Patent US5156460A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5156460A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Crystal temperature transducer
Assignee: Honeywell International Inc
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Filing: 1990-11-05
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Granted: 1992-10-20
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Expires: 2010-11-05
Abstract
Abstract A vibrating crystal transducer for measuring temperature is disclosed. The crystal includes a single elongated vibrating beam that has a torsional mode resonant frequency that is a function of the temperature of the crystal. The torsional moments of the crystal are reverse symmetric with respect to a nodal line on the beam. The beam is contained in a frame that is secured to a sensor frame member. The beam is attached to the frame by a pair of opposed mounting posts that are in line with the nodal line on the beam. The beam, the beam frame (16) and the mounting posts are formed out of an integral section of crystalline material. When the beam is vibrated, the reverse symmetrically opposed torsional moments along the beam cancel each other out and, consequently, no torsional energy is transmitted through the mounting posts to the beam frame or the sensor frame. Since the beam frame does not serve as a recipient for the torsional energy, torsional energy is not lost through the beam frame so that the beam has a relatively high quality factor and torsional vibration of the beam cannot cause the crystal to eventually work loose of the sensor frame at the beam frame.
Inventors
- 👤 Brian L. Norling
- 👤 Rex B. Peters
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 02:19
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01K; G01K7/00; G01K7/32
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 30
Claim 1
Independent Claim
81 words
A temperature sensor comprising a body formed from an integral piece of material, said body comprising: a vibrating beam that has a torsional vibration frequency that is a function of temperature, said beam having torsional moments associated with said vibrations and a vibrational nodal line; a mounting pad adapted for connecting the temperature sensor to a support; and, a mounting post extending between said mounting pad and said beam along said nodal line wherein said mounting post has a non-uniform cross-section.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
81 words
A temperature sensor comprising a body formed from an integral piece of material, said body comprising: a vibrating beam that has a torsional vibration frequency that is a function of temperature, said beam having torsional moments associated with said vibrations and a vibrational nodal line; a mounting pad adapted for connecting the temperature sensor to a support; and, a mounting post extending between said mounting pad and said beam along said nodal line wherein said mounting post has a non-uniform cross-section.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
58 words
The temperature transducer of claim 1, wherein said mounting post is provided with a first section that extends from said mounting pad and has a first cross-sectional width, and a second, outrigger, section adjacent said beam connected to said first section wherein said outrigger section has a cross-sectional width greater than the cross-sectional width of said first section.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
58 words
The temperature transducer of claim 1, wherein said mounting post is provided with a first section that extends from said beam and has a first cross-sectional width, and a second, outrigger, section adjacent said mounting pad connected to said first section wherein said outrigger section has a cross-sectional width greater than the cross-sectional width of said first section.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
43 words
The temperature transducer of claim 1, wherein said mounting post has a generally V-shaped profile such that a first end of said post has a first width and a second end of said post has a second width greater than said first width.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
39 words
The temperature transducer of claim 4, wherein said mounting post is arranged so that said end having a wider cross-sectional width is integral with said mounting pad and said end having narrower cross-sectional width is integral with said beam.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
16 words
The temperature sensor of claim 5, wherein said mounting frame extends completely around said vibrating beam.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
54 words
The temperature sensor of claim 5, further including: a spacer frame adjacent each side of said mounting frame and dimensioned so that said vibrating beam movements are within the space defined by said sensor frames; and, a cover disposed over each of said sensor frames so as to entirely encapsulate said vibrating beam therein.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
40 words
The temperature sensor of claim 1, wherein said mounting pad comprises a mounting frame which extends around substantially all of said beam, said beam connected to said frame by two opposed mounting posts located in line with said nodal line.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
59 words
The temperature transducer of claim 8, wherein each said mounting post is formed with a first section that extends from said mounting pad and has a first cross-sectional width, and a second, outrigger, section adjacent said beam connected to said first section wherein said outrigger section has a cross-sectional width greater than the cross-sectional width of said first section.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
44 words
The temperature transducer of claim 8, wherein each said mounting post has a generally V-shaped profile such that a first end of said post has a first width and a second end of said post has a second width greater than said first width.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
40 words
The temperature transducer of claim 10, wherein each said mounting post is arranged so that said end having a wider cross-sectional width is integral with said mounting pad and said end having narrower cross-sectional width is integral with said beam.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
16 words
The temperature sensor of claim 11, wherein said mounting frame extends completely around said vibrating beam.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
54 words
The temperature sensor of claim 12, further including: a spacer frame adjacent each side of said mounting frame and dimensioned so that said vibrating beam movements are within the space defined by said sensor frames; and, a cover disposed over each of said sensor frames so as to entirely encapsulate said vibrating beam therein.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
55 words
The temperature sensor of claim 1, wherein said beam has at least two vibrational nodal lines, and further including at least two mounting posts extending between said beam and said mounting pad, wherein each of said mounting posts is in line with a separate one of said nodal lines and has a non-uniform cross section.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
59 words
The temperature transducer of claim 14, wherein each said mounting post is formed with a first section that extends from said mounting pad and has a first cross-sectional width, and a second, outrigger, section adjacent said beam connected to said first section wherein said outrigger section has a cross-sectional width greater than the cross-sectional width of said first section.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
44 words
The temperature transducer of claim 14, wherein each said mounting post has a generally V-shaped profile such that a first end of said post has a first width and a second end of said post has a second width greater than said first width.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
40 words
The temperature transducer of claim 16, wherein each said mounting post is arranged so that said end having a wider cross-sectional width is integral with said mounting pad and said end having narrower cross-sectional width is integral with said beam.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
45 words
The temperature sensor of claims 14, 15, 16, 17, wherein said mounting pad comprises a mounting frame which extends around substantially all of said beam and said beam is connected to said frame by two opposed mounting posts located in line with said nodal lines.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
16 words
The temperature sensor of claim 18, wherein said mounting frame extends completely around said vibrating beam.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
54 words
The temperature sensor of claim 19, further including: a spacer frame adjacent each side of said mounting frame and dimensioned so that said vibrating beam movements are within the space defined by said sensor frames; and, a cover disposed over each of said sensor frames so as to entirely encapsulate said vibrating beam therein.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
98 words
A torsional mode vibrator particularly usable as a temperature sensor, comprising: a crystal beam resonator adapted to vibrate in a torsional mode upon application of an oscillatory signal thereto, said beam having opposing ends that torsionally vibrate in opposite directions about the longitudinal axis of the beam in response to the oscillatory signal, said beam having a nodal line intermediate said opposing ends wherein the torsional vibrations of said opposing ends substantially cancel; a beam supporting member integrally formed with said beam positioned along said nodal line; and a mounting member integrally formed with said beam supporting member.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
98 words
A torsional mode vibrator particularly usable as a temperature sensor, comprising: a crystal beam resonator adapted to vibrate in a torsional mode upon application of an oscillatory signal thereto, said beam having opposing ends that torsionally vibrate in opposite directions about the longitudinal axis of the beam in response to the oscillatory signal, said beam having a nodal line intermediate said opposing ends wherein the torsional vibrations of said opposing ends substantially cancel; a beam supporting member integrally formed with said beam positioned along said nodal line; and a mounting member integrally formed with said beam supporting member.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
24 words
A torsional mode vibrator as recited in claim 21 further including a trim mass integrally formed with said beam positioned at said nodal line.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
22 words
A torsional mode vibrator as recited in claim 21, wherein said mounting member forms a frame surrounding one of said opposing ends.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
34 words
A torsional mode vibrator as recited in claim 23 further including a second beam supporting member integrally formed with said beam and said frame positioned along said nodal line opposite said beam supporting member.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
59 words
The temperature transducer of claim 21, wherein said beam supporting member is provided with a first section that extends from said mounting member and has a first cross-sectional width, and a second, outrigger, section adjacent said beam connected to said first section wherein said outrigger section has a cross-sectional width greater than the cross-sectional width of said first section.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
59 words
The temperature transducer of claim 21, wherein said beam supporting member is provided with a first section that extends from said beam and has a first cross-sectional width, and a second, outrigger, section adjacent said mounting member connected to said first section wherein said outrigger section has a cross-sectional width greater than the cross-sectional width of said first section.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
48 words
The temperature transducer of claim 21, wherein said beam supporting member has a generally V-shaped profile such that a first end of said beam supporting member has a first width and a second end of said beam supporting member has a second width greater than said first width.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
40 words
The temperature transducer of claim 27, wherein said beam supporting member is arranged so that said end having a wider cross-sectional width is integral with said mounting pad and said end having narrower cross-sectional width is integral with said beam.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1995-10-20 | 1996-04-20 | 1996-10-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1999-10-20 | 2000-04-20 | 2000-10-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2003-10-20 | 2004-04-20 | 2004-10-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |