Patents Assigned to Kulite Semiconductor Products
  • Patent number: 11906377
    Abstract: A differential pressure transducer assembly having an internal bellows coupling configured to improve reliability and ease assembly. The differential pressure transducer assembly includes a header, a sensing element mounted on the header, a first pressure port having a first pressure media channel in communication with a first side of the sensing element, a second pressure port having a second pressure media channel in communication with a second side of the sensing element, and a bellows coupling disposed between the header and the second pressure port. The bellows coupling may be configured to flex during assembly to compensate for tolerance mismatches. The bellows coupling may further reduce or prevent external stress from being applied to one or more of the header and the sensing element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: KULITE SEMICONDUCTOR PRODUCTS, INC.
    Inventors: Robert Gardner, Louis DeRosa
  • Patent number: 11867577
    Abstract: A differential pressure transducer assembly having internal sub-components welded together to improve reliability and ease assembly. A method is provided that includes welding a front adapter to a frontside of a header and welding a back adapter to a backside of the header to create a first sub-assembly. The method includes welding the first sub-assembly to a front attachment port to create a second sub-assembly. The method further includes welding a cap to a backside of the back adapter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: Kulite Semiconductor Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Gardner, Louis DeRosa
  • Patent number: 11852551
    Abstract: A reconfigurable pressure transducer assembly having an input tube filter assembly is provided. Multiple small inlet apertures of the transducer housing or input tube filter assembly may be utilized to filter particulate matter from the measurement media/fluid. The resonant frequency and dampening characteristics of the pressure transducer assembly may be configured by the input tube filter assembly such that temporary clogging of a portion of the small inlet apertures does not appreciably affect the resonant frequency and dampening characteristics. The input tube filter assembly includes one or more inserts disposed in an input tube channel, the one or more inserts including one or more apertures of selectable dimensions and extending therethrough from a first end to a second end. The one or more inserts define at least a filter aperture, and the input tube filter assembly is tunable by selection of the selectable dimensions of the one or more inserts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: KULITE SEMICONDUCTOR PRODUCTS, INC.
    Inventors: Louis DeRosa, Robert Gardner
  • Patent number: 11802804
    Abstract: Header construction and techniques are disclosed that utilize header layers that provide support for electrical interconnections. A sensor header assembly includes: an upper header layer having upper through holes arranged in a first configuration; a lower header layer having lower through holes arranged in a second configuration axially offset relative to the first configuration; depressions extending from the lower header layer top surface and partially through the lower header layer, each depression defining a footprint corresponding to the first configuration of the corresponding upper through holes of the upper header layer; upper header pins extending through the corresponding upper through holes and at least partially into the corresponding lower level depressions; and lower header pins extending through the corresponding lower through holes and in electrical communication with the corresponding upper header pins.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Assignee: KULITE SEMICONDUCTOR PRODUCTS, INC.
    Inventors: Alexander A. Ned, Scott Goodman
  • Patent number: 11725997
    Abstract: The invention includes differential pressure transducer assembly systems and methods in which headers are configured with header pins that extend perpendicular with respect to an axis of the assembly and through header sidewalls, enabling a compact configuration, ease of assembly, enhanced reliability and/or redundancy. Channels and ports defined in a housing portion of the assembly are configured to enable the use of substantially straight tubing sections for routing main and/or reference pressures to one or more differential sensing elements mounted on the headers. Two or more headers with associated sensing elements can be stacked to provide redundant differential pressure sensing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: KULITE SEMICONDUCTOR PRODUCTS, INC.
    Inventors: Robert Gardner, Louis DeRosa
  • Patent number: 11698318
    Abstract: A reconfigurable pressure transducer assembly having an input tube filter assembly is provided. The resonant frequency and dampening characteristics associate with the pressure transducer assembly may be configured by the input tube filter assembly. The input tube filter assembly includes one or more inserts disposed in an input tube channel, the one or more inserts including one or more bores of selectable dimensions and extending therethrough from a first end to a second end. The one or more inserts define an effective input tube bore, and the input tube filter assembly is tunable by selection of the selectable dimensions of the one or more inserts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2023
    Assignee: KULITE SEMICONDUCTOR PRODUCTS, INC.
    Inventors: Louis DeRosa, Robert Gardner
  • Patent number: 11692897
    Abstract: The disclosed technology relates to a field serviceable pressure scanner suitable for high-pressure sensing applications and replacement of large pressure transmitter panels. The pressure scanner includes a housing having a mounting plate comprising a plurality of through-hole bores extending from a front to back side for mating with corresponding transducer ports of the pressure sensors, and a plurality of input ports disposed on the front side of the mounting plate and in communication with the corresponding plurality of through-hole bores. The pressure scanner assembly includes two or more field-replaceable (swappable) pressure sensors seal mounted to the back side of the mounting plate, each pressure sensor comprising one or more sensor ports, each of the one or more sensor port in communication with corresponding through-hole bores in the mounting plate, and a multi-channel data acquisition system configured to receive pressure signals from the two or more field-replaceable pressure sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: KULITE SEMICONDUCTOR PRODUCTS, INC.
    Inventors: Louis DeRosa, Joseph R. VanDeWeert, Steve Kleiber
  • Patent number: 11686641
    Abstract: The disclosed technology is a pressure transducer with a bleed valve built into the body of the transducer for purging liquid systems. The transducer assembly includes a body, a bleed valve port defined in the body and configured to accept a bleed valve, an interface port attached to the body, an adapter attached to a portion of the interface port, a header attached to the adapter and the body, a pressure transducer mounted to the header, and an internal cavity in communication with the interface port, the pressure transducer, and the bleed valve port. The bleed valve port is configured to vent a gas from the internal cavity. A bleed valve disposed in the bleed valve port is configured to controllably vent a gas from the internal cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: KULITE SEMICONDUCTOR PRODUCTS, INC.
    Inventors: Louis DeRosa, Elias Geras, Robert Gardner
  • Patent number: 11680862
    Abstract: A gauge pressure transducer assembly having anti-icing features to allow for easy drainage of fluids to prevent pooling and icing. The assembly can include a header having one or more atmospheric ports extending therethrough, a differential sensing element mounted to the header, a header cap attached to at least a portion of the header, a gauge adapter attached to the header and in communication with the one or more atmospheric ports of the header, an elongated tube attached to the header cap, and a front port attached to the elongated tube. The gauge adapter includes a plurality of through-holes to facilitate drainage and de-icing, which is an improvement over conventional transducers that can trap water within the ports that can freeze and cause damage. The header and the gauge adapter of the gauge pressure transducer assembly can reduce or eliminate regions where water can pool and freeze.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: KULITE SEMICONDUCTOR PRODUCTS, INC.
    Inventors: Louis DeRosa, Robert Gardner
  • Patent number: 11585714
    Abstract: An oil-fill pressure transducer including a flexible member configured to protect an isolation diaphragm and sensing element. The pressure transducer includes a sensing element mounted to the header, an isolation diaphragm mounted on the front side of the header, and adjacent to the sensing element such that an oil-fill cavity is defined between the sensing element and the isolation diaphragm. The flexible member is disposed adjacent to the isolation diaphragm and a retention member is disposed adjacent to the flexible member. A cavity in communication with the retention member is configured to transmit pressure media to the isolation diaphragm via the flexible member. The flexible member can include thru-holes. The flexible member may compress under an applied positive pressure change. The flexible member may temporarily separate from at least a portion of the isolation diaphragm under an applied negative pressure change.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: KULITE SEMICONDUCTOR PRODUCTS, INC.
    Inventors: Robert Gardner, Louis DeRosa, Richard Martin
  • Patent number: 11467049
    Abstract: Header construction and techniques are disclosed that utilize header layers that provide support for electrical interconnections. A sensor header assembly includes: an upper header layer having upper through holes arranged in a first configuration; a lower header layer having lower through holes arranged in a second configuration axially offset relative to the first configuration; depressions extending from the lower header layer top surface and partially through the lower header layer, each depression defining a footprint corresponding to the first configuration of the corresponding upper through holes of the upper header layer; upper header pins extending through the corresponding upper through holes and at least partially into the corresponding lower level depressions; and lower header pins extending through the corresponding lower through holes and in electrical communication with the corresponding upper header pins.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: KULITE SEMICONDUCTOR PRODUCTS, INC.
    Inventors: Alexander A. Ned, Scott Goodman
  • Patent number: 11441962
    Abstract: The invention includes differential pressure transducer assembly systems and methods in which headers are configured with header pins that extend perpendicular with respect to an axis of the assembly and through header sidewalls, enabling a compact configuration, ease of assembly, enhanced reliability and/or redundancy. Channels and ports defined in a housing portion of the assembly are configured to enable the use of substantially straight tubing sections for routing main and/or reference pressures to one or more differential sensing elements mounted on the headers. Two or more headers with associated sensing elements can be stacked to provide redundant differential pressure sensing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: KULITE SEMICONDUCTOR PRODUCTS, INC.
    Inventors: Robert Gardner, Louis DeRosa
  • Patent number: 11433654
    Abstract: This disclosure provides systems and methods for a fluid-filled pressure sensor assembly for higher pressure environments. A fluid-filled pressure sensor assembly may be adapted for coupling to a structure at a mating surface and may include a header; a pressure sensor coupled to the header; a diaphragm coupled to the header and configured for positioning forward of the mating surface so that a fluid region is disposed between the diaphragm and the pressure sensor; a fill hole coupled to the fluid region; a sealing element coupled to the fill hole and configured for positioning forward of the mating surface; and wherein during operation the first pressure applied at the diaphragm is substantially transferred by the fluid in the fluid region and the fill hole to an inner-side of the sealing element and the first pressure is about equivalent to a second pressure applied at an outer-side of the sealing element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: Kulite Semiconductor Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Gardner, Louis DeRosa, Richard Martin
  • Patent number: 11359985
    Abstract: The disclosed technology includes an oil-filled pressure transducer assembly and an oil-filled compensating sensing element disposed near one another and attached to a common housing. The oil-filled pressure transducer assembly may receive and measure pressure media via a first oil-filled cavity and a protective diagram in communication with the pressure media. The compensating sensing element may be isolated from the pressure media. In certain example implementations, the compensating sensing element is configured to measure certain common error phenomena that are also measured by the oil-filled pressure transducer assembly, for example, due to acceleration, temperature, and/or vibration. In certain implementations, the signal measured by the compensating sensing element may be subtracted from the signal measured by the oil-filled pressure transducer assembly to provide a compensated output signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: KULITE SEMICONDUCTOR PRODUCTS, INC.
    Inventors: Alexander A. Ned, Sorin Stefanescu, Andrew Bemis, Scott Goodman
  • Patent number: 11280693
    Abstract: A reconfigurable pressure transducer assembly having an input tube filter assembly is provided. Multiple small inlet apertures of the transducer housing or input tube filter assembly may be utilized to filter particulate matter from the measurement media/fluid. The resonant frequency and dampening characteristics of the pressure transducer assembly may be configured by the input tube filter assembly such that temporary clogging of a portion of the small inlet apertures does not appreciably affect the resonant frequency and dampening characteristics. The input tube filter assembly includes one or more inserts disposed in an input tube channel, the one or more inserts including one or more apertures of selectable dimensions and extending therethrough from a first end to a second end. The one or more inserts define at least a filter aperture, and the input tube filter assembly is tunable by selection of the selectable dimensions of the one or more inserts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: Kulite Semiconductor Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Louis DeRosa, Robert Gardner
  • Patent number: 11255718
    Abstract: Certain implementations of the disclosed technology may include systems and methods for extending a frequency response of a transducer. A method is provided that can include receiving a measurement signal from a transducer, wherein the measurement signal includes distortion due to a resonant frequency of the transducer. The method includes applying a complementary filter to the measurement signal to produce a compensated signal, wherein applying the complementary filter reduces the distortion to less than about +/?1 dB for frequencies ranging from about zero to about 60% or greater of the resonant frequency. The method further includes outputting the compensated signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: Kulite Semiconductor Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Joe VanDeWeert, Adam Hurst, Joseph Carter, Douglas R. Firth, Alan R. Szary
  • Patent number: 11187606
    Abstract: The disclosed technology is a pressure transducer with a bleed valve built into the body of the transducer for purging liquid systems. The transducer assembly includes a body, a bleed valve port defined in the body and configured to accept a bleed valve, an interface port attached to the body, an adapter attached to a portion of the interface port, a header attached to the adapter and the body, a pressure transducer mounted to the header, and an internal cavity in communication with the interface port, the pressure transducer, and the bleed valve port. The bleed valve port is configured to vent a gas from the internal cavity. A bleed valve disposed in the bleed valve port is configured to controllably vent a gas from the internal cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Assignee: Kulite Semiconductor Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Louis DeRosa, Elias Geras, Robert Gardner
  • Patent number: 11162862
    Abstract: A pressure transducer is disclosed that includes an absolute pressure sensor assembly, a differential pressure sensor assembly, a main pressure port in communication with the absolute pressure sensor assembly and the differential pressure sensor assembly, a reference pressure port in communication with the differential pressure sensor assembly, and a compensation circuit in communication with the absolute pressure sensor assembly and the differential pressure sensor assembly. The compensation circuit is configured to reduce an error in an output of the differential pressure sensor assembly (due to absolute pressure) by at least a portion of an output received from the absolute pressure sensor assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignee: Kulite Semiconductor Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Wolf S. Landmann, Louis DeRosa
  • Patent number: 11060935
    Abstract: A reconfigurable pressure transducer assembly having an input tube filter assembly is provided. The resonant frequency and dampening characteristics associate with the pressure transducer assembly may be configured by the input tube filter assembly. The input tube filter assembly includes one or more inserts disposed in an input tube channel, the one or more inserts including one or more bores of selectable dimensions and extending therethrough from a first end to a second end. The one or more inserts define an effective input tube bore, and the input tube filter assembly is tunable by selection of the selectable dimensions of the one or more inserts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Assignee: Kulite Semiconductor Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Louis DeRosa, Robert Gardner
  • Patent number: 10969289
    Abstract: The disclosed technology relates to a field serviceable pressure scanner suitable for high-pressure sensing applications and replacement of large pressure transmitter panels. The pressure scanner includes a housing having a mounting plate comprising a plurality of through-hole bores extending from a front to back side for mating with corresponding transducer ports of the pressure sensors, and a plurality of input ports disposed on the front side of the mounting plate and in communication with the corresponding plurality of through-hole bores. The pressure scanner assembly includes two or more field-replaceable (swappable) pressure sensors seal mounted to the back side of the mounting plate, each pressure sensor comprising one or more sensor ports, each of the one or more sensor port in communication with corresponding through-hole bores in the mounting plate, and a multi-channel data acquisition system configured to receive pressure signals from the two or more field-replaceable pressure sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: Kulite Semiconductor Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Louis DeRosa, Joseph R. VanDeWeert, Steve Kleiber