Flat Ceramic Pressure Sensor With Hole-Free Edge Connections
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing flat ceramic pressure sensors face limitations in miniaturization due to the presence of mechanical holes, which compromise mechanical strength and complicate the production process, while also constraining the arrangement and integration of discrete electric and electronic elements.
Innovation Solution
The solution involves eliminating internal holes by providing electrical connections on the perimeter edge of the support, using recesses that extend over the entire thickness, allowing for a simpler production process and increased space for integrating discrete components, while maintaining rigidity and sturdiness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If internal holes are provided in the support for electrical connections, then electrical connection between membrane and support is achieved, but mechanical strength is compromised and device miniaturization is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent moves the electrical connection from the internal volume (through-holes) to the perimeter boundary (edge of support). This dimensional shift allows electrical connections to be made at the edge rather than requiring penetration through the support body, thereby maintaining mechanical integrity while achieving electrical connectivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the electrical connection function from the internal structure of the support and relocates it to the perimeter edge. This separation allows the support body to remain solid and mechanically strong while still providing the necessary electrical connection path through edge recesses.
2Ease of manufacture
If internal holes are provided in the support, then electrical connections are enabled, but production process complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the electrical connection feature from the complex internal hole structure and simplifies it to edge recesses. This reduces the number of manufacturing steps required, as edge recesses can be formed more simply than precise through-holes with internal conductive paths.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of creating holes from the face of the support and routing conductors internally, the patent inverts the approach by creating recesses at the edge and routing conductors along the perimeter. This inversion simplifies the manufacturing process by eliminating the need for complex internal hole formation and conductor embedding.
3Ease of manufacture
If internal holes are provided in the support, then electrical connections are achieved, but space for integrating discrete components is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent relocates electrical connections from the internal plane (where holes would occupy space) to the perimeter boundary. This frees up the entire face area of the support for component integration, as no internal holes are required to penetrate through the support body.
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 approach enables miniaturization and simplifies the production of flat ceramic pressure sensors by eliminating internal holes, enhancing mechanical strength and providing more flexibility in integrating electronic components.
Implementation Method 1
The resistors, made of piezoresistive material, are positioned in such a way that while the membrane flexes, two resistors (belonging to opposite sides of the bridge) elongate, causing an increase in resistance and at the same time the other two are compressed, causing a decrease in resistance.
Implementation Method 2
The bridge is unbalanced and the output voltage is proportional to the pressure difference that caused the deformation.
Implementation Method 3
a mechanical coupling between the membrane and the support made by depositing and sintering a layer of mechanical connection glass electrically insulating and/or insulated from the layer of electric connection glass
Data Source
AI summary
The piezoresistive or capacitive flat pressure sensor (130) includes a flexible flat membrane (100) made of ceramic material and a relative rigid flat support (110) made of ceramic material, wherein the support (110) has a first main face (220) and a second main face (230), and the membrane (100) has a first main face (200) and a second main face (210), and wherein the first main face (200) of the membrane (100) faces the second main face (230) of the support (110), the first main face (200) of the membrane (100) comprising at least one first electrical circuit (501), the first main face (220) of the support (110) comprising at least one second electrical circuit (502). On the perimeter of the rigid flat support (110), an electrical connection is provided between the first electrical circuit (501) and the second electrical circuit (502).