IP Library Granted Patent US 9,618,406
Granted Patent B2
US 9,618,406 · App. 14/842,193 · Granted Apr 11, 2017

Sensor element

Inventors: Dietmar Kroeger (Graz, AT); Peter Schmid (Vienna, AT); Ulrich Schmid (Vienna, AT); Alexander Schricker (Graz, AT); Christof Zarfl (Graz, AT)
Assignee: Piezocryst Advanced Sensories GmbH
G01L1/26G01L1/18G01L1/2287G01L9/0052G01L19/04
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,618,406
App. No.
14/842,193
Granted
Apr 11, 2017
Kind
B2
Abstract

A sensor element ( 1 ) includes a substrate ( 2 ) and a strain-sensitive element ( 3 ) which is preferably applied to the substrate by means of thin-film technology and is used for measuring the deformation of the substrate ( 2 ) when pressure is applied or a force is introduced, the strain-sensitive element ( 3 ) including XAlO y N 1-y , wherein X is a metal with a high melting temperature in the range of greater than 1400° C. and 0<y<0.4 applies. A passivation layer ( 5 ) can be applied to the strain-sensitive element ( 3 ).

Claims (13)

1. A sensor element comprising a substrate and a strain-sensitive element which is applied to the substrate, said strain-sensitive element measuring deformation of the substrate when pressure is applied or a force is introduced, where the strain-sensitive element consists of XAlO y N 1-y , and wherein X is a metal with a high melting temperature in the range of greater than 1400° C. and 0<y<0.4 applies.

2. The sensor element according to claim 1 , wherein the strain-sensitive element consists of a composite layer which is applied to the substrate by a PVD process, or by a CVD process.

3. The sensor element according to claim 1 , wherein the strain-sensitive element contains at least one metal X from a group consisting of Ti, Ta and Pt.

4. The sensor element according to claim 1 , wherein a fraction of aluminium in the strain-sensitive element, which enters into a dielectric connection with nitrogen and oxygen, to a fraction of the metallic component is weighted in such a way that TCR of the strain-sensitive element assumes minimum values.

5. The sensor element according to claim 4 , wherein the titanium fraction in a strain-sensitive element made of TiAlON is between 0.4 and 0.5 percent by weight.

6. The sensor element according to claim 1 , wherein the strain-sensitive element is arranged in an enclosed sensor atmosphere with a defined oxygen fraction.

7. The sensor element according to claim 6 , wherein the strain-sensitive element is arranged in a sealed sensor housing.

8. The sensor element according to claim 1 , wherein the substrate consists of Ni base material selected from the group of Haynes 230, a ceramic and a piezoelectric material.

9. The sensor element according to claim 1 , wherein the strain-sensitive element comprises a passivation layer.

10. The sensor element according to claim 9 , wherein the passivation layer comprises of Al 2 0 3 or AlN.

11. The sensor element according to claim 2 , wherein the composite layer is applied to the substrate by a sputtering process or a vapour-deposition process.

12. The sensor element according to claim 4 , wherein TCR of the strain-sensitive element assumes approximately 0.

13. The sensor element according to claim 7 , wherein the sensor housing consists at least partly of Ni base material.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 22, 2015
From: KROEGER, DIETMAR; SCHMID, PETER; SCHMID, ULRICH; SCHRICKER, ALEXANDER; ZARFL, CHRISTOF
To: PIEZOCRYST ADVANCED SENSORICS GMBH
Reel/Frame 037352/0768 →
Priority Claims (1)
AT 50612/2014 · Sep 5, 2014 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20160069758A1 · Mar 10, 2016