Many modern applications use sensor devices to collect data relating to the various applications. Pressure sensors, for example, may collect data regarding pressure conditions associated with different parts of a system (e.g., tire pressure, manifold pressure, etc.). The data collected by the sensor devices may be available for processing by a processor, for example.
In the case of a pressure sensor, it is important to mount the sensor so that it experiences little to no mechanical tension. For example, if the sensor is exposed to mechanical tension, the output of the sensor may be degraded or inaccurate (e.g., sensor drift, etc.). At the same time, it is also important to mount the sensor so that it is protected from damage by outside elements or forces. It can be problematic to mount the sensor in a manner to provide protection and to ensure that the sensor is free from mechanical stresses.
In some applications, the sensor may be encapsulated within a package, such as an integrated circuit (IC) package, or the like. However, in many of these applications, the sensor may be exposed to various mechanical stresses related to the IC package.
The detailed description is set forth with reference to the accompanying figures. In the figures, the left-most digit(s) of a reference number identifies the figure in which the reference number first appears. The use of the same reference numbers in different figures indicates similar or identical items.
For this discussion, the devices and systems illustrated in the figures are shown as having a multiplicity of components. Various implementations of devices and/or systems, as described herein, may include fewer components and remain within the scope of the disclosure. Alternately, other implementations of devices and/or systems may include additional components, or various combinations of the described components, and remain within the scope of the disclosure.
Representative implementations of devices and techniques provide mechanical isolation to an electrical component, such as a sensor, mounted within a housing (e.g., package). The housing may have a cavity, and may be arranged such that the cavity faces a carrier (e.g., mounting component), when the housing is coupled to the carrier. An aperture may extend through a surface of the housing to provide access to the sensor component.
In one implementation, an elastic material is arranged to at least partially fill the cavity and surround the sensor component. The elastic material may provide additional mechanical isolation to the component within the housing.
In alternate implementations, multiple electrical components may be mounted within the housing, along with the sensor component. In one example, additional components or circuits may be coupled to the sensor component.
Various implementations and arrangements are discussed with reference to electrical and electronics components and varied carriers. While specific components (i.e., pressure sensors) are mentioned, this is not intended to be limiting, and is for ease of discussion and illustrative convenience. The techniques and devices discussed with reference to a sensor housing are applicable to any type or number of electrical components (e.g., sensors, transistors, diodes, etc.), circuits (e.g., integrated circuits, analog circuits, digital circuits, mixed circuits, etc.), groups of components, packaged components, structures, and the like, that may be mounted within a housing. For ease of discussion, the generic terms “sensor” and “electrical component” are used herein to describe any of the above.
Further, the techniques and devices discussed with reference to a housing or package are applicable to any type of carrier (e.g., board, chip, wafer, substrate, printed circuit board (PCB), package, container, can, module, etc.) that the housing may be mounted to. For ease of discussion, the generic term “carrier” is used herein.
Implementations are explained in more detail below using a plurality of examples. Although various implementations and examples are discussed here and below, further implementations and examples may be possible by combining the features and elements of individual implementations and examples.
In an example implementation, as shown in
In an implementation, the diaphragm 102 is a micro-machined piezoelectric diaphragm. In the implementation, as the signal deforms or modifies a shape of the diaphragm 102, an electric signal is generated at the contact 106 of the diaphragm 102. For example, the electric signal may be generated due to a stress in the crystalline or lattice structure of the diaphragm 102. In various implementations, the electric signal may be slight, transitory, or the like, during pressure variations.
In an implementation, as shown in
In various implementations, the package 114 includes one or more electrical connections 116 arranged to couple the package 114 to other circuits and/or components. In some implementations, the connections 116 are also arranged to secure the package 114 to a carrier 118 (e.g., a back plane, printed circuit board, substrate, etc.).
In an implementation, the package 114 includes a channel 120 to provide access to the signal inlet 104 of the sensor 100. In many cases, the channel 120 faces the carrier 118. In those cases, access to the channel 120 and/or the signal inlet 104 may be problematic.
In some implementations, an additional circuit 122 (e.g., IC, component, or the like) may be encapsulated within the package 114 with the sensor 100. For example, the additional circuit 122 may be coupled to the sensor 100.
The sensor component 100 is shown insulated from the package 114 by an insulation layer 124, according to the example implementation of
In an alternate implementation, as shown in
As shown in
In one implementation, the housing 222 is a rigid housing, offering protection from outside elements and forces to the sensor 100 mounted within the housing 222. In some implementations, the housing 222 is arranged to enclose multiple electrical components (e.g., multiple devices, circuits, etc.). In an implementation, as shown in
In various implementations, the housing 222 is arranged to be coupled to a carrier 208. For example, in one implementation, the housing 222 includes one or more contacts 226 protruding from the housing 222 and arranged to couple the housing 222 to the carrier 208. In various implementations, the housing 222 is arranged to be coupled to the carrier 208 such that the cavity 224 faces the carrier. In this arrangement, the housing 222 provides protection to the sensor 100, while having a hollow interior. In an implementation, the contacts 226 are electrically coupled to the sensor 100. The one or more contacts 226 are illustrated as extending or protruding through the housing 222. However, in another embodiment, the one or more contacts 226 do not extend through the housing 222. For example, the one or more contacts 226 may extend partially through the housing 222 or to a periphery of the housing 222, such as on sides of the housing 222 or on the bottom of the housing 222.
In an implementation, the contacts 226 are surface mount technology (SMT) compatible. In other words, the contacts 226 are designed to couple the housing 222 to a carrier 208 using surface mount techniques (as compared to through-hole techniques, or the like). In other implementations, the contacts 226 are designed to couple the housing 222 to a carrier 208 using through-hole technology, or other mounting techniques and/or processes.
In one implementation, as shown in
In an implementation, the housing 222 is comprised of a substantially planar mounting surface 228 and one or more side surfaces 230 coupled to the mounting surface 228. In an implementation, the side surface(s) 230 extend away from the mounting surface 228, towards the carrier 208 for example, forming the interior cavity 224 of the housing 222. In various implementations, the side surface(s) 230 extend substantially normal (e.g., perpendicular) to the mounting surface 228, or may extend away at some other angle from the mounting surface 228.
In an implementation, the mounting surface 228 is arranged to couple the sensor 100 to an interior face of the mounting surface 228. For example, the sensor 100 may be mounted within the cavity 224 of the housing 222. In an implementation, as shown in FIG. 2B, the sensor 100 is mounted “upside-down” to the mounting surface 228 within the cavity 224. In other words, the sensor 100 is mounted to the mounting surface 228 so that the signal inlet 104 of the sensor 100 faces toward the mounting surface 228 and faces away from the carrier 208.
In one implementation, the housing 222 includes an aperture 232 extending through the mounting surface 228 and arranged to align with one or more portions of the sensor 100. For example, in an implementation, as shown in
In alternate implementations, the aperture 232 may be located at or near a center of the mounting surface 228, or at various other locations on the surface 228 (e.g., off-center, near an edge, etc.). In another implementation, the aperture 232 may be located on or near one of the side surfaces 230. In the alternate implementations, the aperture 232 may be aligned or channeled to the signal inlet 104, to provide access to the signal inlet 104.
In an implementation, as shown in
In one implementation, the housing arrangement 220 includes a rigid layer (not shown) arranged to cover the elastic material 234 and form a protective barrier. For example, the rigid layer may cover the elastic material 234, and/or seal the cavity 224 of the housing 222. In various implementations, the rigid layer may be applied to the housing arrangement 220 after the elastic material 234 is disposed within the cavity 224. In one implementation, the rigid layer is applied like a cap or lid to the housing 222, sealing the open end of the cavity 224, without fully filling the cavity 224 with elastic material 234. For example, the cavity 224 may be substantially filled with air, another gas, vacuum, or the like.
In various implementations, a housing arrangement 220 may be employed with other devices and/or components to provide mechanical isolation to the sensor 100. In various implementations, the housing arrangement 220, including the sensor 100, the housing 222, and the contact(s) 226 may be employed as a module or system. For example, in an implementation, the module may include a housing 222 arranged to be coupled to a carrier 208, where the housing includes a substantially planar mounting surface 228 having an aperture 232 extending through the mounting surface 228 and one or more side surfaces 230 coupled to the mounting surface 228 and extending towards the carrier 208, forming an interior cavity 224 of the housing 222. One or more contacts 226 extend from the housing 222 and are arranged to couple the housing 222 to the carrier 208. An electrical component such as the sensor 100 is coupled to an interior face of the mounting surface 228, within the cavity 224 of the housing 222. A portion of the sensor 100 is arranged to align with the aperture 232. In alternate implementations, the housing arrangement 220 may include fewer, additional, or alternative elements and remain within the scope of the disclosure.
When multiple electrical components are housed within the cavity 224, one or more wires 304 may be used to connect the various components within the cavity 224 to the conductor tracks 302. Alternately, the wire(s) 304 may be used to solely connect the sensor 100 to one or more of the conductor tracks 302.
In an implementation, as shown in
In an implementation, a seal 314 is disposed within the shell 310 and arranged to seal an outer face of the housing 222 to an inner face of the shell 310. In various implementations, the seal 314 is an o-ring, or other seal having a shape arranged to seal the shell 310 to the housing 222. For example, in the case of a pressure sensor application, the shell 310 can provide protection for the sensor 100 and the module/housing arrangement 220 against elements and outside forces while allowing access to the signal inlet 104 for ambient pressure. Further, the arrangement allows for the sensor 100 to be mechanically isolated, preserving the performance of the sensor 100.
In one implementation, the housing 222 is mounted to a printed circuit board (PCB) or other carrier 208 within the shell 310. For example, the housing 222 may be coupled to the PCB via one or more of the contacts 226, or the like. In an implementation, a conductor 316 may be coupled to the PCB and passed through an opening in the shell 310 for connection to a processor, and the like. In various implementations, other devices, circuits, and the like, may also be mounted to the PCB. For example, the sensory data may be pre-processed or conditioned by a circuit located on the PCB, prior to sending the result out on the conductor 316.
In an implementation, as shown in
In various implementations, wires 304 may connect the sensor 100 and/or the additional components 306 to conductor traces 302 on interior faces of the mounting surface 228 and/or one or more side surfaces 230. Contacts 226 provide electrical and/or mechanical coupling of the housing 222 to a carrier 208, or the like. In various examples, the contacts are surface mount contacts, through-hole contacts, and so forth.
In alternate implementations, various other combinations and systems including the housing arrangement 220 are also within the scope of the disclosure. The variations may have fewer elements than illustrated in the examples shown in
The order in which the process is described is not intended to be construed as a limitation, and any number of the described process blocks can be combined in any order to implement the process, or alternate processes. Additionally, individual blocks may be deleted from the process without departing from the spirit and scope of the subject matter described herein. Furthermore, the process can be implemented in any suitable materials, or combinations thereof, without departing from the scope of the subject matter described herein.
At block 502, the process includes forming a housing (such as housing 222, for example). In an implementation, the housing includes: a substantially planar mounting surface (such as mounting surface 228, for example), an aperture (such as aperture 232, for example) extending through the mounting surface, and one or more side surfaces (such as such as side surface(s) 230, for example) coupled to the mounting surface. In an implementation, the side surface(s) extend to form an interior cavity (such as cavity 224, for example) of the housing. In an implementation, the housing is substantially bowl-shaped.
At block 504, the process includes coupling an electrical component (such as sensor 100, for example) to an interior face of the mounting surface, within the cavity. In an implementation, the electrical component is mounted in an upside-down orientation within the cavity. In alternate implementations, the electrical component is mounted in other orientations (e.g., sideways, diagonally, right-side up, etc.), and aligned to the aperture.
In an implementation, the process includes at least partially filling the cavity with an elastic material and surrounding the electrical component with the elastic material. For example, the elastic material can provide mechanical isolation (i.e., spacing from features and elements, mechanical shock isolation, etc.) for the electrical component. The elastic material can ensure that the electrical component is exposed to little or no mechanical tension. In one implementation, the process includes disposing a rigid layer over the elastic material (i.e., a cap, lid, covering layer, etc.).
At block 506, the process includes aligning a portion of the electrical component with the aperture. For example, a signal inlet of the electrical component may be aligned to the aperture, to provide access to the signal inlet. In an example implementation, the electrical component comprises a pressure sensor, and the aperture provides access for ambient pressure to be received at the signal inlet of the sensor.
In an implementation, the process includes coupling the housing to a carrier via contacts (such as contacts 226, for example), which in one implementation, that extend from the housing. For example, the housing may have one or more contacts extending from the housing, which may be used to couple the housing to a carrier (e.g., a PCB or the like). In another implementation, the process includes coupling the housing to a carrier via contacts (such as contacts 226, for example), which in one implementation, do not extend from the housing. Additionally, the contacts may be used to electrically couple the electrical component to a circuit or system outside the housing (on the PCB, for example).
In an implementation, the process includes coupling the housing to the carrier such that the cavity of the housing faces the carrier and the aperture faces away from the carrier. For example, this arrangement may be used to provide access to the signal inlet of the sensor (i.e., electrical component) while protecting the electrical component within the cavity of the housing.
In various implementations, the process includes mounting one or more other electrical components within the cavity of the housing and coupling one or more of the other electrical components to the electrical component. In an implementation, additional devices, circuits, and the like, may be housed within the cavity of the housing.
In one implementation, the process includes enclosing the housing within a rigid shell (such as shell 310, for example). Further, the shell may include a channel for access to the aperture of the housing, and the channel of the shell may be sealed to the aperture of the housing. For example, an o-ring or other type of seal may be used to seal the shell to the housing (as shown in
In alternate implementations, other techniques may be included in the process 500 in various combinations, and remain within the scope of the disclosure.
Although the implementations of the disclosure have been described in language specific to structural features and/or methodological acts, it is to be understood that the implementations are not necessarily limited to the specific features or acts described. Rather, the specific features and acts are disclosed as representative forms of implementing example devices and techniques.