Patent · US Expired

Sensor element and particle sensor

US5698931A · kind A · utility

20Cited by
21References
7Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateMay 18, 1995
Grant dateDec 16, 1997
Priority date
Expiry dateMay 18, 2015

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG01N2291/02416
  • WIPO fieldMeasurement
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A sensor element for detecting solid particles in a fluid includes: a detecting unit including a piezoelectric film consisting essentially of a ceramic material, a first electrode coated onto at least a portion of the outer surface of the piezoelectric film, and a second electrode coated onto at least a portion of the inner surface of the piezoelectric film; a vibrating portion consisting essentially of a second ceramic material, the detecting unit being placed on the vibrating portion so that the second electrode is coated onto at least a portion of the vibrating portion; and a fixing portion for fixing the may vibrate portion so that the vibrating portion vibrates. At least one of the detecting unit and the vibrating portion contacts-with a solid particle in the fluid so that the piezoelectric film converts the vibration into an electric signal. A particle sensor includes the sensor element. The sensor element and the particle sensor are excellent in particle detection precision and durability at low cost.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.