costs and complexity, despite the potential for combining manifold absolute pressure and barometric pressure sensors into a single package.
Innovation Solution
A dual pressure sensor apparatus featuring a molded plastic housing with two pressure sensor modules, one for manifold absolute pressure and another for barometric pressure, electrically coupled to leadframe terminals, allowing for simultaneous measurement and attachment to an engine manifold with enhanced sealing and mounting mechanisms.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If separate pressure sensor modules are used for MAP and BARO measurements, then measurement reliability is maintained, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines two separate pressure sensor modules (MAP and BARO) into a single integrated sensor housing. The housing contains two separate sensing chambers that can independently measure manifold absolute pressure and barometric pressure simultaneously, reducing the number of separate components while maintaining measurement reliability through physical isolation of the sensing paths.
Solution Approach 2:
The sensor housing is segmented into two distinct sensing chambers with separate pressure access paths. The first chamber accesses manifold pressure through a first opening, while the second chamber accesses barometric pressure through a second opening, allowing independent measurement functions within a unified structure.
2Ease of manufacture
If dual pressure sensors are integrated into one package, then manufacturing cost is reduced, but sealing and measurement accuracy become more difficult to ensure
Solution Approach 1:
The housing is divided into two sealed chambers with independent pressure access paths. Each chamber has its own sealing interface and pressure opening, allowing standard sealing techniques to be applied to each independently rather than requiring complex cross-chamber sealing, thus maintaining manufacturing precision while reducing overall system cost.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution provides a cost-effective and efficient method for dual pressure sensing, reducing complexity and increasing adoption by integrating both sensors into a single apparatus, facilitating improved engine control with accurate pressure measurements.
Implementation Method 1
a first pressure sensor module mounted in a first well... an opening in the first well couples the first pressure sensor module to the measurement port
Implementation Method 2
a second pressure sensor module mounted in a second well... the body portion walls bounding the lower cavity are notched so that the second pressure sensor module measures atmospheric or barometric pressure
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
A dual pressure sensor apparatus (10) configured for attachment to a manifold (22) includes a molded plastic housing (12) with a body portion (20) featuring an upper cavity (40), a measurement port (24), and a lower cavity (42) closed by the manifold (22). First and second pressure sensor modules (16, 14) are mounted in first and second wells (50, 48) formed in the upper cavity (40), and electrically coupled to a set of leadframe terminals (46a, 46b, 46c, 46d) disposed in the upper cavity (40). An opening (54) in the first well (50) couples the first pressure sensor module (16) to the measurement port (24), and an opening (52) in the second well (48) couples the second pressure sensor module (14) to the lower cavity (42). The measurement port (24) sealingly extends through an opening (26) in the manifold (22) so that the first pressure sensor module (16) measures pressure in the manifold (22), and the body portion walls (20a, 20b) bounding the lower cavity (42) are notched (64, 66) so that the second pressure sensor module (14) measures atmospheric or barometric pressure outside the manifold (22).