Thermal Flow Meter Support Plate Heat Regulation
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Solution Overview
Problem
In physical quantity measurement devices, such as thermal flow meters, heat generated by the drive circuit can transfer to the sensor element via the lead frame, causing a rise in temperature and reducing detection accuracy regardless of the fluid's flow rate.
Innovation Solution
A physical quantity measurement device with a support plate part that includes a detector support portion for the physical quantity detector and a processor support portion for the physical quantity processor, featuring a heat transfer regulation portion between them to minimize heat transfer from the processor to the detector.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If the drive circuit and sensor element are integrated on the same lead frame, then device complexity is reduced and manufacturing is simplified, but heat from the drive circuit transfers to the sensor element causing measurement precision to deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The support plate is divided into a first support plate (supporting the sensor element) and a second support plate (supporting the drive circuit), physically separating the heat-generating components from the sensitive detection components while maintaining overall device integration
Solution Approach 2:
A heat insulating portion is introduced as an intermediary layer between the first and second support plates, blocking heat transfer from the drive circuit to the sensor element while allowing electrical connections to pass through
2Measurement precision
If heat transfer regulation is implemented between processor and detector, then measurement precision is improved by preventing heat-related errors, but device complexity increases due to additional heat transfer regulation portion
Solution Approach 1:
The heat insulating portion is integrated into the support plate structure itself rather than being a separate component, merging the heat regulation function with the mechanical support function to minimize additional complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The support plate serves multiple functions: mechanical support for both sensor and drive circuit, electrical connection pathway, and heat insulation barrier, eliminating the need for separate components for each function
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 configuration reduces the likelihood of temperature increases in the detector, thereby improving measurement accuracy by preventing heat-related errors in fluid flow rate detection.
Implementation Method 1
a heat transfer regulation portion disposed between the detector support portion and the processor support portion to regulate heat transfer from the processor support portion to the detector support portion
Data Source
AI summary
A physical quantity measurement device includes a physical quantity detector that detects a physical quantity of a fluid in a measurement flow path, a physical quantity processor that receives a detection result of the physical quantity detector, and a support plate part that supports the physical quantity detector and the physical quantity processor. The support plate part includes a detector support portion to which the physical quantity detector is attached, and a processor support portion that is located at a position spaced apart from the detector support portion and to which the physical quantity processor is attached. Between the detector support portion and the processor support portion, a heat transfer regulation portion is provided to regulate heat transfer from the processor support portion to the detector support portion.