Sensor Membrane Protection Against Electromagnetic Radiation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing protective devices for sensors allow electromagnetic radiation to directly impact the membrane, causing thermal shock and damage, leading to incorrect sensor readings and membrane degradation, especially in environments with rapid temperature changes like internal combustion engines.

Innovation Solution

A protective device with passages that reflect electromagnetic radiation at least once before it reaches the membrane, reducing radiation intensity and allowing the medium to pass unhindered, while minimizing resonance and flow resistance effects.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a protective device with passages is used to allow medium flow to the membrane, then the sensor can detect pressure, but electromagnetic radiation can directly impact the membrane causing thermal shock and damage

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesensor accuracyVSAvoidelectromagnetic radiation impact

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The passage wall acts as an intermediary element that the electromagnetic radiation must interact with before reaching the membrane. This wall serves as a mediator that reflects the radiation, preventing direct impact on the membrane while still allowing the medium to pass through the passage to reach the sensor.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The passage wall, which might seem to obstruct the medium flow, actually converts the harmful electromagnetic radiation into a beneficial reflected path. The same wall that could potentially impede flow serves to protect the membrane by reflecting radiation, turning a potential obstacle into a protective feature.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If the passage wall reflects electromagnetic radiation to protect the membrane, then thermal shock is reduced, but the passage geometry must be carefully designed to maintain medium flow and minimize resonance effects

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvethermal shockVSAvoidpassage geometry design

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention changes the geometric parameters of the passage, specifically configuring the passage wall at an angle between 45 and 135 degrees relative to the membrane normal. This parameter change optimizes both the radiation reflection capability and the medium flow characteristics, reducing the need for complex additional design considerations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Device complexity

If the passage allows direct electromagnetic radiation transmission, then the structure is simple, but the membrane temperature increases leading to incorrect sensor readings

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepassage structureVSAvoidsensor reading accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The passage wall serves as an intermediary that modifies the path of electromagnetic radiation before it can reach the membrane. This intermediate element reflects the radiation away from the membrane, preventing direct heating that would cause incorrect sensor readings, while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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

Significantly reduces the impact of electromagnetic radiation on the membrane, improving sensor accuracy and extending its lifespan by reducing thermal shock and maintaining accurate pressure readings in harsh environments.

Implementation Method 1

an electromagnetic radiation propagating within the passage is first reflected at least once from a wall of the passage, or shortly passage wall, before it reaches the membrane

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectReflection: Reflection

Implementation Method 2

A thermal energy leading to a change in temperature is not only transmitted by a medium by means of heat conduction

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHeat conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Implementation Method 3

and is not only transmitted by means of heat entrainment due to convection

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectConvection: Convection

Implementation Method 4

If the membrane partially or completely absorbs the resulting incident electromagnetic radiation, the temperature of the membrane will increase

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAbsorption (EM radiation): Absorption (EM radiation)

Implementation Method 5

Rapidly occurring temperature changes of a material, for example a membrane or a sensor element, are also referred to as thermal shock

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal shock: Thermal Shock

Data Source

PatentUS11686639B2Device for protecting a sensor's membrane from electromagnetic radiation

Publication Date: 2023.06.27 KISTLER HLDG AG

AI summary

A protective device for a membrane of a sensor that detects a physical parameter acting upon the membrane includes a hollow main body that elongates in a direction along a longitudinal axis. The main body is open at one opposite end of the main body along the longitudinal axis, and at the end of the main body opposite the open end the protective device includes a bottom in which is defined a passage through which the medium is able reach the membrane when the protective device is attached to the sensor. The passage is defined in part by a wall that is configured so that the electromagnetic radiation propagating in the passage cannot reach the membrane without being reflected at least once on the wall.