Abrégé

Sensors, systems, and methods for monitoring environmental conditions, such as physical, electromagnetic, thermal, and/or chemical parameters within an environment, over extended periods of time with the use of one or more electromechanical sensing devices and electronic circuitry for processing an output of the sensing devices. The sensing devices each include a cantilevered structure and at least one contact configured for contact-mode operation with the cantilevered structure in response to the cantilevered structure deflecting toward or away from the contact when exposed to the parameter of interest. The cantilevered structure has at least first and second beams of dissimilar materials, at least one of which has at least one property that changes as a result of exposure to the parameter.

Classes IPC  ?

• H01H 1/00 - Contacts
• B81B 3/00 - Dispositifs comportant des éléments flexibles ou déformables, p. ex. comportant des membranes ou des lamelles élastiques
• G01K 5/48 - Mesure de la température basée sur la dilatation ou la contraction d'un matériau le matériau étant un solide
• G01K 5/56 - Mesure de la température basée sur la dilatation ou la contraction d'un matériau le matériau étant un solide maintenu de façon que la dilatation ou la contraction provoque une déformation du solide
• G01K 5/72 - Mesure de la température basée sur la dilatation ou la contraction d'un matériau le matériau étant un solide maintenu de façon que la dilatation ou la contraction provoque une déformation du solide le corps solide étant formé de bandes ou de plaques composées, p. ex. bilames spécialement adapté pour l'indication ou l'enregistrement avec des moyens de transmission électriques pour l'indication finale
• G01K 3/04 - Thermomètres donnant une indication autre que la valeur instantanée de la température fournissant des valeurs moyennesThermomètres donnant une indication autre que la valeur instantanée de la température fournissant des valeurs intégrées par rapport au temps

Abrégé

Sensors, systems, and methods for monitoring environmental conditions, such as physical, electromagnetic, thermal, and/or chemical parameters within an environment, over extended periods of time with the use of one or more electromechanical sensing devices (26) and electronic circuitry (16) for processing an output of the sensing devices (26). The sensing devices (26) each include a cantilevered structure (30) and at least one contact (40,42) configured for contact-mode operation with the cantilevered structure (30) in response to the cantilevered structure (30) deflecting toward or away from the contact (40,42) when exposed to the parameter of interest. The cantilevered structure (30) has at least first and second beams (44,46) of dissimilar materials, at least one of which has at least one property that changes as a result of exposure to the parameter.

Classes IPC  ?

• B81B 3/00 - Dispositifs comportant des éléments flexibles ou déformables, p. ex. comportant des membranes ou des lamelles élastiques
• B81C 1/00 - Fabrication ou traitement de dispositifs ou de systèmes dans ou sur un substrat

Abrégé

Modules, systems, and methods for monitoring environmental conditions, such as physical, electromagnetic, thermal, and/or chemical parameters within an environment, over extended periods of time with the use of one or more electromechanical sensing devices (26,28) that include a sensing device (26,28) and electronic circuitry (16) for processing an output of the sensing device (26,28) and generating a output of the module (10). The sensing device (26,28) includes a microstructure (30,32), for example, a cantilevered beam (30,32), and at least one set of contacts (38,40,42) configured for contact-mode operation with the microstructure (30,32) in response to the microstructure (30,32) deflecting toward or away from the contacts (38,40,42) when exposed to the parameter of interest. The microstructure (30,32) has a stack of layers (44,46) of dissimilar materials, at least one of which has at least one property that changes as a result of curing of or absorption by the first material when exposed to the parameter.

Classes IPC  ?

• H01H 1/00 - Contacts
• H01H 35/42 - Interrupteurs actionnés par le changement du degré d'humidité
• H01H 37/00 - Interrupteurs actionnés thermiquement

Abrégé

A sensing system, sensing method, and method of producing a sensing system capable of providing a cumulative measurement capability, such as in the form of a RFID tag capable of measuring cumulative heat and humidity for continuous monitoring of storage and shipping conditions of various goods. The system includes integrated circuitry and a plurality of sensing elements, preferably having cantilevered bimorph beams. Each sensing element is responsive to an environmental condition so as to deflect toward and away from open contacts in response to changes in the environmental condition. Each sensing element produces a digital output when it contacts and closes its open contacts. The integrated circuitry interfaces with the sensing elements so that the digital outputs of the sensing elements are processed to generate a system output of the sensing system.

Classes IPC  ?

• H01L 41/00 - DISPOSITIFS À SEMI-CONDUCTEURS; DISPOSITIFS ÉLECTRIQUES À L'ÉTAT SOLIDE NON PRÉVUS AILLEURS - Détails
• H02N 2/00 - Machines électriques en général utilisant l'effet piézo-électrique, l'électrostriction ou la magnétostriction
• H01H 61/00 - Relais électrothermiques
• H01H 71/16 - Mécanismes électrothermiques avec bilame

Abrégé

A bimorphic structure responsive to changes in an environmental condition, sensor structures incorporating one or more of such bimorphic structures, and a method of forming such bimorphic structures. The sensor structure has an electrically-conductive first contact on a substrate, and a bimorph beam anchored to the substrate so that a portion thereof is suspended above the first contact. The bimorph beam has a multilayer structure that includes first and second layers, with the second layer between the first layer and the substrate. A portion of the first layer projects through an opening in the second layer toward the first contact so as to define an electrically-conductive second contact located on the beam so as to be spaced apart and aligned with the first contact for contact with the first contact when the beam sufficiently deflects toward the substrate.

Classes IPC  ?

• H02N 11/00 - Générateurs ou moteurs non prévus ailleursMouvements dits perpétuels obtenus par des moyens électriques ou magnétiques