Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
123 words
A fluidic sensor for determining the partial pressure of oxygen in a gas comprising an inlet for a reference gas and an inlet for a sample gas, a capillary passage for the reference gas and a capillary passage for the sample gas, an orifice passage for the reference gas and an orifice passage for the sample gas, an outlet for the fluidic sensor, and means coupled to the outlets of the capillary passages for detecting a pressure differential between the outlet of the reference capillary passage and the outlet of the sample capillary passage, characterized in that the inlets (21) for the reference gas and the sample gas are at positive pressure, and the outlet (76) for the sensor is at ambient pressure.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
123 words
A fluidic sensor for determining the partial pressure of oxygen in a gas comprising an inlet for a reference gas and an inlet for a sample gas, a capillary passage for the reference gas and a capillary passage for the sample gas, an orifice passage for the reference gas and an orifice passage for the sample gas, an outlet for the fluidic sensor, and means coupled to the outlets of the capillary passages for detecting a pressure differential between the outlet of the reference capillary passage and the outlet of the sample capillary passage, characterized in that the inlets (21) for the reference gas and the sample gas are at positive pressure, and the outlet (76) for the sensor is at ambient pressure.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
35 words
The fluidic sensor of claim 1 further characterized in that a means (60) is provided for equalizing the pressure of the reference gas and the sample gas applied to the inlets of the capillary passages.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
32 words
The fluidic sensor of claim 2 further characterized in that inlet pressure regulators (24) control the pressure of the reference gas and the sample gas which is applied to the fluidic sensor.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
35 words
The fluidic sensor of claim 2 further characterized in that the length of the capillary passages is adjustable in order to match the linear resistance of the capillary to the nonlinear resistance of the orifice.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
41 words
The fluidic sensor of claim 4 further characterized in that an elongated needle (45) is positioned in a bore (42) of the capillary body and the position of the needle within the bore may be varied to vary the capillary length.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
20 words
The fluidic sensor of claim 2 further characterized in that the flow characteristics of the orifice passages (52) are adjustable.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
34 words
The fluidic sensor of claim 6 further characterized in that the orifice passages comprise an orifice (52) through a flexible disc (51) which may be flexed to alter the flow characteristics of the orifice.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
36 words
The fluidic sensor of claim 2 further characterized in that a common pressure chamber (61) in a pressure ratio regulator (60) comprises the means for equalizing the pressure of the reference gas and the sample gas.