Abstract:
A pressure sensor of substantially ceramic material comprises a rigid housing having a thick base plate, an interior shielding plate, and a movable diaphragm. A cavity providing a reference pressure is formed between the shielding plate and the diaphragm and on the opposite walls thereof are electrodes, which form a capacitor, the capacity of which is sensed. A temperature sensor comprises thermistors positioned inside the housing, between the base plate and the shielding plate, with the reference resistors on the surface of the base plate facing outwards. The shielding plate is thin, so that the thermistors are located near the diaphragm and are sensitive to the temperature thereof. Therefore the temperature sensor element has minimum influence on the electric properties of the pressure sensor and in particular on the mechanical properties of the diaphragm.

Description:
This is a continuation of PCT application No. PCT/SE98/00303, filed Feb. 20, 1998, the entire content of which is hereby incorporated by reference in this application. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates to a pressure sensor element comprising built-in temperature measuring means, in particular a ceramic capacitive pressure sensor element having capacitor electrodes on tile bottom side of a house part and on the top side of a diaphragm. 
     BACKGROUND 
     A ceramic capacitive sensor element  1  for sensing pressures is usually built of mainly two parts, see FIG.  9 . These parts comprise a stable circular base plate  3  having a diameter of typically 20-30 mm and a thickness of typically 4-5 mm, also called a housing or house part, and a thinner circular plate  5 , also called a diaphragm, applied to one of the large surfaces of the base plate  3  and joined thereto by means of for example glass joints  6  at its circular edge. The diaphragm  5  is attached so that its central portion can move, bend or be deflected in relation to the base plate, i.e., the basically flat shape of the diaphragm can change for varying pressures acting thereon. The diaphragm has the same diameter as the base plate and has a thickness, which is adapted to the magnitude of the load, i.e., the pressure, to which the diaphragm is intended to be subjected. The change of the position of the central portion of the diaphragm  5  is detected as a change of the capacitance between two parallel and opposite electrodes  7 ,  9  of, e.g., gold, which are applied by means of thin film methods on the central portions of the inner, opposite surfaces of the base plate  3  and the diaphragm  5  respectively. In the measurement of pressure the variable searched for is the pressure P meas , which acts on the bottom, free surface of the diaphragm  5 , and it is measured in relation to a reference pressure P ref  acting on the inner surface of the diaphragm, i.e., the surface facing the base plate  3 . Temperature measurement elements can be applied to the interior side of the diaphragm  5 , see German publication document DE-A1 41 36 999. However, this involves a large disadvantage due to the fact that additional surface coatings on the diaphragm will always to some extent influence the mechanical characteristics of the diaphragm and in particular temperature induced movements in the diaphragm can increase. This can be particularly embarrassing when measuring using thin diaphragms. 
     SUMMARY 
     It is an object of the invention to provide a pressure sensor comprising integrated measurement of temperature and having a high accuracy and repeatability. 
     It is another object of the invention to provide a capacitive pressure sensor, which comprises temperature measurement elements which have a minimal influence of the mechanical characteristics of the measurement diaphragm and also on the electric fields at the capacitor electrodes of the pressure sensor. 
     The general problem solved by the invention is thus how to arrange temperature measurement means inside a compact ceramic pressure sensor of the capacitive type allowing an accurate temperature measurement at the place where it is needed, i.e. as near the capacitor electrodes as possible, and at the same time not interfering with the electric characteristics of the capacitor electrodes and not interfering with the movement of the measurement diaphragm. 
     The sensor element is designed to comprise an integrated temperature measurement bridge, which makes a compensation of the drift of the sensor element possible for a change of the ambient temperature and for temperature changes of the measurement medium. The signal from the measurement bridge can be processed digitally, what increases the applicability of the temperature measurement bridge. Resistive bridge elements of thin film type are coated on an interior surface inside a sensor housing comprising a thick base plate and a thin plate, the interior surface being located between the base plan and the thin plate, so that the bridge is separated from the measurement electrodes only by the relatively thin plate. 
     A pressure sensor of substantially ceramic material thus comprises a rigid and stable, non-deformable house part consisting of a thicker base plate and an interior shielding plate, and furthermore it comprises a diaphragm having a portion movable with the pressure which is to be sensed or measured. A cavity comprising a reference pressure is formed between the shielding plate and the diaphragm. On the opposite walls of the cavity electrodes are arranged, which form a capacitor, the capacity of which can be sensed by electronic circuits. A temperature sensor comprises a bridge circuit. This circuit includes thermistors arranged inside the house part, between the base plate and the shielding plate, and reference resistors on that surface of the base plate which faces outwards. The shielding plate is thin, e.g., having a thickness substantially between the thickness of the diaphragm and twice that thickness. Thereby the thermistors are located near the diaphragm and are sensitive to the temperature thereof. This position of the thermistors also results in that the temperature sensor elements, particularly the thermistors, give a minimum influence on the electric properties of the pressure sensor and in particular on the mechanical properties of the diaphragm. 
     Generally, a pressure sensor can comprise a pressure sensor house assembly made of substantially ceramic materials. The assembly comprises a substantially rigid house part having no movable portions and an at least partly movable diaphragm. A cavity is formed between the house part and the diaphragm. At least one temperature sensor or temperature sensing element is arranged in the interior of the house part, i.e inside the material of the house part. The temperature sensing element is thus not in contact with the exterior of the assembly and not in contact with the cavity. The temperature sensing element is preferably located at or very near the cavity and can be separated therefrom only by a ceramic plate. This ceramic plate is advantageously a thin plate, having a thickness substantially equal to the thickness of the diaphragm or at most equal to twice that thickness. Preferably, the temperature sensor is also located at the periphery of the house part in order not to interfere with electrical fields at central portions of the house part and the diaphragm. 
     The temperature sensing element can be arranged between a thicker base plate and a thinner shielding plate, the latter of which has a surface, which forms a wall in the cavity, wand in particular it can be arranged between an interior surface of the base plate and a joint, which attaches the base plate to the shielding plate 
     An electrically conducting, shielding layer can be located between the base plate and the shielding plate and preferably centrally in the contact surface between the base plate and the shielding plate. Then the shielding layer and the temperature sensor may be located separately from each other, as seen in directions in the contact surface between the base plate and the shielding plate. 
     The area of an electrode, which is centrally located on the surface of the housing part at the cavity, may be somewhat smaller the e area of an opposite electrode, which is located centrally on the surface of the diaphragm at the cavity. An electrode, which is centrally located on the surface of the diaphragm at the cavity, is preferably surrounded by a substantially annular shielding layer made of an electrically conducting material. 
     The pressure sensor has typically the shape of a plate such as a substantially circular plate and then house part also has the shape of a plate with the same exterior form. Then two temperature sensor elements are advantageously arranged opposite each other along a diameter and symmetrically in the house part in relation to a central axis of the house part, the central axis being perpendicular to the large surface of the house part. 
     Furthermore, at least one reference resistor can be applied to or at an exterior surface of the house part. For a plate-shaped pressure sensor such as a substantially circular plate two reference resistances can be applied opposite each other along a diameter and symmetrically on or at the house part respectively in relation to a central axis of the house part. 
     Additional objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention The objects and advantages of the invention may be realized and obtained by means of the methods, processes, instrumentalities and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     While the novel features of the invention are set forth with particularly in the appended claims, a complete understanding of the invention, both as to organization and as content, and of the above and other features thereof may be gained from and the invention will be better appreciated from a consideration of the following detailed description of non-limiting embodiments presented hereinbelow with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
     FIG. 1 a  is a sectional view of a pressure sensor element of the ceramic, capacitive type adapted to be provided with integrated, accurate temperature measuring means, 
     FIG. 1 b  is an exploded perspective view as seen obliquely from above of the pressure sensor element in FIG. 1 a comprising temperature measuring means, 
     FIG. 2 a  is a view from above of a base plate included in the pressure sensor element having an applied protective film, 
     FIG. 2 b  is a view similar to FIG. 2 a  but without a protective film, 
     FIG. 3 a  is a view of the base plate in FIGS. 2 a  and  2   b  as seen from below, 
     FIG. 3 b  is a partial section taken through the region at the mouth at a through-hole intended for electrical through-connections, 
     FIG. 3 c  is a detail view of a contact area adjacent a through-hole for electrical trough-connections as seen in a direction perpendicular to the contact surface, 
     FIG. 4 is a view from above of a shielding plate included in the pressure sensor element, 
     FIG. 5 is a view of the shielding plate in FIG. 4 as seen from below, 
     FIG. 6 is a view of a diaphragm included in the pressure sensor element as seen from above, 
     FIG. 7 is a view of the diaphragm in FIG. 6 as seen from below, 
     FIG. 8 is a view of a support ring included in the pressure sensor element as seen from above, and 
     FIG. 9 is a sectional view of a prior an sensor element of ceramic, capacitive type 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     In FIG. 1 a  a cross-sectional view and in FIG. 1 b  an exploded perspective view of a pressure sensor element are shown, which are generally constructed as is disclosed in the published International patent application WO 95/28624. The housing or house part  11  comprises here two ceramic parts, a thicker base plate  13  and thinner shielding plate  15 . Between these parts an electrically conducting shielding layer  81  is arranged, i.e., at the inner bottom surface of the base plate  13  and at the top surface of the shielding plate  15 . The ceramic diaphragm  19  is attached by means of a glass joint  21  at the opposite bottom surface of the shielding plate  15 , which joint is annular and is located at the periphery of the opposite surfaces of the shielding plate  15  and the diaphragm  19 . The glass joint  21  thus attaches the top surface of the diaphragm  19  to the bottom surface of the shielding plate  15  in a hermetic, helium impermeable and stable way. A stabilizing front ring  22  of ceramics is applied to the bottom surface of the diaphragm  19 . The base plate  13 , the shielding plate  15 , the diaphragm  19  and the front ring  22  have all substantially the same outer diameter and the three first part are low circular-cylindrical bodies whereas the fourth component is a low, circular-cylindrical ring. 
     Between the bottom surface of the shielding plate  15  and the top surface of the diaphragm  19  a cavity  23  is formed owing to the glass joint  21 , which is made so thick as to provide a distance between these surfaces. The cavity  23  has the shape of a very low cylinder, to which a channel  24  extends, see also FIGS. 3 a ,  4  and  5 , up to the top surface of the base plate  13 . This channel  24  is closed by a lid  25  inside which a getter body, not shown, is located, as is described in the simultaneously filed International patent application “A sensor element having an integrated reference pressure”, so tat in the cavity  23  a very low reference pressure exists. Such a high quality integrated reference pressure increase the stability, the repeatability and the technical life-time of the sensor element and in particular this is true in the case where the diaphragm  19 , which is used the pressure sensing element, is thin or very thin. 
     On the bottom side of the shielding plate  15  a top measurement electrode or capacitor electrode  27  is applied as a gold layer coated by means of thin film methods. The bottom measurement electrode or the capacitor electrode  29  is also made of gold and is in the same way coated on the top side of the diaphragm  19 . The diameter of the top measurement electrode  27  is somewhat smaller than the diameter of the bottom measurement electrode  29 , see FIGS. 5 and 6. Typically they can have diameters of 5.0 and 5.5 mm respectively. Channels  31 ,  33  are arranged for conducting electrical wires to the measurement electrodes  27 ,  29  and a channel for conducting electrical wires to an interior bottom shielding layer, see FIG. 6, which is coated on the top surface of the diaphragm  19 . The channels  31 ,  33  extend through the base plate  13  and the shielding plate  15  perpendicularly to the large surfaces thereof and are located in the cylindrical ring region thereof which is located at their envelope surface and which corresponds to the glass joint  21  having a circular ring shape. These channels thus end at their lower end in the glass joint  21  and at their upper ends mouth at the top surface of the base plate  13  and at the top surface of the shielding plate  15  respectively. The glass joint  21  encloses but does not cover the contact surfaces of the electrical through-connections, as will be described hereinafter. Conductor paths of gold applied by means of thin film methods on the opposite surfaces of the shielding plate  15  and the diaphragm  19  extend from the measurement electrodes to the contact surfaces around the channels  31 ,  33  of the measurement electrode and are then partly covered by the glass joint material. 
     The construction of the different plates of the sensor element which are placed on top of each other to form a sensor element having integrated temperature measuring means will now be described in detail. 
     In FIG. 2 a  the base plate  13  is shown as seen from above comprising an electrically isolating protective film, which is applied to its top surface and which covers screen printed electrical conductor paths but has holes for the connection lid  25 , for the electrical conductors to the electrodes and for electrical connections to the temperature measurement bridge and to interior shielding. Seven holes extending through the base plate  13  and having small diameters are arranged for these electrical conductors. Two of these holes are the upper portion or the mouths of the channels  31 ,  33 , which extend to the measurement electrodes  27 ,  29 . Around all these holes concentric circular ring shaped regions  43 ,  45 ,  47 , and  49  are arranged comprising silver layers applied by means of thick film methods, see FIG. 2 b , in which the base plate  13  is shown as seen from above without the protective film  41 . Conducting shielded pins, not shown, are intended to be placed in the channels  31 ,  33  for the electrodes. Four through-holes  51  are arranged for electrical conductors comprising surrounding ring-shaped silver regions  47  to temperature sensitive elements, which are screen printed on the bottom side of the base plate  13 , as will be described hereinafter in conjunction with FIG. 3 a . In the holes for electrical conductors these conductors can be arranged in principle the same way, which is described in the International patent application WO 95/28624, cited above, see in particular the description of FIG.  4 . 
     These temperature sensitive elements are together with two reference resistors  52  on the top surface of the base plate  13  components of a temperature measurement bridge. The legs of the measurement bridge are through, the screen printed conductor paths connected to rectangular solder areas  53  which are intended for exterior electrical connection and which are located along a diameter of the base plate  13 . The screen printed conductors are in contact with the respective silver rings  47  located around the holes  51  for the conductors. Further out from the center, along the same diameter of the top surface of the base plate are the reference resistors  52  located. Centrally another rectangular solder area  55  is located, which through a screen printed electrically conducting line and the termination thereof at the circular silver ring  49  has contact with an electric conductor in the through-hole  57  to an inner shielding layer located on the top surface of the shielding plate  15  and the top surface of the diaphragm  19 , see the detailed description of these plates hereinafter. At the same diameter and farthest out, near the periphery of the base plate  13 , are the holes  31 ,  33  for the electrical conductor to the electrodes located. 
     The bottom surface of the base plate  13 , see FIG. 3 a , has a dotted pattern, the dots being configured as hexagons  58 , made of some glass material suited for joining the plates. Around the holes  51 ,  57  for the electrical conductors to the temperature measurement bridge and interior shielding layer circular rings  59  of gold are coated as thin films, see the partial sectional view in FIG. 3 b , which shows a cross-section of the region at the mouth of a hole  51 ,  57  at the bottom surface. On top of these circular rings  59  of gold circular rings  61  of silver having the same diameter are applied. The circular rings  59  of gold are thin films whereas the circular rings  61  of silver are thick films having a thickness, which is adapted, so that their surfaces, which are opposite the surfaces, which are in contact with the gold rings  59 , are located in the same plane as or in the same level a the exterior surface (the bottom surface as seen in FIGS. 1 a  and  1   b ) of the glass joint material in the hexagons  58 . Outside these circular rings of gold/silver surrounding circular rings  63  are arranged made of the same glass joint material as the dotted hexagon pattern  58  and having the same height as this. The channel  24  corresponds here to a through-hole  65  which has only a circular ring  67  of glass material around its mouth in the bottom surface of the base plate  13 . 
     The glass, which is here used on the bottom surface of the base plate  13  in the hexagon pattern  58 , can be another type than the glass material, which is coated on the bottom side of the shielding plate  15  and on the top surface of the front ring  22 , compare the discussion hereinafter. 
     Around the channels  31 ,  33  extending to the measurement electrodes oblong gold/silver rings  69 ,  71  are arranged which have elongated shapes but otherwise are the same type as the gold/silver rings  59 ,  61  around the other holes  51 ,  57  for electric conductors. These oblong gold/silver rings  69 ,  71  act as contact points for pins for connection to the measurement electrodes, see FIG. 3 c . Around these gold/silver rings  69 ,  71  oblong glass material rings  73  having an elongated shape are arranged. 
     Two thermistors  75  are applied as thin or thick film regions on the bottom surface of the base plate  13  directly on the ceramic surface thereof. Conductors of gold applied by means of thin film methods exend from the thermistors  75  to the contact surfaces, i.e., the silver rings  62 , for the electrical through-connecting to the top surface of the base plate  13 . The thin film conductors are applied directly to the ceramic surface and they are covered by the dotted glass pattern  58 . The thermistors  75  are also surrounded by the dotted glass pattern  58 . The thermistor material can be platinum or a PTC-material, which is compatible with the glass material. If the shielding plate  15  opposite the base plate  13  is thin, the thermistors  75  will be located in a direct vicinity of the diaphragm  19 , the central portion of which is movable with the pressure, and still the thermistors are not applied to or located on or in the diaphragm. Elements applied to the diaphragm  19  can influence the central mechanical function of the diaphragm acting as an element having a portion which is movable with the exterior pressure. The thermistors  75  are located at the periphery of the bottom surface of the base plate  13 , in parallel to the periphery and are located opposite each other at a diameter and at an angular distance of 90° from the reference resistors  52  on the top surface of the base plate  13 . 
     Against the bottom surface of the base plate  13  the top surface of the shielding plate  15  is located, see FIG. 4, It has two contact surfaces  77 ,  79  of gold/silver films for the pins, which are used for conducting the signal from the measurement electrodes. The contact surfaces  77 ,  79  can be made in principle in the same way as the contact surfaces  69 ,  71  at the corresponding holes  31 ,  33  on the bottom surface of the base plate  13 . A screen printed gold surface  81  of gold coated by means of thin films methods on the top side of the shielding plate  15  forms an upper portion of the interior electrical shielding. On this top shielding layer  81  a contact surface  83  is arranged which is made of sliver applied by means of thick film methods and which is located, so that it is placed at the bottom mouth of the channel  57  through the base plate  13 . The top shielding layer is along a radius prolonged by a conductor of gold, which extends to a contact area  85  located near the periphery of the late. This contact area  85  is by an electrical conductor in a through-hole  87  in the shielding plate connected to the bottom portion of the interior shielding, see more details hereinafter. The top shielding layer  81  has generally a circular shape comprising Free approximate semicircular cut-outs located in the two directions, in which the holes  31 ,  33  for the electrical conductors to the electrodes are located, and in the direction in which the channel  89 , which is arranged for the channel  24  to the reference cavity and is a prolongation of the corresponding hole  65  in the base plate  13 , start at the top surface of the shielding plate  15  in order to continue into the cavity  23  at the measurement electrodes. The cut-outs of the shielding layer  81  are like said holes located at an angular distance of 90° from each other. The main portion of the shielding layer  81 , which as described has a generally circular shape, is located centrally on the top surface of the shielding plate  15 , 
     On the bottom surface of the shielding plate  15  the top measurement electrode  27  is applied and is made of gold applied by means of thin film methods, see FIG.  5 . The holes  31 ,  33  for the electrical conductors to the top measurement electrode  27  and to the bottom measurement electrode applied to the top side of the diaphragm  19  and the hole  87  for electrical connection to the bottom portion of the interior shielding mouth at the bottom surface of the shielding plate in the glass joint  21 , which forms a circular ring located at the periphery. The glass joint  21  encloses but does not cover the contact areas  90 ,  91  which are intended for the electrical conductors and are located around the holes  31 ,  33  and  87  respectively. An electrical conductor of gold applied by means of thin film methods extends from the top measurement electrode  27 , which has the shape of a centrally located, circular region, up to the contact surface  90  surrounding the corresponding hole  33  for the electrical signal conductor through the plates. The gold conductor from the top measurement electrode  27  is covered by the glass joint within the region thereof at the periphery of the shielding plate  15 . 
     The surface located opposite and close to the bottom surface of the shielding plate  15  is the top surface of the diaphragm  19 , see FIG.  6 . The bottom measurement electrode  29 , which also comprises a main portion having a centrally located circular shape, is made of gold applied by thin film methods and is prolonged by a radially extending electrical conductor. This radial conductor extends to an electrical contact surface  93 , which is located under the hole  31  for the electrical connection through the plates to the bottom measurement electrode. A region  95  of gold applied by means of thin film methods is also provided on the corresponding place for the hole  33  for the top measurement electrode. The lower portion of the interior shielding is a an electrically conducting layer  97 , which is located as a circular ring around the bottom measurement electrode  29 , only interrupted for the conductor between the electrode and the contact area thereof, and which through a radial portion is prolonged up to a contact area  99 , which is located under the hole  87  for the electrical connection from the top shielding layer  81  on the top surface of the shielding plate  15 . The contact areas  93 ,  95 ,  99  on the top surface of the diaphragm  19  are thus located opposite contact surfaces on the bottom surface of the shielding plate  15 . 
     The bottom surface of the diaphragm  19 , see FIG. 7, can be coated with a layer  101  of an electrically well conducing material, such as gold, covering the whole surface and applied by means of thin film methods. To the bottom side of the diaphragm a stabilizing front ring  22  or front plate can be applied, see the view of the top surface thereof in FIG.  8 . The top surface of the front ring  22 , which is engaged with the bottom surface of the diaphragm  19 , is coated with glass joint material  103 . It covers all of the circular ring surface of the front ring. 
     Thus a pressure sensor has been described having temperature measurement means allowing an accurate temperature measurement near the capacitor electrodes and not to any noticeable extent interfering with the electric fields of the capacitor electrodes and not interfering with the pressure-induced movements of the measurement diaphragm. 
     While specific embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described herein, it is realized that numerous additional advantages, modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art. Therefore, the invention in its broader aspects is not limited to the specific details, representative devices and illustrated examples shown and described herein. Accordingly, various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the general inventive concept as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents. It is therefore to be understood that the appended claims are intended to cover all such modifications and changes as fall within a true spirit and scope of the invention.