Miniaturized sensor device for detecting characteristics of a fluid, in particular a lubricating oil

US7257984B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• C.R.F. SOCIETA' CONSORTILE PER AZIONI · IT

Inventors

• Marco Pidria · Orbassano, IT
• Marco Pizzi · Casale Monferrato, IT
• Paolo Faraldi · Forlì, IT
• Edoardo Merlone Borla · Orbassano, IT
• Silvio Corrias · Moncalvo, IT
• Gianfranco Innocenti · Rivalta, IT

Key dates

• Filing date: Dec 21, 2005
• Grant date: Aug 21, 2007
• Expiry date: Apr 13, 2026

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G01N19/02
• WIPO field: Measurement
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

A miniaturized sensor device comprises at least one pair of active projecting elements or cantilevers, which are set parallel to one another and at a micrometric or sub-micrometric distance apart and are designed to be submerged at least partially in a fluid. Each pair comprises a first cantilever, equipped with actuator means, and a second cantilever, equipped with sensor means. The actuator means can cause a movement of the first cantilever, whilst the sensor means can detect a movement of the second cantilever, induced by the movement of the first cantilever, for generating accordingly a measurable signal, which represents the lubricating capacity of the fluid.