Temperature transducer
US5135312A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 20, 1990 |
| Grant date | Aug 4, 1992 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 20, 2010 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01K7/32
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A vibrating crystal transducer for measuring temperature including a bonding area from which three or more tines extend. The tines have a torsional mode resonant frequency that is a function of temperature. Electrodes on the transducer excite the tines into vibration so that the torsional moments of the adjacent edges of the adjacent tines are reverse symmetric. When the tines are vibrated, the reverse symmetrical vibrational moments of the individual tines cancel so that there is no torsional moment, or twisting, within the area between the points where the tines intersect, which is the area defined by the bonding area. Since the bonding area does not serve as a sink for torsional energy, torsional energy is not lost through the bonding area so that the transducer has a relatively high quality factor and torsional vibration of the transducer cannot cause the transducer to eventually work loose of a mounting pad to which it is attached.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.