Patent ID: 7278309

Claim:
A sensor apparatus, comprising: a heating element comprising an upstream side and a downstream side; a first heat sensing set configured adjacent to the upstream side of the heating element and comprising a first sensing element and a second sensing element, the first and second sensing elements configured in a serpentine, interdigitated pattern; a second heat sensing set configured adjacent to the downstream side of the heating element and comprising a third sensing element and a fourth sensing element, the third and fourth sensing elements configured in a serpentine, interdigitated pattern that provides for a consistent measurement across a single sensing element and wherein said serpentine, interdigitated pattern provides for an interdigitated configuration that increases the consistency of measurement between said first, second, third and fourth sensing elements; and a plurality of thermal isolation barriers configured adjacent to the first and second heat sensing sets, wherein the first sensing element is coupled to the third sensing element to form one half of a Wheatstone bridge and wherein the second sensing element is coupled to the fourth sensing element to form a second half of the Wheatstone bridge in order to thereby permit said sensor apparatus to quantify flow rate data with an enhanced signal-to-noise ratio, which in turn provides for an improvement in the accuracy and resolution of quantifying mass flow rates via said sensor apparatus.