PATENT DOCUMENT

Publication Number: US-10948372-B2
Application Number: US-201816145708-A
Country: US
Kind Code: B2

Title: Dual pressure sensing module with a shared electrical substrate

Abstract:
A pressure sensing module for an electronic device includes a substrate and a module housing coupled to the substrate. The module housing defines a first chamber and a second chamber. The second chamber is separate from the first chamber. The first chamber is configured to connect to an environment around an electronic device. The second chamber is configured to connect to an internal volume of the housing of the electronic device. A first pressure sensing element is electrically coupled to the substrate and disposed in the first chamber and is operative to detect an external pressure around the electronic device. A second pressure sensing element is electrically coupled to the substrate and disposed in the second chamber and is operative to detect an internal pressure within the electronic device housing.

Claims:
What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An electronic device, comprising:
 an electronic device housing defining an aperture; 
 a pressure sensing module coupled to the electronic device housing around the aperture, the pressure sensing module comprising:
 a substrate; 
 at least one module housing coupled to the substrate that defines:
 a first chamber connected to the aperture; 
 a second chamber separate from the first chamber; 
 a first pressure sensing element, electrically coupled to the substrate and disposed in the first chamber, operative to detect an external pressure around the electronic device; and 
 a second pressure sensing element, electrically coupled to the substrate and disposed in the second chamber, operative to detect an internal pressure within the electronic device housing; and 
 
 
 a water resistant membrane, coupled to the at least one module housing and separated from the first pressure sensing element by the first chamber. 
 
     
     
       2. The electronic device of  claim 1 , further comprising gel positioned in the first chamber. 
     
     
       3. The electronic device of  claim 2 , wherein the water resistant membrane is separated from the gel by the first chamber. 
     
     
       4. The electronic device of  claim 1 , wherein the first pressure sensing element and the second pressure sensing element are microelectromechanical system pressure sensors. 
     
     
       5. The electronic device of  claim 1 , further comprising a seal positioned between the electronic device housing and the at least one module housing around the first chamber. 
     
     
       6. An electronic device, comprising:
 an electronic device housing defining an aperture; 
 a pressure sensing module coupled to the electronic device housing around the aperture, the pressure sensing module comprising:
 a substrate; 
 at least one module housing coupled to the substrate that defines:
 a first chamber connected to the aperture; and 
 a second chamber separate from the first chamber; 
 a first pressure sensing element, electrically coupled to the substrate and disposed in the first chamber, operative to detect an external pressure around the electronic device; and 
 a second pressure sensing element, electrically coupled to the substrate and disposed in the second chamber, operative to detect an internal pressure within the electronic device housing; and 
 
 
 a seal, positioned between the electronic device housing and the at least one module housing around the first chamber, that 
 separates the second chamber from an external environment around the electronic device. 
 
     
     
       7. The electronic device of  claim 6 , wherein:
 the substrate has a first surface and a second surface opposing the first surface; 
 the at least one module housing comprises a first housing coupled to the first surface and a second housing coupled to the second surface, the first housing defining the first chamber and the second housing defining the second chamber. 
 
     
     
       8. The electronic device of  claim 7 , further comprising an integrated circuit, coupled to the substrate, that processes signals from the first pressure sensing element and the second pressure sensing element. 
     
     
       9. The electronic device of  claim 8 , wherein:
 the integrated circuit is coupled to the first surface; and 
 the first pressure sensing element is coupled to the first surface via the integrated circuit. 
 
     
     
       10. The electronic device of  claim 8 , wherein:
 the integrated circuit is coupled to the second surface; and 
 the second pressure sensing element is coupled to the first surface via the integrated circuit. 
 
     
     
       11. The electronic device of  claim 8 , wherein the integrated circuit is configured to at least:
 convert the signals from analog to digital; 
 compensate the signals for temperature; or 
 amplify the signals. 
 
     
     
       12. The electronic device of  claim 7 , wherein the substrate:
 includes a conductor that extends from the first surface to the second surface; or comprises ceramic. 
 
     
     
       13. The electronic device of  claim 6 , further comprising a water resistant membrane, coupled to the at least one module housing and separated from the first pressure sensing element by the first chamber. 
     
     
       14. A pressure sensing module for an electronic device, comprising:
 a substrate having a surface and defining a passage through the substrate; 
 a housing coupled to the surface to define:
 a first chamber configured to be connected to a first environment via the passage; and 
 a second chamber configured to be connected to a second environment; 
 
 a first pressure sensing element, coupled to the surface, operative to detect a first pressure of the first environment; 
 a second pressure sensing element, coupled to the surface, operative to detect a second pressure of the second environment; and 
 a water resistant membrane, coupled to the housing and separated from the first pressure sensing element by the first chamber. 
 
     
     
       15. The pressure sensing module of  claim 14 , wherein the housing defines an aperture that connects the second chamber to the second environment. 
     
     
       16. The pressure sensing module of  claim 14 , wherein the housing includes a wall, coupled to the surface, that separates the first chamber from the second chamber. 
     
     
       17. The pressure sensing module of  claim 14 , wherein the housing:
 has a first surface that couples to the surface of the substrate; 
 has a second surface opposite the first surface; and 
 defines an aperture in the second surface that is configured to connect the second chamber to the second environment. 
 
     
     
       18. The pressure sensing module of  claim 14 , wherein the first pressure sensing element is positioned over the passage. 
     
     
       19. The pressure sensing module of  claim 18 , further comprising an integrated circuit, coupled to the surface over the first pressure sensing element, that is electrically connected to the first pressure sensing element and the second pressure sensing element. 
     
     
       20. The pressure sensing module of  claim 14 , wherein:
 the surface is a first surface; 
 the substrate includes a second surface opposite the first surface; and 
 the pressure sensing module further comprises an integrated circuit, coupled to the second surface, that is electrically connected to the first pressure sensing element and the second pressure sensing element.

Description:
FIELD 
     The described embodiments relate generally to pressure sensors. More particularly, the present embodiments relate to a dual pressure sensing module that shares an electrical substrate. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Many electronic devices include pressure sensors. For example, an electronic device may include an external pressure sensor. The external pressure sensor may be connected to an external environment around the electronic device and may be operative to measure the pressure of the external environment (i.e., the ambient pressure around the electronic device). By way of another example, an electronic device may include an internal pressure sensor. The internal pressure sensor may be connected to an internal volume defined within the electronic device and may be operative to measure the pressure of the internal volume. 
     SUMMARY 
     The present disclosure relates to a dual pressure sensing module with a shared electrical substrate. The module includes a substrate and at least one module housing coupled to the substrate. The at least one module housing defines a first chamber and a second chamber. The second chamber is separate from the first chamber. The first chamber is configured to connect to an environment around an electronic device. The second chamber is configured to connect to an internal volume of the housing of the electronic device. A first pressure sensing element is electrically coupled to the substrate and disposed in the first chamber and is operative to detect an external pressure around the electronic device. A second pressure sensing element is electrically coupled to the substrate and disposed in the second chamber and is operative to detect an internal pressure within the electronic device housing. In this way, a single module is operative to detect external and internal pressures while sharing an electrical substrate and keeping the external and internal pressures separate. 
     In some embodiments, an electronic device includes an electronic device housing that defines an aperture and a pressure sensing module coupled to the electronic device housing around an aperture. The pressure sensing module includes a substrate, at least one module housing coupled to the substrate, a first pressure sensing element, and a second pressure sensing element. The at least one module housing defines a first chamber connected to the aperture and a second chamber separate from the first chamber. The first pressure sensing element is electrically coupled to the substrate and disposed in the first chamber and is operative to detect an external pressure around the electronic device. The second pressure sensing element is electrically coupled to the substrate and disposed in the second chamber and is operative to detect an internal pressure within the electronic device housing. In numerous examples, the first pressure sensing element and the second pressure sensing element are microelectromechanical system pressure sensors. 
     In various examples, a gel is positioned in the first chamber. In numerous examples, a water resistant membrane is coupled to the at least one module housing. The water resistant membrane resists passage of contaminants into the first chamber. In some examples, a seal is positioned between the electronic device housing and the at least one module housing around the first chamber. In various implementations of such examples, the seal separates the second chamber from an external environment around the electronic device. 
     In various embodiments, a pressure sensing module for an electronic device includes a substrate having a first surface and a second surface opposing the first surface; a first housing coupled to the first surface and defining a first chamber configured to be connected to an environment around the electronic device; and a first pressure sensing element, electrically coupled to the substrate via the first surface within the first chamber, operative to detect an external pressure of the environment. The pressure sensing module also includes a second housing coupled to the second surface and defining a second chamber configured to be connected to an internal volume of the electronic device and a second pressure sensing element, electrically coupled to the substrate via the second surface within the second chamber, operative to detect an internal pressure of the internal volume. 
     In some examples, the pressure sensing module further includes an integrated circuit, coupled to the substrate, that processes signals from the first pressure sensing element and the second pressure sensing element. In various implementations of such examples, the integrated circuit is coupled to the first surface and the first pressure sensing element is coupled to the first surface via the integrated circuit. In some implementations of such examples, the integrated circuit is coupled to the second surface and the second pressure sensing element is coupled to the first surface via the integrated circuit. In numerous implementations of such examples, the integrated circuit is configured to at least convert the signals from analog to digital, compensate the signals for temperature, or amplify the signals. 
     In various examples, the substrate includes a conductor that extends from the first surface to the second surface. In some examples, the substrate is ceramic. 
     In some embodiments, a pressure sensing module for an electronic device includes a substrate having a surface and defining a passage through the substrate; a housing coupled to the surface and defining a first chamber configured to be connected to a first environment via the passage and a second chamber configured to be connected to a second environment; a first pressure sensing element, coupled to the surface, operative to detect a first pressure of the first environment; and a second pressure sensing element, coupled to the surface, operative to detect a second pressure of the second environment. In some examples, either the first environment is an environment around the electronic device and the second environment is an internal volume of the electronic device or the first environment is the internal volume and the second environment is the environment around the electronic device. 
     In some examples, the housing defines an aperture that connects the second chamber to the second environment. In various examples, the housing includes a wall, coupled to the surface, that separates the first chamber from the second chamber. In numerous examples, the housing has a first surface that couples to the surface of the substrate, has a second surface opposite the first surface, and defines an aperture in the second surface that is configured to connect the second chamber to the second environment. 
     In various examples, the first pressure sensing element is positioned over the passage. In some implementations of such examples, the pressure sensing module further includes an integrated circuit, coupled to the surface over the first pressure sensing element, that is electrically connected to the first pressure sensing element and the second pressure sensing element. In numerous examples, the surface is a first surface; the substrate includes a second surface opposite the first surface; and the pressure sensing module further includes an integrated circuit, coupled to the second surface, that is electrically connected to the first pressure sensing element and the second pressure sensing element. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The disclosure will be readily understood by the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals designate like structural elements. 
         FIG. 1A  depicts an example of a first electronic device that includes a dual pressure sensing module with a shared electrical substrate. 
         FIG. 1B  depicts an example cross-section of the electronic device of  FIG. 1A , taken along line A-A of  FIG. 1A . 
         FIG. 2A  depicts an example of a second electronic device that includes a dual pressure sensing module with a shared electrical substrate. 
         FIG. 2B  depicts an example cross-section of the electronic device of  FIG. 2A , taken along line B-B of  FIG. 2A . 
         FIG. 3  depicts a first alternative implementation of the pressure sensing module of  FIG. 2B . 
         FIG. 4  depicts a second alternative implementation of the pressure sensing module of  FIG. 2B . 
         FIG. 5  depicts a third alternative implementation of the pressure sensing module of  FIG. 2B . 
         FIG. 6  depicts a fourth alternative implementation of the pressure sensing module of  FIG. 2B . 
         FIG. 7  depicts a first alternative implementation of the pressure sensing module of  FIG. 6 . 
         FIG. 8  depicts a second alternative implementation of the pressure sensing module of  FIG. 6 . 
         FIG. 9  depicts a third alternative implementation of the pressure sensing module of  FIG. 6 . 
         FIG. 10  depicts a block diagram illustrating example components and functional relationships therebetween that may be implemented in an electronic device such as the electronic devices of  FIGS. 1A and 2A . 
         FIG. 11  is a flow chart illustrating a method for operating an electronic device having a dual pressure sensing module with a shared electrical substrate. This method may be performed by the electronic devices of  FIGS. 1A and 2A . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Reference will now be made in detail to representative embodiments illustrated in the accompanying drawings. It should be understood that the following descriptions are not intended to limit the embodiments to one preferred embodiment. To the contrary, they are intended to cover alternatives, modifications, and equivalents as can be included within the spirit and scope of the described embodiments as defined by the appended claims. 
     The description that follows includes sample systems, methods, and computer program products that embody various elements of the present disclosure. However, it should be understood that the described disclosure may be practiced in a variety of forms in addition to those described herein. 
     An electronic device may include both an external pressure sensor and an internal pressure sensor. The external pressure sensor may measure the pressure of the external environment around the electronic device while the internal pressure sensor may measure the internal pressure of an internal volume defined by the external device. For example, an electronic device may use an external pressure sensor to determine the pressure of the external environment for use in health information calculations and the internal pressure sensor to determine when force exerted on a cover glass causes fluctuations in the internal pressure of the internal volume. 
     In some cases, external and internal pressures may be sensed using separate sensor modules. This may enable a module including an external pressure sensor to be connected to the external environment separately from another module including an internal pressure sensor connected to the internal volume. 
     However, using multiple modules in an electronic device in order to measure external and internal pressure consumes space within the electronic device. Further, using multiple modules increases expense. Particularly given that some components of the multiple modules may be redundant, a single module that is operative to measure both external and internal pressures may be an improvement. 
     The following disclosure relates to a dual pressure sensing module with a shared electrical substrate. The module includes a substrate and at least one module housing coupled to the substrate. The at least one module housing defines a first chamber and a second chamber. The second chamber is separate from the first chamber. The first chamber is configured to connect to an environment around an electronic device. The second chamber is configured to connect to an internal volume of the housing of the electronic device. A first pressure sensing element is electrically coupled to the substrate and disposed in the first chamber and is operative to detect an external pressure around the electronic device. A second pressure sensing element is electrically coupled to the substrate and disposed in the second chamber and is operative to detect an internal pressure within the electronic device housing. In this way, a single module is operative to detect external and internal pressures while sharing an electrical substrate and keeping the external and internal pressures separate. 
     In some embodiments, the at least one module housing may define the first and second chambers on opposing surfaces of the substrate. For example, the at least one module housing may include a first housing that defines the first chamber on a first surface of the substrate and a second housing that defines the second chamber on a second surface of the substrate opposite the first surface. The first housing may be configured to connect the first chamber to an environment around an electronic device via an aperture in the housing of the electronic device. A first pressure sensing element may be electrically coupled to the first surface and may be operative to detect an external pressure of the environment. The second housing may be configured to connect the second chamber to an internal volume within the housing of the electronic device. A second pressure sensing element may be electrically coupled to the second surface and may be operative to detect an internal pressure of the internal volume. 
     In various embodiments, the at least one module housing may define the first and second chambers on the same surface of the substrate. For example, the at least one module housing may define a first chamber and a second chamber on a surface of the substrate. The module housing may separate the two chambers, such as via a wall or other structure coupled to the substrate that divides and isolates the two chambers from each other. The module housing may be configured to connect the first chamber to a first environment via a passage through the substrate. A first pressure sensing element may be coupled to the surface and may be operative to detect a first pressure of the first environment. The module housing may also be configured to connect the second chamber to a second environment. A second pressure sensing element may be coupled to the surface and/or other portion of the substrate and may be operative to detect a second pressure of the second environment. The first environment may be an environment around the electronic device and the second environment may be an internal volume within the electronic device. Alternatively, the first environment may be the internal volume and the second environment may be the environment around the electronic device. 
     These and other embodiments are discussed below with reference to  FIGS. 1A-11 . However, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that the detailed description given herein with respect to these Figures is for explanatory purposes only and should not be construed as limiting. 
       FIG. 1A  depicts an example of a first electronic device  100  that includes a dual pressure sensing module with a shared electrical substrate. The electronic device  100  includes a housing  101 . The housing  101  defines an aperture  102 .  FIG. 1B  depicts an example cross-section of the electronic device  100  of  FIG. 1A , taken along line A-A of  FIG. 1A , illustrating a pressure sensing module  103 . 
     The pressure sensing module  103  is disposed within the housing  101 . The pressure sensing module  103  is connected to an external environment  110  around the electronic device  100  via the aperture  102  in the housing  101 . The pressure sensing module  103  is also connected to an internal volume  109  defined by the housing  101 . As shown the pressure sensing module  103  is connected to the internal volume  109  via an aperture  111  defined by the pressure sensing module  103 . 
     The pressure sensing module  103  includes a substrate  104  and defines a first chamber  107  and a second chamber  108 . In this example, the substrate  104  separates the first chamber  107  from the second chamber  108 . The first chamber  107  is connected to the external environment  110  via the aperture  102 . The second chamber  108  is connected to the internal volume  109  via the aperture  111 . 
     The pressure sensing module  103  may include at least a first pressure sensing element (not shown) and a second pressure sensing element (not shown) electrically coupled to the substrate  104 . The first pressure sensing element may be operative to detect the pressure of the external environment  110 . The second pressure sensing element may be operative to detect the pressure of the internal volume  109 . 
     In this example, the housing  101  functions as a portion of the pressure sensing module  103 . However, it is understood that this is an example. Various configurations are possible and contemplated without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. 
       FIG. 2A  depicts an example of a second electronic device  200  that includes a dual pressure sensing module with a shared electrical substrate. The electronic device  200  includes a housing  201 . The housing  201  defines an aperture  202 . 
     As shown, the electronic device  200  may be an electronic watch. One of the watch bands is removed to expose the aperture  202 , which may be a pressure port. However, it is understood that this is an example and that the electronic device  200  may be any electronic device with an aperture  202  (such as a mobile computing device, a laptop computing device, a phone, a tablet computing device, and so on) without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. 
       FIG. 2B  depicts an example cross-section of the electronic device  200  of  FIG. 2A , taken along line B-B of  FIG. 2A , illustrating a pressure sensing module  203 . The pressure sensing module  203  may be disposed within the housing  201 . The pressure sensing module  203  may include a first housing  205  coupled to a first surface  214  of a substrate  204 . The first housing  205  may define a first chamber  207 . The first chamber  207  may be connected to an external environment  210  around the electronic device  200  via the aperture  202  in the housing  201 . 
     The pressure sensing module  203  may also include a second housing  206  coupled to a second surface  215  of the substrate  204  that is opposite the first surface  214 . The second housing  206  may define a second chamber  208 . The second chamber  208  may define an aperture  211  and may be connected to an internal volume  209  defined by the housing  201  via the aperture  211 . 
     The pressure sensing module  203  may be coupled to the housing  201  around the aperture  202  so as to separate and isolate the internal volume  209  from the external environment  210 , and thus the first chamber  207  from the second chamber  208 . For example, a seal  219  (which may be an o-ring or other sealing member) may be positioned around the first housing  205  to couple the pressure sensing module  203  to the housing  201  so as to form an air or other seal between the internal volume  209  and the external environment  210 , and thus between the first chamber  207  and the second chamber  208 . 
     A first pressure sensing element  212  may be disposed within the first chamber  207 . The first pressure sensing element  212  may be mechanically coupled to the first surface  214  and electrically coupled to the substrate  204  via the first surface  214 . For example, as shown, the first pressure sensing element  212  may be wire bonded or otherwise electrically connected to the first surface  214  of the substrate  204  for electrical connection and mechanically coupled to the first surface  214  via an application specific integrated circuit  216 . The first pressure sensing element  212  may be operative to detect a pressure of the external environment  210 . 
     A second pressure sensing element  213  may be disposed within the second chamber  208 . The second pressure sensing element  213  may be mechanically coupled to the second surface  215  and electrically coupled to the substrate  204  via the second surface  215 . For example, as shown, the first pressure sensing element  212  may be wire bonded or otherwise electrically connected to the second surface  215  of the substrate  204  for electrical connection and mechanically coupled to the second surface  215 . The second pressure sensing element  213  may be operative to detect an internal pressure of the internal volume  209 . 
     The application specific integrated circuit  216  or other integrated circuit or circuitry may be mechanically coupled to the first surface  214  and electrically coupled to the substrate  204  via the first surface  214 . The application specific integrated circuit  216  may also be electrically coupled to the first pressure sensing element  212  and the second pressure sensing element  213  via the substrate  204 . 
     For example, the substrate  204  may be a ceramic substrate with a conductor  221  (such as one or more vias) extending throughout, such as between the first surface  214  and the second surface  215  that connect to the application specific integrated circuit  216  and/or other components. The substrate  204  may also include connections for electrically connecting to the first pressure sensing element  212  and the second pressure sensing element  213 , such as wire bond pads. However, it is understood that this is an example. In various examples, the substrate  204  may be a printed circuit board, a flexible printed circuit or “flex,” and so on without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. 
     The application specific integrated circuit  216  may be operative to receive one or more signals from the first pressure sensing element  212  and the second pressure sensing element  213 . The application specific integrated circuit  216  may perform signal processing on such signals. For example, the application specific integrated circuit  216  may convert the signals from analog to digital, convert the signals from digital to analog, compensate the signals for temperature, amplify the signals, and so on. As the application specific integrated circuit  216  may perform the same kind of signal processing on the same kinds of data from both the first pressure sensing element  212  and the second pressure sensing element  213 , connection of the application specific integrated circuit  216  to both the first pressure sensing element  212  and the second pressure sensing element  213  may eliminate redundant components that might otherwise be used. 
     The application specific integrated circuit  216  may communicate the signals and/or processed signals to other components of the electronic device  200 . For example, the application specific integrated circuit  216  may be electrically connected to one or more processing units or other controllers via one or more flexes  220  that are electrically connected to the application specific integrated circuit  216  via the substrate  204 . Various configurations are possible and contemplated. 
     In some implementations, the application specific integrated circuit  216  may be a flip chip and the substrate  204  may include bonding pads for the flip chip. However, it is understood that this is an example and that any integrated circuit technology may be used to implement the application specific integrated circuit  216  and/or the electrical connections between the application specific integrated circuit  216  and the substrate  204 . 
     Various components may also be included that isolate, seal, and/or protect one or more components of the pressure sensing module  203 , various internal components positioned in the internal volume  209 , and so on from contaminants in the external environment  210 . For example, a gel  217  may be positioned in the first chamber  207 . The gel  217  may be a silicone or other kind of gel that protects the first pressure sensing element  212 , the application specific integrated circuit  216 , and/or the substrate  204  against external contaminants while being deformable enough to transfer pressure changes from the external environment  210  to the first pressure sensing element  212 . 
     Similarly, a water resistant membrane  218  and/or mesh or other structure may be positioned over the aperture  202 . The water resistant membrane  218  may restrict or prevent the passage of contaminants from the external environment  210  into the first chamber  207 . Such contaminants may include water, dirt, dust, oil, air, and so on. The water resistant membrane  218  may also be flexible enough to transfer pressure changes from the external environment  210  to the first pressure sensing element  212  via the first chamber  207 . 
     The first pressure sensing element  212  and the second pressure sensing element  213  may be one or more of a variety of different pressure sensors or other pressure sensing elements. For example, one or more of the first pressure sensing element  212  and the second pressure sensing element  213  may be one or more microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) pressure sensors. For example, such a MEMS pressure sensor may include a silicon wafer (such as monocrystalline silicon, porous silicon, and so on) that defines a vacuum. In some implementations, such a MEMS pressure sensor may include a stack of a glass wafer with one or more silicon wafers defining such a vacuum, one or more oxide layers and/or other components, and so on. Alternatively, one or more of the first pressure sensing element  212  and the second pressure sensing element  213  may be one or more piezo-resistive strain gauge pressure sensing mechanisms, capacitive pressure sensing mechanisms, optical pressure sensing mechanisms, electromagnetic pressure sensing mechanisms, piezoelectric pressure sensing mechanisms, potentiometric pressure sensing mechanisms, resonant pressure sensing mechanisms, thermal pressure sensing mechanisms, ionization pressure sensing mechanisms, piezo-resistive pressure sensing mechanisms, and/or any other kind of pressure sensing mechanism without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. 
     Although the pressure sensing module  203  is illustrated and described as including a first housing  205  that defines the first chamber  207  and a second housing  206  that defines the second chamber  208 , it is understood that this is an example. In some implementations, a single housing may define both the first chamber  207  and the second chamber  208  without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. 
     Further, in various implementations, the pressure sensing module  203  may omit the first housing  205  and the second housing  206 . For example, in some implementations, the substrate  204  may be coupled to the housing  201  to position the first pressure sensing element  212  adjacent the aperture  202  and the second pressure sensing element  213  adjacent the internal volume  209 . In such an implementation, the substrate  204  of the pressure sensing module  203  would separate and isolate the external environment  210  from the internal volume  209  and the substrate  204  and/or the housing  201  and/or the elements used for coupling would function as the first housing  205  and the second housing  206 . The substrate  204  of the pressure sensing module  203  would thus define the area around the aperture  202  as the first chamber  207  and the internal volume  209  as the second chamber  208 . Various configurations are possible and contemplated without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. 
     The pressure sensing module  203  is illustrated and described as including particular components configured in a particular arrangement. By way of illustration, the pressure sensing module  203  is illustrated and described as mechanically coupling the first pressure sensing element  212  to the first surface  214  of the substrate  204  via the application specific integrated circuit  216 . However, it is understood that this is an example. Various other configurations are possible and contemplated without departing from the present disclosure. 
     By way of example,  FIG. 3  depicts a first alternative implementation of the pressure sensing module  203  of  FIG. 2B . The pressure sensing module  303  of  FIG. 3  mechanically couples a second pressure sensor  313  to an application specific integrated circuit  316  instead of a first pressure sensor  312 . The electrical communication between the components may function similarly to that of the pressure sensing module  203  of  FIG. 2B , but the mechanical connections may thus be different. 
     By way of another example,  FIG. 4  depicts a second alternative implementation of the pressure sensing module  203  of  FIG. 2B . The pressure sensing module  403  of  FIG. 4  may use an embedded application specific integrated circuit  416 . In this way, the electrical communication between the components may be similar but neither a first pressure sensing element  412  nor a second pressure sensing element  413  may be directly mechanically coupled to the application specific integrated circuit  416 . 
     By way of still another example,  FIG. 5  depicts a third alternative implementation of the pressure sensing module  203  of  FIG. 2B . The pressure sensing module  503  of  FIG. 5  may omit an application specific integrated circuit. Instead, signals from a first pressure sensing element  512  and/or a second pressure sensing element  513  may be used directly by one or more other components, such as a processing unit or other controller. 
       FIG. 6  depicts a fourth alternative implementation of the pressure sensing module  203  of  FIG. 2B . By way of contrast with the pressure sensing module  203  of  FIG. 2B , the pressure sensing module  603  may include a first pressure sensing element  612  and a second pressure sensing element  613  that are both coupled to the same surface  615  of a substrate  604 . 
     The pressure sensing module  603  may be coupled around an aperture  602  in a housing  601  using a seal  619 . The pressure sensing module  603  may include a housing  606  that is coupled to the surface  615  and defining a first chamber  607  and a second chamber  608 . The first pressure sensing element  612  may be disposed within the first chamber  607  and be operative to detect a pressure of a first environment  610 . The second pressure sensing element  613  may be disposed within the second chamber  608  and be operative to detect a pressure of a second environment  609 . 
     The housing  606  may include a wall  623  or other structure coupled to the surface  615  that separates and isolates the first chamber  607  from the second chamber  608 . The substrate  604  may define a passage  622  through the substrate  604  from the surface  615  to an opposite surface  614 . This passage  622  may connect the first pressure sensing element  612  to the aperture  602 , allowing the first chamber  607  to extend across the substrate  604 . This may also allow the first pressure sensing element  612  to be coupled to the surface  615  of the substrate  604  opposite from the aperture  602  without separating the first pressure sensing element  612  from the first environment  610 . 
     The housing  606  is shown as having a first surface where the housing  606  is coupled to the surface  615  and a second surface opposite the first surface where the housing  606  defines an aperture  611 . The aperture  611  may connect the second chamber  608  to the second environment  609 . 
     In some implementations, the dimensions of the aperture  611  may be deliberately small such that pressure changes in the second environment  609  cause a greater change in the second chamber  608  (and thus more easily detectible by the second pressure sensing element  613 ) than if the aperture  611  was larger. In other implementations, the housing  606  may be omitted where the second pressure sensing element  613  is beyond the wall  623 , making the entire second environment  609  the second chamber  608 . Various configurations are possible and contemplated without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. 
     Further, similar to the pressure sensing module  203  of  FIG. 2B , the pressure sensing module  603  may include a water resistant membrane  618  coupled to the aperture  602 , an application specific integrated circuit  616  or other integrated circuit electrically coupled to the first pressure sensing element  612  and the second pressure sensing element  613  via the substrate  604 , and one or more flex circuits  620  that may electrically couple the application specific integrated circuit  616  to various other components. Various configurations are possible and contemplated without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. 
     In this example, the first environment  610  may be an external environment and the second environment  609  may be an internal volume. However, it is understood that this is an example. In other implementations, the external environment and internal volume could be swapped without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. In such an implementation, the orientation of the pressure sensing module  603  may be flipped. 
     The pressure sensing module  603  is illustrated and described as mechanically coupling the first pressure sensing element  612  to the surface  614  via the application specific integrated circuit  616 . However, it is understood that this is an example. Other configurations are possible and contemplated without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. 
     By way of example,  FIG. 7  depicts a first alternative implementation of the pressure sensing module  603  of  FIG. 6 . In the pressure sensing module  703 , a first pressure sensing element  712  and a second pressure sensing element  713  may be directly electrically and mechanically coupled to a surface  715  of a substrate  704 . An application specific integrated circuit  716  may be electrically and mechanically coupled to an opposite surface  714  of the substrate  704 . 
     By way of another example,  FIG. 8  depicts a second alternative implementation of the pressure sensing module  603  of  FIG. 6 . In the pressure sensing module  803 , a first pressure sensing element  812  may be directly coupled to a substrate  804 . An application specific integrated circuit  816  may couple a second pressure sensing element  813  to the substrate  804 . In other implementations, the application specific integrated circuit  816  may be omitted entirely. 
     In still another example,  FIG. 9  depicts a third alternative implementation of the pressure sensing module  603  of  FIG. 6 . In the pressure sensing module  903 , an application specific integrated circuit  916  may be coupled to a surface  915  of a substrate  904  via solder balls  924  or other electrical and/or mechanical connections. The application specific integrated circuit  916  may be coupled over a passage  922  defined in the substrate  904  that extends through the substrate  904  from the surface  915  to an opposite surface  914 . A first pressure sensing element  912  may be coupled to the application specific integrated circuit  916  over the passage  922 . A second pressure sensing element  913  may be coupled to the surface  915  in a chamber  908  defined by a housing  906  and a wall  923 . 
       FIG. 10  depicts a block diagram illustrating example components and functional relationships therebetween that may be implemented in an electronic device  1000  such as the electronic devices  100 ,  200  of  FIGS. 1A and 2A . The electronic device  1000  may include one or more processing units  1090  and/or other processors or controllers, non-transitory storage media  1091  (which may take the form of, but is not limited to, a magnetic storage medium; optical storage medium; magneto-optical storage medium; read only memory; random access memory; erasable programmable memory; flash memory; and so on), communication units  1092 , input/output units  1093 , and so on. The electronic device  1000  may also include an application specific integrated circuit  1016  or other integrated circuit, a first pressure sensing element  1012 , and a second pressure sensing element  1013 . The application specific integrated circuit  1016 , the first pressure sensing element  1012 , and the second pressure sensing element  1013  may be components of a pressure sensing module, such as the pressure sensing modules  103 ,  203 ,  303 ,  403 ,  503 ,  603 ,  703 ,  803 ,  903  of  FIGS. 1B-9 . 
     The processing unit  1090  may execute instructions stored in the non-transitory storage medium  1091  to perform various functions. For example, the processing unit  1090  may use the application specific integrated circuit  1016 , the first pressure sensing element  1012 , and/or the second pressure sensing element  1013  to determine a pressure of an external environment and/or a pressure of an internal volume defined by a housing of the electronic device  1000 . Various configurations are possible and contemplated without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. 
       FIG. 11  is a flow chart illustrating a method  1100  for operating an electronic device having a dual pressure sensing module with a shared electrical substrate. This method  1100  may be performed by the electronic devices  100 ,  200  of  FIGS. 1A and 2A . 
     At  1110 , an electronic device may receive signals from a first pressure sensing element and a second pressure sensing element. The first pressure sensing element may be operative to detect a pressure in a first chamber and the second pressure sensing element may be operative to detect a pressure in a second chamber. The first chamber may be connected to an external environment around the electronic device. The second chamber may be connected to an internal volume defined by the electronic device. 
     At  1120 , the electronic device may perform signal processing on one or more of the signals. This signal processing may include converting the signals from analog to digital, converting the signals from digital to analog, compensating the signals for temperature, amplifying the signals, and so on. 
     At  1130 , the electronic device may determine or estimate an external pressure using the signals from the first pressure sensing element and/or the processed signals from the first pressure sensing element. For example, the electronic device may use the external pressure in health information calculations. 
     At  1140 , the electronic device may determine or estimate an internal pressure of the electronic device using the signals from the second pressure sensing element and/or the processed signals from the second pressure sensing element. For example, the electronic device may use the internal pressure to determine or estimate when force exerted on a cover glass causes fluctuations in the internal pressure of the internal volume. 
     Although the example method  1100  is illustrated and described as including particular operations performed in a particular order, it is understood that this is an example. In various implementations, various orders of the same, similar, and/or different operations may be performed without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. 
     For example, the method  1100  is illustrated and described as determining or estimating both external pressure and internal pressure. However, in various situations, the electronic device may determine one of the external or internal pressure without determining the other. Various configurations are possible and contemplated without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. 
     As described above and illustrated in the accompanying figures, the present disclosure relates to a dual pressure sensing module with a shared electrical substrate. The module includes a substrate and at least one module housing coupled to the substrate. The at least one module housing defines a first chamber and a second chamber. The second chamber is separate from the first chamber. The first chamber is configured to connect to an environment around an electronic device. The second chamber is configured to connect to an internal volume of the housing of the electronic device. A first pressure sensing element is electrically coupled to the substrate and disposed in the first chamber and is operative to detect an external pressure around the electronic device. A second pressure sensing element is electrically coupled to the substrate and disposed in the second chamber and is operative to detect an internal pressure within the electronic device housing. In this way, a single module is operative to detect external and internal pressure while sharing an electrical substrate and keeping the external and internal pressures separate. 
     In the present disclosure, the methods disclosed may be implemented as sets of instructions or software readable by a device. Further, it is understood that the specific order or hierarchy of steps in the methods disclosed are examples of sample approaches. In other embodiments, the specific order or hierarchy of steps in the method can be rearranged while remaining within the disclosed subject matter. The accompanying method claims present elements of the various steps in a sample order, and are not necessarily meant to be limited to the specific order or hierarchy presented. 
     The foregoing description, for purposes of explanation, used specific nomenclature to provide a thorough understanding of the described embodiments. However, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that the specific details are not required in order to practice the described embodiments. Thus, the foregoing descriptions of the specific embodiments described herein are presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not targeted to be exhaustive or to limit the embodiments to the precise forms disclosed. It will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that many modifications and variations are possible in view of the above teachings.

Metadata:
Filing Date: 20180928
Publication Date: 20210316
Grant Date: 20210316
Priority Date: 20180928
Inventors: ARNDT, GREGORY B.
VUMMIDI MURALI, KRISHNA PRASAD
Assignee: APPLE INC
CPC Classifications: [{"code": "G01L19/147", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G01L19/0645", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G01L9/065", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G01L9/0054", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "B81B7/0061", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "B81B2201/0264", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G01L19/0061", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G01L19/147", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G01L19/148", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "B81B2207/07", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G01L19/148", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G01L15/00", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G01L19/0061", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "B81B2207/07", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "B81B2201/0264", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G01L19/147", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G01L9/065", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G01L9/0054", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G01L19/148", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "B81B7/0061", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}]
Family ID: 69947417