Fluid Fitting Sensor Assembly for Curved Surface Mounting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Attaching flat, rigid sensor components to the curved surfaces of fluid fittings is challenging, particularly when manufacturing flexible or curved circuit boards to support a large number of circuit components is difficult and expensive.
Innovation Solution
A sensor device comprising a flexible circuit portion supporting an RFID antenna and a rigid circuit portion with RFID energy harvesting circuitry, including a microchip and Bluetooth antenna, is designed to be affixed to the fluid fitting, with the flexible circuit board having a fixed end affixed to the rigid circuit board and a free end movable relative to it, allowing secure attachment to curved surfaces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a flat, rigid circuit board is used to support circuit components, then manufacturing cost and complexity are reduced, but attachment to curved surfaces becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The circuit board is divided into two distinct portions: a rigid circuit board portion for supporting circuit components and a flexible circuit board portion for attachment to curved surfaces. This segmentation allows each portion to fulfill its specific function optimally - the rigid portion maintains manufacturing simplicity while the flexible portion enables curved surface attachment.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines rigid and flexible circuit board portions into a single integrated circuit board assembly. The rigid circuit board portion and flexible circuit board portion are connected to form a unified structure that leverages the advantages of both materials - structural integrity and flexibility - to solve the contradiction between manufacturability and adaptability.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a flexible circuit board is used to support a large number of circuit components, then attachment to curved surfaces is enabled, but manufacturing difficulty and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the circuit board into rigid and flexible portions, the patent assigns the flexible portion specifically for curved surface attachment while the rigid portion handles circuit component support. This reduces the manufacturing burden on the flexible portion compared to making the entire circuit board flexible.
Solution Approach 2:
The circuit board has different properties in different regions: the flexible circuit board portion has high flexibility for curved surface attachment, while the rigid circuit board portion has high structural stability for component support. This local differentiation of properties optimizes both adaptability and manufacturability.
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
The solution enables secure and cost-effective mounting of sensor devices on curved surfaces by combining flexible and rigid circuit portions, facilitating efficient data transmission and energy harvesting while reducing manufacturing complexity.
Implementation Method 1
The one or more circuit components of the flexible circuit portion comprises an antenna. The antenna is an RFID antenna.
Implementation Method 2
The sensor comprises a strain gauge.
Data Source
AI summary
A sensor device is provided for attachment to a surface of a fluid fitting, including a sensor portion comprising a sensor configured for detecting a physical parameter, a flexible circuit portion comprising a flexible circuit board and one or more circuit components supported by the flexible circuit board, and a rigid circuit portion comprising a rigid circuit board and one or more other circuit components by the circuit board. The sensor portion, flexible circuit portion, and rigid circuit portion are operatively coupled together and adapted to be affixed to said surface of said fluid fitting. In one example, a strain sensor is used. In another example, the fluid fitting comprises a coupling body defining a bore for receiving said fluid element therein. A ring is configured to fit over at least one end of the coupling body for mechanically attaching the coupling body to said fluid element.