IP Library Granted Patent US 11,287,342
Granted Patent B2
US 11,287,342 · App. 16/825,994 · Granted Mar 29, 2022

Capacitance manometer with improved baffle for improved detection accuracy

Inventors: Philip W. Sullivan (Lexington, MA); Sergei Syssoev (Newton, MA); Ethan E. Mattor (Andover, MA); Swaminathan Venkatesan (Somerville, MA); Paul D. Lucas (Byfield, MA)
Assignee: MKS Instruments, Inc.
G01L9/0073G01L9/12G01L13/025G01N27/227
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,287,342
App. No.
16/825,994
Granted
Mar 29, 2022
Kind
B2
Abstract

A capacitive manometer offering improved measurement accuracy is disclosed which includes at least one electrode structure having an inner electrode structure and an outer electrode structure separated by at least one gap, at least one flexible diaphragm having at least one conductive material positioned thereon or integrated therein may be positioned in movable relation to the electrode structure and in proximity to the electrode structure, and at least one non-planar baffle less prone to transient measurement errors having an inner baffle structure and an outer baffle structure separated by at least one baffle orifice positioned distantly from the electrode structure proximate to the flexible diaphragm.

Claims (27)

1. A capacitance manometer assembly, comprising:

at least one electrode structure having at least one inner electrode structure and at least one outer electrode structure, the at least one inner electrode structure separated from the at least one outer electrode structure by at least one gap;

at least one flexible diaphragm being made of conductive material or having at least one conductive material positioned thereon, the at least one flexible diaphragm movable in relation to the electrode structure having a zero position when pressure on each side of the flexible diaphragm is the same and at least one differential position when a differential pressure is applied to the flexible diaphragm; and

at least one nonplanar baffle having at least one inner baffle structure, at least one outer baffle structure, and at least one baffle orifice formed thereon, wherein the inner baffle structure is displaced from the outer baffle structure.

2. The capacitance manometer assembly of claim 1 further comprising at least one guard structure positioned within the at least one gap.

3. The capacitance manometer of claim 1 wherein the at least one inner baffle structure is positioned a distance D IB from the at least one flexible diaphragm, and the outer baffle structure is positioned a distance D OB from the at least one flexible diaphragm wherein distance D IB is less than distance D OB .

4. The capacitance manometer of claim 1 wherein the at least one inner baffle structure is positioned a distance D IB from the at least one flexible diaphragm, and the outer baffle structure is positioned a distance D OB from the at least one flexible diaphragm wherein distance D IB is greater than distance D OB .

5. The capacitance manometer of claim 1 further comprising at least one flow directing structure formed on at least one surface of the at least one inner baffle structure.

6. The capacitance manometer of claim 1 further comprising at least one flow directing structure formed on at least one surface of the at least one outer baffle structure.

7. The capacitance manometer of claim 1 further comprising at least one flow directing structure formed on at least one surface of the at least one inner baffle structure and on at least one surface of the at least one outer baffle structure.

8. The capacitance manometer of claim 1 further comprising at least one flow directing structure formed within the at least one baffle orifice.

9. The capacitance manometer of claim 1 wherein the at least one inner baffle structure and at least one outer baffle structure are parallel.

10. The capacitance manometer of claim 1 further comprising at least one housing having at least one inlet form therein, the at least one housing configured to contain and support the at least one electrode structure, the at least one flexible diaphragm, and at least one nonplanar baffle therein.

11. The capacitance manometer of claim 1 further comprising at least one flow directing structure formed on at least one surface of the at least one housing.

12. A capacitance manometer assembly, comprising:

at least one electrode structure having at least one inner electrode structure and at least one outer electrode structure, the at least one inner electrode structure separated from the at least one outer electrode structure by at least one gap;

at least one flexible diaphragm having at least one conductive material positioned thereon, the at least one flexible diaphragm movable in relation to the electrode structure having a zero position when pressure on each side of the flexible diaphragm is the same and at least one differential position when a differential pressure is applied to the flexible diaphragm;

at least one nonplanar baffle having at least one inner baffle structure, at least one outer baffle structure, and at least one baffle orifice form thereon, wherein the inner baffle structure is displaced from the outer baffle structure; and

at least one housing having at least one inlet form therein, the at least one housing configured to contain and support the at least one electrode structure, the at least one flexible diaphragm, and at least one nonplanar baffle therein.

13. The capacitance manometer assembly of claim 12 further comprising at least one guard structure positioned within the at least one gap.

14. The capacitance manometer of claim 12 wherein the at least one inner baffle structure is positioned a distance D IB from the at least one flexible diaphragm, and the outer baffle structure is positioned a distance D OB from the at least one flexible diaphragm wherein distance D IB is greater than distance D OB .

15. The capacitance manometer of claim 12 further comprising at least one flow directing structure formed on at least one surface of the at least one inner baffle structure.

16. The capacitance manometer of claim 12 further comprising at least one flow directing structure formed on at least one surface of the at least one outer baffle structure.

17. The capacitance manometer of claim 12 further comprising at least one flow directing structure formed on at least one surface of the at least one inner baffle structure and on at least one surface of the at least one outer baffle structure.

18. The capacitance manometer of claim 12 further comprising at least one flow directing structure formed within the at least one baffle orifice.

19. The capacitance manometer of claim 12 wherein the at least one inner baffle structure and at least one outer baffle structure are parallel.

20. The capacitance manometer of claim 12 further comprising at least one flow directing structure formed on at least one surface of the at least one housing.

Assignments (6)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 24, 2022
From: BARCLAYS BANK PLC
To: MKS INSTRUMENTS, INC.; NEWPORT CORPORATION; ELECTRO SCIENTIFIC INDUSTRIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 062739/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 24, 2022
From: BARCLAYS BANK PLC
To: MKS INSTRUMENTS, INC.; NEWPORT CORPORATION; ELECTRO SCIENTIFIC INDUSTRIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 063009/0001 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 19, 2022
From: MKS INSTRUMENTS, INC.; NEWPORT CORPORATION; ELECTRO SCIENTIFIC INDUSTRIES, INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 061572/0069 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 11, 2020
From: SULLIVAN, PHILIP W; LUCAS, PAUL D; MATTOR, ETHAN; SYSSOEV, SERGEI; VENKATESAN, SWAMINATHAN
To: MKS INSTRUMENTS INC.
Reel/Frame 052627/0544 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT (TERM LOAN) Recorded Apr 15, 2020
From: ELECTRO SCIENTIFIC INDUSTRIES, INC.; MKS INSTRUMENTS, INC.; NEWPORT CORPORATION
To: BARCLAYS BANK PLC
Reel/Frame 052410/0234 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT (ABL) Recorded Apr 15, 2020
From: MKS INSTRUMENTS, INC.; ELECTRO SCIENTIFIC INDUSTRIES, INC.; NEWPORT CORPORATION
To: BARCLAYS BANK PLC
Reel/Frame 052410/0527 →
Continuity (1)
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