Abstract: An all-electronic utility gas meter using with micromachined (a.k.a. MEMS Micro Electro Mechanical Systems) silicon sensor to measure gas metrology data for custody transfer or tariff in city gas metering application is disclosed in the present invention. The meter has two separate metrology units. One of the units is located in the main flow channel with the insertion probing configuration while the other is configured as a bypass unit assembly with the main metrology unit. The bypass metrology unit can perform independent metrology tasks and can be exchanged onsite during service, maintenance or repair without dismantle the meter from the service pipeline. The bypass metrology unit also can be used to compare the measured data from time to time and performance self-diagnosis that shall help the performance and data authentication during the meter field service. Both of the units can be powered by battery or external sources.

Abstract: A silicon mass flow sensor manufacture process that enables the backside contacts and eliminates the conventional front side wire binding process, and the assembly of such a mass flow sensor is disclosed in the present invention. The achieved assembly enhances the reliability by eliminating the binding wire exposure to the flow medium that may lead to detrimental failure due to the wire shortage or breakage while the miniature footprint could be maintained. The assembly further reduces flow instability from the flow sensor package including the bump of wire sealing. The invented mass flow sensor assembly can be a flow sensor module if the supporting sensor carrier is pre-designed with the control electronics. Without the control electronics, the said mass flow sensor assembly is easy to install into desired flow channels and connect to the external control electronics.

Abstract: This invention is related to a microfabricated microelectromechanical systems (a.k.a. MEMS) silicon thermal mass flow sensor integrated with a micromachined thermopile temperature sensor as a flow inception detection sensor. The micromachined thermopile sensor is used to detect the inception of mass flow and therefore to trigger the operation of mass flow sensor from its hibernating mode. By this method, the battery-operated flow speed measuring apparatus can save great deal of electricity and significantly extend the life span of battery. A new design of micromachined thermopile sensor with serpentine shape is used to reduce the complexity of microfabrication process and to increase the flexibility and options for material selection. In order to enhance the sensitivity of the thermopile temperature sensor, a method to maximize the quantity of the junctions is provided as well.

Abstract: The design and manufacture method of an oxygen concentration sensor made with silicon micromachining (a.k.a. MEMS, Micro Electro Mechanical Systems) process for applications of oxygen measurement with fast response time and low power consumption is disclosed in the present invention. The said silicon oxygen concentration sensor operates with an yttrium stabilized zirconia oxide amperometric cell supported on a membrane made of silicon nitride with a heat isolation cavity underneath or a silicon nitride membrane with silicon plug for mechanical strength enforcement.

Abstract: The design and manufacture method of a silicon mass flow sensor made with silicon Micromachining MEMS, Micro Electro Mechanical Systems) process for applications of gas flow measurement with highly humidified or liquid vapors is disclosed in the present invention. The said silicon mass flow sensor operates with an embedded heater and an adjacent control temperature sensor beneath the integrated calorimetric and thermal dissipative sensing thermistors. When the condensation takes place at the surface of the said silicon mass flow sensor, the embedded heater shall be turned on to elevate the temperature of the supporting membrane or substrate for the sensing thermistors. The elevated temperature shall be adjusted to above the vaporization temperature with the feedback data of the adjacent temperature sensor such that the surface condensation due to the presence of the liquid vapors in a gas flow can be effectively eliminated.

Abstract: This invention relates to a micromachined ESD protection device and its microfabrication method for light emitting diode (LEDs) chips. The LEDs is coupled to the ESD protection device in a shunt connection to absorb and eliminate the electrostatic charges induced by human contact or other voltage spike sources. The ESD protection circuit can prevent the LED from burning down and extend its lifespan. By using a thick polyimide layer as the dielectric film for capacitors in the micromachined ESD protection device at the current invention has the advantages with high breakdown voltage compared to other ESD protection circuits. And furthermore, the device in the current invention is easy for mass production with low manufacturing cost. Another embodiment of the present invention is that the multiple-array arrangement in current micromachined ESD protection device could greatly enhance the liability due to multiple-protection and thus to provide the possibility of multiple-times usage.

Abstract: An apparatus comprising a micromachined (a.k.a. MEMS, Micro Electro Mechanical Systems) silicon flow sensor, a flow channel package, and a driving circuitry, which operates in a working principle of thermal time-of-flight (TOF) to measure gas or liquid flow speed, is disclosed in the present invention. The micromachining technique for fabricating this MEMS time-of-flight silicon thermal flow sensor can greatly reduce the sensor fabrication cost by batch production. This microfabrication process for silicon time-of-flight thermal flow sensors provides merits of small feature size, low power consumption, and high accuracy compared to conventional manufacturing methods. Thermal time-of-flight technology in principle can provide accurate flow speed measurements for gases regardless of its gas compositions. In addition, the present invention further discloses the package design and driving circuitry which is utilized by the correlated working principle.

Abstract: A bonded structure of aluminum and copper is formed by bonding a copper workpiece and an aluminum workpiece together along a joint via an arc welding process. The copper workpiece has a first coating, having a lower melting point than copper, applied to at least a portion of it. The first coating allows the copper workpiece to be wetted and brazed, while the aluminum workpiece is melted and fused along the joint. The arc welding process involves the cyclic alternating of a first stage, in which an electric current is supplied to a welding wire as it is moved toward the workpieces, and a second stage, in which the electric current is reduced and the welding wire is moved away from the workpieces, to generate and detach a plurality of molten droplets along the joint. Each molten droplet is formed from the welding wire in the first stage.

Abstract: A silicon mass flow sensor manufacture process that enables the backside contacts and eliminates the conventional front side wire binding process, and the assembly of such a mass flow sensor is disclosed in the present invention. The achieved assembly enhances the reliability by eliminating the binding wire exposure to the flow medium that may lead to detrimental failure due to the wire shortage or breakage while the miniature footprint could be maintained. The assembly further reduces flow instability from the flow sensor package including the bump of wire sealing. The invented mass flow sensor assembly can be a flow sensor module if the supporting sensor carrier is pre-designed with the control electronics. Without the control electronics, the said mass flow sensor assembly is easy to install into desired flow channels and connect to the external control electronics.

Abstract: This invention is related to a microfabricated microelectromechanical systems (a.k.a. MEMS) silicon thermal mass flow sensor integrated with a micromachined thermopile temperature sensor as a flow inception detection sensor. The micromachined thermopile sensor is used to detect the inception of mass flow and therefore to trigger the operation of mass flow sensor from its hibernating mode. By this method, the battery-operated flow speed measuring apparatus can save great deal of electricity and significantly extend the life span of battery. A new design of micromachined thermopile sensor with serpentine shape is used to reduce the complexity of microfabrication process and to increase the flexibility and options for material selection. In order to enhance the sensitivity of the thermopile temperature sensor, a method to maximize the quantity of the junctions is provided as well.

Abstract: This invention is related to an apparatus which incorporates a microfabricated silicon mass flow sensor to measure city gas flow rate in a medium pressure range for utility industry which is dominated by conventional mechanical meters such as turbine and rotary meters. The microfabricated mass flow sensor is so called micro-electromechanical systems (a.k.a. MEMS) device. Due to the small feature size of micro scale for MEMS mass flow sensor, the invented apparatus includes many advantages such as low power consumption, compact package, high reliability and extended dynamic measurement range. This apparatus is also provided with a stable flow conditioning to achieve a desired dynamic range capability. Furthermore, because of the high accuracy characteristic, the apparatus in this invention could be applied tot custody transfer or tariff in utility industry as well.

Abstract: An all-electronic utility gas meter using with micromachined (a.k.a. MEMS Micro Electro Mechanical Systems) silicon sensor to measure gas metrology data for custody transfer or tariff in city gas metering application is disclosed in the present invention. The meter has two separate metrology units. One of the units is located in the main flow channel with the insertion probing configuration while the other is configured as a bypass unit assembly with the main metrology unit. The bypass metrology unit can perform independent metrology tasks and can be exchanged onsite during service, maintenance or repair without dismantle the meter from the service pipeline. The bypass metrology unit also can be used to compare the measured data from time to time and performance self-diagnosis that shall help the performance and data authentication during the meter field service. Both of the units can be powered by battery or external sources.

Abstract: An apparatus integrated with micromachined (a.k.a. MEMS, Micro Electro Mechanical Systems) silicon thermal sensor as a proximity switch sensor in air/oil Lubricators is disclosed in the present invention. The present invention relates to mass flow sensing and measurement for both gas and liquid phase and relates to air/oil lubrication process for multi-point lubrication machine. The invented apparatus is utilized as an alarm device to prevent mechanical system failures caused by the discontinuity of oil lubrication. The MEMS silicon thermal sensor is distinguished with a variety of advantages of small size, low power consumption, high reliability and high accuracy. In addition to the above benefits, the most significant and critical advantage is its fast response time of less than 20 msec, which makes the proximity switch control become viable for preventing equipment damage from oil lubricants discontinuity.

Abstract: A method of forming a resistance spot welding manufacture includes sandwiching a third metal layer between first and second metal layers to form a workpiece. The second layer has a surface defining an embossed region. The first layer has a first thickness, the third layer has a third thickness, and the second layer has a second thickness that is less than the first and third thicknesses so that a ratio of the first thickness to the second thickness is greater than about 2:1. The method includes positioning the workpiece between a first and second electrode so that the workpiece is disposed in electrically-conductive relationship with the first and the second electrodes, and applying an electrical current through the first electrode to concurrently melt the first and third layers and the surface at the embossed region to join the first and second layers to the third layer and form the manufacture.

Abstract: A wind or gas velocity profiler integrated with micromachined (a.k.a. MEMS, Micro Electro Mechanical Systems) silicon sensors in an open or enclosed space is disclosed in the present invention. There are three main embodiments disclosed in the present invention. Through the preambles of the independent claims, the advantages and merits of such measurement apparatus with MEMS flow sensor will be demonstrated as well. A silicon-based MEMS flow sensor can greatly reduce the sensor fabrication cost by a batch production. The integration with MEMS flow sensor makes the invented anemometer operate in the ways of better measurement accuracy, lower power consumption, higher reliability and a compact dimension compared to traditional anemometers such as cup anemometer, thermal anemometer and ultrasonic anemometer.

Abstract: A resistance spot welding manufacture includes a first metal layer having a first thickness, a second metal layer having a faying surface defining an embossed region, wherein the second metal layer has a second thickness that is less than the first thickness so that a ratio of the first thickness to the second thickness is greater than about 2:1, a third metal layer sandwiched between the first metal layer and the embossed region, wherein the third metal layer has a third thickness that is greater than the second thickness, and a weld joint penetrating each of the first metal layer, the third metal layer, and the faying surface at the embossed region to thereby join each of the first metal layer and the second metal layer to the third metal layer. A method of forming a resistance spot welding manufacture is also disclosed.

Abstract: A zero-crossing detection circuit and a commutation device using the zero-crossing detection circuit are provided. The zero-crossing detection circuit is adapted into a three-phase brushless DC (direct current) motor with first to third coils. One terminal of each of the first to third coils is electrically coupled together with each other. The detection circuit comprises a first selection circuit, a second selection circuit and a comparator. The first selection circuit and the second selection circuit are both electrically coupled to another terminals of the first to third coils, to obtain first to third terminal voltages, and output one of the first to third terminal voltages according to a selection signal. The comparator is configured for comparing an output of the first selection circuit and an output of the second selection circuit, to output a comparing result.

Abstract: A method of joining the ends of wire windings for a motor stator or the like includes preparing a surface at each end (e.g., by removing any enamel coating), deforming the surfaces to produce knurls, striations, and the like, and then ultrasonically bonding the two surfaces to produce the bond between windings, thereby providing a joint with improved strength.

Abstract: An apparatus integrated with micromachined (a.k.a. MEMS, Micro Electro Mechanical Systems) silicon sensor to measure air flow velocity on targeting correction for projectiles arms is disclosed in the present invention. The air flow velocity component perpendicular to the travel direction of bullets with respect to projectile arm body (e.g. bullets, shells, or arrows) has main effect to the targeting accuracy. Such effect is pretty much determined by the wind speed and the projectile travel distance. The integration with MEMS mass flow sensor has made the invented apparatus possible to be compact, low power consumption, low cost and high accuracy. The low power consumption characteristic of MEMS mass flow sensor is especially crucial for making the apparatus of present invention feasible by battery operated.

Abstract: With increasing demands on data communication and remote control in current industrial processes or gas measurement applications, development of new technologies would be necessary. The current invention presents a MEMS mass flow meter that are cost compatible with conventional variable area flow meters while providing all digital data process including accumulated flow rate measurements, user programmable flow rate alarm and flow data storage. These in-line meters provide packages in pipe diameter from 4 mm up to 100 mm. It is powered with battery and can be used as a stand-alone hand-held option. The meter is also equipped with the industrial standard RS485 Modbus communication interface for easy network and remote management.