Pressure Sensor Waterproof Seal via Laser-Roughened Adhesive Interface

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Solution Overview

Problem

Pressure sensors made of stainless steel face challenges with low water resistance, allowing moisture intrusion at the boundary face between the pressure detection element and adhesives, leading to potential short circuits and corrosion of lead pins, compromising the waterproof property.

Innovation Solution

A pressure detection unit is designed with a stainless steel, aluminum, or nickel case, incorporating an insulating member and lead pins that penetrate through-holes, and an adhesive with a roughened annular surface formed by laser irradiation to enhance the waterproof seal around the lead pins, preventing moisture intrusion.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If adhesive is applied directly to the smooth outside side surface of the stainless steel case, then the application process is simple, but the water resistance at the boundary face is low allowing moisture intrusion

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of adhesive applicationVSAvoidwaterproof property
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies a roughened surface treatment only to the specific adhesive application region on the case surface, rather than treating the entire surface. This localized roughening creates anchoring structures specifically where the adhesive contacts the case, improving water resistance at the boundary face without affecting other areas. The roughened annular surface portion provides enhanced adhesion and moisture barrier properties precisely where needed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The roughened surface is formed on the case before the adhesive is applied. This preliminary surface preparation creates anchoring structures in advance that will interlock with the adhesive, preventing moisture intrusion from the outset. The roughening treatment is performed as a preparatory step that enhances the subsequent adhesive bonding and waterproofing effectiveness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If roughened surface treatment is applied to improve water resistance, then the waterproof property is enhanced, but the surface treatment process becomes more complex compared to direct adhesive application

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewaterproof propertyVSAvoidsurface treatment process complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces complex mechanical or chemical surface treatment methods with laser irradiation to create the roughened surface. The laser beam directly ablates or melts the material to form the desired rough texture, eliminating the need for mechanical grinding, blasting, or chemical etching processes. This substitution simplifies the overall manufacturing process while achieving the required surface morphology for enhanced waterproofing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent controls the laser irradiation parameters (such as power, speed, pulse duration, and scanning pattern) to directly achieve the desired roughened surface morphology. By adjusting these parameters, the surface can be optimized for adhesive bonding and moisture resistance without requiring additional processing steps. The laser parameters are tuned to create the specific annular roughened pattern needed for effective waterproofing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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 significantly improves the waterproof property by ensuring moisture cannot reach the lead pins, even when exposed to liquids, through the enhanced adhesive seal created by the roughened surface, thus preventing malfunctions and corrosion.

Implementation Method 1

a roughened annular surface portion partitioning an external peripheral edge and an internal peripheral edge located on the outside side surface of the case in the adhesive is formed by using a laser irradiation at a region where the adhesive is joined on the outside side surface of the case

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLaser ablation: Laser Ablation

Data Source

PatentUS10352808B2Pressure detection unit
Publication Date: 2019.07.16 SAGINOMIYA SEISAKUSHO INC
  • US10352808B2 patent drawing
  • US10352808B2 patent drawing
  • US10352808B2 patent drawing

AI summary

Provided is a pressure detection unit in which a waterproof property can be improved. In a pressure sensor, a sealing-resin portion is joined to an outside side surface of an element main body made of stainless steel, aluminum, or nickel such that the sealing-resin portion surrounds a plurality of lead pins. In the pressure sensor, a roughened annular surface portion is provided at a region where the sealing-resin portion is joined on an upper end surface of the element main body so as to be disposed in a manner to partition an external peripheral edge and an internal peripheral edge arranged at the outside side surface of an element main body in the sealing-resin portion.