Patents Assigned to Sensata Technologies
  • Patent number: 8536475
    Abstract: Techniques disclosed herein include a conversion technique that converts an aircraft circuit breaker having male auxiliary connectors (micro switch connectors) to an aircraft circuit breaker having female auxiliary connectors, such as those conventionally used on European-made aircraft. Techniques include adding a barrier to a conventional aircraft circuit breaker approved for U.S. markets. This barrier includes female auxiliary connectors integrated with the barrier, as well as a flexible circuit that connects the male connectors with the female connectors such that the female connectors can still receive separate male connectors in the female receptacles. Such a technique converts conventional aircraft circuit breakers into a European-style breaker without requiring a full European rebuild and re-qualification. Embodiments can include single and multiple phase versions, and configurations for use with high and low amperage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: Sensata Technologies Massachusetts, Inc.
    Inventors: Keith Richard Washburn, Stephen J. Bryant, William John Bentley
  • Patent number: 8499642
    Abstract: The invention relates to a fluid pressure sensing device comprising a pressure sensing transducer having a support structure and a diaphragm attached to said support structure, the diaphragm having a fluid facing side. A housing has a transducer receiving cavity defined by a bottom wall and a housing sidewall extending upwardly from the bottom wall. The bottom wall is formed with a fluid pressure receiving recess. A fluid pressure port is formed in the housing in communication with the recess. The diaphragm is positioned between the support structure and the fluid pressure receiving recess and a seal material around a support structure sidewall fixes the pressure sensing transducer in the housing and provides a hermetic seal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2013
    Assignee: Sensata Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Wico Hopman, Robert Zwijze, Paul Gennissen, Maarten van Noorden, George van der Donk, Jans Kruise
  • Patent number: 8429956
    Abstract: A piezoresistive pressure-measuring plug for a combustion engine. The pressure-measuring plug includes a plug body having a threaded plug body part with an external thread for screwing the plug body into a cylinder of the combustion engine, and a sealing plug body part forming a tip of the plug for providing a seal between the plug body and the combustion engine. The plug body further includes a sensing body part positioned between the threaded plug body part and the sealing plug body part. The sensing body part includes a cylindrical body part, a moving part, and a sensing structure that form a single integral piece. The sensing structure forms a connection between the cylindrical body part and the moving part, and allows the moving part to move relatively to the cylindrical body part along a cylinder axis of the cylindrical body part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignee: Sensata Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Marc Gerard Johan Borgers, Serge Groenhuijzen, Cristobal Ruiz Zwollo, Jan-Willem Sloetjes
  • Patent number: 8365607
    Abstract: According to one configuration, a base component of a pressure sensor assembly includes a hollowed volume (e.g., chamber, bore, space, etc.) in which to house components such as a pressure sensor element and pressure sensor circuitry. Opposite an opening to the hollowed volume, the base component further includes a port through which to receive a fluid. An inside wall of the first end of the metallic base component includes grooves. The grooves can be created on the inner wall based on a metalworking operation known as broaching. To produce the pressure sensor assembly, at least a portion of the first end of the metallic base component including the grooves is crimped inward to fixedly couple a connector component to the metallic base component and retain the pressure sensor electronics and pressure sensor circuitry within the hollowed volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: Sensata Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen E. Mitchell, Juan P. Sanchez
  • Publication number: 20120293165
    Abstract: Magnetic proximity sensor, comprising a magnetic sensor element, and a magnet assembly having a first pole surface and a second pole surface, wherein the first pole surface of the magnet assembly is positioned adjacent to a sensor target surface of the magnetic proximity sensor, and the sensor element is positioned at a first distance from the second pole surface of the magnet assembly remote from the sensor target surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2012
    Publication date: November 22, 2012
    Applicant: Sensata Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Albert Ferdinand Zwijze, Dale Reed Sogge
  • Patent number: 8297115
    Abstract: A piezoresistive pressure-measuring plug for a combustion engine for measuring a pressure. The piezoresistive pressure-measuring plug: includes a plug body for insertion into a cylinder of the combustion engine, a rod that is arranged in the plug body, a sensing structure comprising a piezoresistive element, that is arranged between the rod and the plug body such that the sensing structure is acted upon, when in use, by the pressure prevailing in the combustion chamber of the cylinder. The sensing structure is arranged in the plug body and, when in use, is compressed in an axial direction by the force applied to the sensing structure and a piezoresistive element mounted on the sensing structure. A PWB is also arranged in the plug body. Such a pressure-measuring plug provides improved bandwidth and reduced build-in height.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: Sensata Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Marc Gerard Johan Borgers, Cris Ruiz Zwollo, Robert Zwijze, Paulus Thomas Johannes Gennissen, Tim Tiek, Huub Toneman, Serge Groenhuijzen
  • Patent number: 8256300
    Abstract: A pressure sensor includes a sense element port, a support ring and a plurality of interference fit slits to provide a flexible interference fit between the sense element port and the support ring to form a substantially flush lap joint. The sensor also includes an electronics board inside the support ring and attached to planar mounting tabs which provide a stable mounting. Gel flow barriers protect electronics board features from unwanted non-conductive gel. Double-ended symmetrical, tapered contact springs provide manufacturing cost savings and contribute to improved alignment of an interface connector of the sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    Assignee: Sensata Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew F. Willner, Louis Tomasso, Giovanni Fraone, Prasanth Ambady
  • Patent number: 8258738
    Abstract: A low cost motor starter is shown having a PTC resistor 12 serially connected to a triac 14 and a bias resistor in turn adapted to be connected to the start winding of a single phase motor. A reed relay 16 having a sense coil 16a serially connected to the main winding in one preferred embodiment and in parallel with the main and start windings in a second preferred embodiment, is magnetically coupled to reed contacts 16b, 16c. Reed contact 16b is connected to a location intermediate the PTC resistor 12 and the triac 14 while reed contact 16c is connected to the gate of the triac. A gate signal phase shifting network comprising capacitor C1-R2 is also connected to reed contact 16c and the gate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    Assignee: Sensata Technologies Massachusetts, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert J. Andrews, Jr., Russell P. Brodeur, Kevin J. Dropps
  • Patent number: 8174354
    Abstract: A thermistor device includes include supports, contacts and offset posts configured to assist the fracturing of failed thermistor “pills” and to distribute the fragments of the fractured pills into compartment away from electrically conductive contacts in order to minimize arcing and overheating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2012
    Assignee: Sensata Technologies Massachusetts, Inc.
    Inventors: Jonathan F. Cohen, Gabriel Porto, Simon C. Kwok, Christian V. Pellon
  • Patent number: 8156816
    Abstract: A pressure sensor includes a sense element port, a support ring and a plurality of interference fit slits to provide a flexible interference fit between the sense element port and the support ring to form a substantially flush lap joint. The sensor also includes an electronics board inside the support ring and attached to planar mounting tabs which provide a stable mounting. Gel flow barriers protect electronics board features from unwanted non-conductive gel. Double-ended symmetrical, tapered contact springs provide manufacturing cost savings and contribute to improved alignment of an interface connector of the sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Assignee: Sensata Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew F. Willner, Giovanni Fraone, Prasanth Ambady, Lauren Snedeker
  • Patent number: 8129624
    Abstract: A pressure sensor includes a sense element port, a support ring and a plurality of interference fit slits to provide a flexible interference fit between the sense element port and the support ring to form a substantially flush lap joint. The sensor also includes an electronics board inside the support ring and attached to planar mounting tabs which provide a stable mounting. Gel flow barriers protect electronics board features from unwanted non-conductive gel. Double-ended symmetrical, tapered contact springs provide manufacturing cost savings and contribute to improved alignment of an interface connector of the sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Assignee: Sensata Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew F. Willner, Lauren Snedeker, Brian Wilkie, Gifford Plume, Prasanth Ambady
  • Patent number: 7992441
    Abstract: A pressure sensor module is disclosed. The pressure sensor module comprises a sensing element (1) mounted on a front side (3) of a support member (5). The support member (5) comprises a hole (7) through the support member (5) from the front side (3) to a back side (9). The sensing element (1) covers the hole (7) at the front side (3). A back side barrier (6) provided at the back side (9) of the support member (5) surrounds a surface of the back side (9) of the support member (5) and forms an enclosed area (8), wherein the enclosed area (8) and the hole (7) form a pressure channel (10). A back side protective member (2) fills the hole (7) and at least partially the enclosed area (8). The support member (5), back side barrier (6) and back side protective member (2) form a module that can be placed during production of the pressure sensor in a housing of the pressure sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2011
    Assignee: Sensata Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Sean P. Mulligan, Frank Morsink, Jun Bae, Gerald Spijksma, Tom te Boekhorst
  • Patent number: 7988500
    Abstract: A socket apparatus comprises a base portion defining an array of contact cavities. A plurality of contacts are inserted into the array of contact cavities defined in the base portion. The base portion includes a top side and a bottom side and a plurality of ribs extending from the bottom side. Each rib defines at least one sidewall that engages with an anchor of a contact to securely mount the contact. Each contact includes a mounting portion having a first anchor and a second anchor extending from the mounting portion and operable to engage a mounting surface of the base portion to securely mount the contact. The first anchor provides a first anchor force for the contact to the base portion that is substantially greater than a second anchor force provided by the second anchor to the base portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2011
    Assignee: Sensata Technologies Massachusetts, Inc.
    Inventors: Hideharu Furukawa, Haruhiko Endoh
  • Patent number: 7939772
    Abstract: A linear vehicle transmission switch (10) has first and second interfitting housing members (12, 14) each having an electrically conductive lead frame (12m) insert molded in electrically insulative material and formed with exposed segments (12f) of lead frame material along linear tracks. An elongated actuator (16) is slidably received in a channel of one of the housing members and is disposed along a side of the tracks. A paddle (16b) extends transversely across the tracks. Ribs are disposed between tracks and dimensioned to limit rotational movement of the paddle. A pair of stabilized contact switches is disposed on the paddle for each track. The housing members have a selected camber to lower the force required to move the actuator. The lead frames are plated to reduce contact resistance and improve wear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2011
    Assignee: Sensata Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: David J. DiPaola, George P. Krajewski, Bonnie L. Moore, Denis J. Villiard
  • Patent number: 7913536
    Abstract: An arrangement and method for providing compensation to a cyclical input signal is disclosed. The arrangement comprises a first detection unit (20) for detecting a first event in a cyclical output signal; a compensation signal generation unit (14) for generating a compensation signal; and a signal combination unit (8) for combining the compensation signal and the cyclical input signal to obtain the cyclical output signal. The compensation signal generation unit (14) is arranged to adjust the compensation signal at an instant which has a determined relationship with the detection of the first event. By adjusting the compensation signal at the right instant in a cycle of the cyclical output signal, the adjustment will not influence the further processing of the cyclical output signal. The method can be used to compensate the offset and sensitivity characteristics of a sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2011
    Assignee: Sensata Technologies Holland B.V.
    Inventors: Tim Tiek, Paulus Thomas Johannes Gennissen
  • Patent number: 7898781
    Abstract: An arc fault detection apparatus that provides for better discrimination of electrical arcing events from nuisance loads. The arc fault detection apparatus includes an arcing sense circuit having a comparator circuit with a variable threshold voltage that varies continuously with the line voltage. The arc fault detection apparatus has reduced susceptibility to nuisance tripping in the presence of sudden changes in the load current that occur outside of a specified time window centered on each zero crossing point of the line voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2011
    Assignee: Sensata Technologies Massachusetts, Inc.
    Inventors: Keith W. Kawate, Lynwald Edmunds, Roger D. Mayer
  • Patent number: 7779701
    Abstract: A high pressure, miniature pressure sensor has a cup-shaped housing having an open end closed by a metal substrate. A raised stress isolation pedestal portion is formed on the substrate that receives a stress isolation glass pedestal element and in turn a silicon pressure sense element, all having closely matched CTEs to minimize temperature induced stresses. A fluid passageway is formed through the substrate and glass pedestal and an O-ring is placed around the passageway on the lower side of the substrate. A flexible circuit having a slit tail formed with two lobes for receipt respectively in the housing and on the substrate allows easy access of a solder iron during assembly. Mounting flanges extend from the substrate to facilitate mounting of sensor and minimize transfer of mounting stresses to the sense element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2010
    Assignee: Sensata Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: David J. DiPaolo, Jeffrey P. Silveria
  • Patent number: 7762140
    Abstract: A combined fluid pressure transducer and temperature sensor (10) has a housing (12) containing a variable capacitor (14) having a rigid substrate (14a) and attached flexible diaphragm (14b) in sealed, spaced apart relation. The capacitor is mounted in the housing so that the outer face surface of the diaphragm is exposed to a fluid pressure chamber (12k). A temperature responsive sensor element (28) is disposed on the outer face surface of the diaphragm and covered by a thin protective layer. A fluid flow diffuser (30) is disposed in the fluid pressure port (12b) for directing fluid flow across the temperature sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2010
    Assignee: Sensata Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Jared E. Girroir, Nicholas Moelders
  • Patent number: 7725268
    Abstract: Method and sensing module for sensing pollution of outside air. The sensing module (1) comprises an electro chemical sensing element (3), and a processor (2). A sensing module output signal is provided based on the measurement signal and a baseline signal level. The baseline signal level is adapted depending on two threshold levels (13-15). A pollution concentration value is determined from the measurement signal and a classification level of air pollution is provided as sensing module output signal. A classification level is determined using a plurality of classification threshold values and the pollution concentration values. The plurality of classification threshold values are dynamically adjustable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2010
    Assignee: Sensata Technologies Holland B.V.
    Inventors: Roger Marcel Appelo, Tom Urban Artursson, Per Anders Holmberg, Nicolae Barsan, Heiko Eugen Ulmer
  • Patent number: 7622835
    Abstract: A motor protector receiving bracket (10) is shown for use with a multiphase motor protector having at least two terminal pins (4 and 5). The bracket has a back wall formed with first (12e) and second (12h) slots for receiving respective pin terminals of the protector cradled in the bracket and are formed with features to prevent any movement of the protector relative to the bracket. The bracket is in turn adapted to be attached to a spring clip (14) welded to a motor casing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2009
    Assignee: Sensata Technologies Massachusetts, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy F. Kimball, Huade Tan