FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention generally relates to the field of pressure sensor packages, and more specifically to pressure sensor packages having a pressure chip sealed within a cavity by a diaphragm.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Pressure sensors are used in a variety of areas, such as automotive and industrial applications, to provide an electrical signal corresponding with a measured fluid pressure. For example, pressure sensors can be used to measure automotive oil pressure and hydraulic fluid pressure.

One type of pressure sensor includes a solid state pressure sensing bridge, or chip, for generating an electrical signal corresponding with fluid pressure applied to the chip. Typically, the chip is mounted within a cavity of a base, and a fluid medium (e.g., silicone gel) is placed within the cavity to cover the chip. A diaphragm is secured to the base over the cavity to secure the gel within the cavity, and to create a sealed pressure sensor package. Alternatively, the gel can be injected into the cavity through a separate port after the diaphragm is secured to the base. In operation, pressure applied to the diaphragm deflects the diaphragm, is transmitted by the medium, thereby resulting in pressurization of the chip. The diaphragm is commonly secured to the base by welding. Welding provides an adequate seal, but the operation can only be performed if both the base and the diaphragm are made of compatible metallic materials. In addition, the welding operation can be expensive, and can cause heat distortion of the components. Also, the welding typically must be done without the fluid medium in the cavity, thereby requiring the extra operations of injecting the fluid medium into the cavity and thereafter

sealing the cavity without causing an unacceptable pressure offset pressure in the cavity.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In one aspect, the present invention provides a pressure sensor package wherein the diaphragm is secured to the base without the need for a welding operation. Avoiding the welding operation is believed to significantly improve the manufacturability of the package. Furthermore, since no welding is performed, the diaphragm and base can be made from a wider range of materials, such as non-metallic materials.

In one embodiment, the package includes a pressure sensor base, a pressure sensor diaphragm positioned on the base, and a pressure sensor cap positioned on the diaphragm and secured to the base such that a portion of the diaphragm is deformed between the cap and the base. The deformation of the diaphragm occurs along a line of deformation, preferably to form a closed path adjacent the periphery of the diaphragm. In one embodiment, the diaphragm is deformed between an inner surface of the cap and an outer surface of the base along the line of deformation, and the inner surface and the outer surface diverge from the line of deformation. For example, the diaphragm can be deformed between a concave inner radius and a convex outer radius, wherein the inner radius is larger than the outer radius.

In another aspect, the invention provides a method by which the diaphragm can be secured to the base without the need for a welding operation. This method can be performed with the fluid medium in the cavity, thereby eliminating the secondary operations of injecting the cavity with fluid medium and sealing the cavity. Furthermore, since no welding is performed, the diaphragm and base can be made from a wider range of materials, such as non-metallic materials.

In one embodiment, the method includes the steps of positioning a diaphragm over a base, placing a cap over

the diaphragm, moving the cap toward the base, and deforming a portion of the pressure sensor diaphragm between the cooperating surfaces on the cap and the base. The step of deforming can include the step of deforming the diaphragm along a line of deformation, preferably to form a closed path adjacent a periphery of the diaphragm. In one embodiment, the base includes an upper surface and a cavity in the upper surface and, prior to the positioning step, the method further includes the step of depositing fluid into the cavity.

In yet another aspect the present invention provides a pressure sensor package wherein the cap and the diaphragm are integrally in a single piece. The package includes a pressure sensor base, and a pressure sensor cap positioned over and secured to the pressure sensor base. The pressure sensor cap includes a central portion having a first wall thickness, and a peripheral portion integrally formed with the central portion and having a second wall thickness greater than the first wall thickness, the peripheral portion being secured relative to the pressure sensor base. The central portion can include an interior side facing the pressure sensor base, wherein the interior side of the central portion is convex, and preferably substantially arcuate. At least part of the central portion preferably extends below an upper surface of the pressure sensor base and into a cavity formed in the upper surface.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Fig. 1 is a perspective exploded view of a pressure sensor package embodying the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a section view of the package illustrated in Fig. 1 after assembly.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged view of a portion of the package illustrated in Fig. 2

Fig. 4 is a partial section view of a second embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 5 is a partial section view of a third embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Figs. 1-3 illustrate a pressure sensor package 10 embodying the present invention. The package 10 includes a pressure sensor base 12, a pressure sensor diaphragm 14, and a pressure sensor cap 16 positioned over the diaphragm 14 and secured to the base 12. The base 12 includes external threads 18 for securing the cap 16 to the base 12. The base 12 further includes a cylindrical sidewall 20 defining a cavity 22 and an upper, annular surface 23. The package 10 also includes a pressure sensing chip 24 which is positioned within the cavity 22. A plurality of wires 26 operatively inter-connect with the chip 24 and extend out the bottom of the base 12.

The base 12 is preferably made from a metallic material, such as stainless steel or cold rolled steel. The pressure sensing chip 24 can be any appropriate chip for sensing fluid pressure, and the selection of which will depend in part on the pressures to be sensed. For example, the pressure sensing chip 24 can be any of a variety of pressure transducers, such as those described in commonly assigned U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 08/291,871, U.S. Patent No. 4,744,863, U.S. Patent No. 4,853,669 and U.S. Patent No. 4,996,082, all of which are incorporated herein by reference. The wires 26 are sealed within the base 12 by an appropriate sealing material 28, such as glass, in a conventional manner.

The diaphragm 14 overlies the cavity 22 to provide a barrier to the entry of contaminants into the cavity 22. The diaphragm 14 is not welded to the base 12 as with prior art designs, but rather is held in place by the cap 16, as described below in more detail. Because the diaphragm 14 is not welded to the base 12, the diaphragm 14 can be made from non-metallic materials.

such as elastomers, rubbers and plastics, and may also be made of metallic materials, such as stainless steel or plated cold rolled steel. In the illustrated embodiment, the diaphragm 14 is made of stainless steel. The package 10 also includes (Fig. 2) a quantity of pressure transfer media 30 which substantially fills the cavity 22 and covers the chip 24. The pressure transfer media 30 occupies the cavity 22 between the diaphragm 14 and the chip 24 so that little or no air is within the cavity 22. The pressure transfer media 30 transfers pressures caused by deflection of the diaphragm 14 (caused, for example, by a change in pressure applied to the diaphragm) to the chip 24. In this regard, it is typically desirable to choose the pressure transfer media 30 to be a virtually incompressible material, such as is the case with many liquids and gels. In the illustrated embodiment, the pressure transfer media 30 is silicone gel.

The cap 16 includes internal threads 32 for securing the cap 16 to the base 12, and external threads 34 for securing the package 10 into a threaded port (not shown) for sensing fluid pressure within the port. The cap 16 is positioned over the diaphragm 14 to hold the diaphragm 14 in place and to provide a seal to prevent entry of foreign materials into the cavity 22. The seal is accomplished by providing an interface between the cap 16 and the base 12 such that the diaphragm 14 is contacted along a line of deformation in Fig. 3 by the zone identified by reference number 33. Such contact results in deformation of the diaphragm 14 when the cap 16 is threaded onto the base 12. This line contact is particularly important when the diaphragm 14 is made from a metallic material in order to concentrate the clamping force of the cap 16 to a narrowly defined localized area, thereby promoting deformation, and preferably plastic deformation, of the diaphragm 14. In this regard, because the illustrated diaphragm is made from stainless

steel, the illustrated cap is also made from a metallic material, such as stainless steel.

Contact along a line or localized zone of deformation is facilitated by (Fig. 3) contacting the diaphragm 14 between an inner surface 35 of the cap 16 and an outer surface 37 of the base 12 such that the inner surface 35 and the outer surface 37 diverge from each other when moving away from the line of deformation. In the illustrated embodiment, such contact is achieved by contacting the diaphragm 14 between a concave inner radius 36 of the cap 16 and a convex outer radius 38 of the base 12, with the inner radius 36 being larger than the outer radius 38, as shown in Fig. 3.

Fig. 4 illustrates a pressure sensor assembly 39 which is similar to the package 10 and which is an alternative embodiment of the present invention. In the assembly 39, a diaphragm 40 optionally extends radially beyond the base 48 is compressed between a sloped surface 42 of a cap 44 and a sharp corner or higher radius 46 of a base 48. The illustrated arrangement provides a line of contact between the cap 44 and the base 48 so that the force therebetween is concentrated, and the outer periphery of the diaphragm 40 beyond the base 48 is deflected by the sloped surface 42. Such concentration of the force results in deformation, and preferably plastic deformation, of the diaphragm 40.

Rather than utilizing a threaded interface for securing and compressing the cap relative to the base, other arrangements could be used. For example, Fig. 5 illustrates an assembly 49 which is similar to assemblies 10 and 39 and which is an alternative embodiment wherein a cap 50 extends beyond the bottom 52 of a base 54. In this embodiment, the bottom 56 of the cap 50 is plastically deformed around the bottom 52 of the base 54, or an appropriate ledge or groove (not shown) formed in the base 54. In such an arrangement, there is no need to provide threads on the base or internal threads on the cap. Rather, the cap 50 is secured to the base 54 by a

simple plastic deformation, or coining, of the cap 50 around the base 54.

Assembly of the above-described pressure sensor packages can be performed by filling the cavity 22 with fluid, positioning the diaphragm over the base, placing the cap over the diaphragm, and moving the cap toward the base until the diaphragm is deformed therebetween. In the package illustrated in Figs. 1-3, the step of moving includes the steps of engaging threads 32 on the cap 16 with threads 18 on the base 12, and rotating the cap 16 relative to the base 12. The respective diaphragms of the alternative embodiments shown in Figs. 1-5 are deformed along lines of deformation that form a closed path adjacent a periphery of the pressure sensor diaphragm. Such closed path forms the desired barrier to the entry of contaminants into the cavity 22. For the package 49 illustrated in Fig. 5, the method further includes the step of deforming a portion of the cap 50 around a portion of the base 54 to thereby fix the cap 50 in position relative to the base 54.

Fig. 6 illustrates a pressure sensor package 60 that is a further alternative embodiment of the invention and that eliminates a leak path between the cap and the base. More specifically, the above-described and illustrated packages 10, 39 and 49(Figs. 1-5) generally have potential leak paths between the respective cap and the diaphragm and between the cap and the base. In contrast, the package 60 illustrated in Fig. 6 has only a leak path between the cap 62 and the base 64. This is accomplished by forming the cap 62 from a single piece of material to provide a central diaphragm portion 66 and an integral, peripheral cap portion 68 which is thicker than the diaphragm portion 66. For example, the cap portion 68 and the diaphragm portion 66 could be molded as a unitary structure. The side of the diaphragm portion 66 facing the cavity 70 is optionally arcuately convex such that the diaphragm portion 66 extends below the upper surface 72 of the base 64. Such a design facilitates movement of

any air pockets out of the cavity 70 as the cap 62 is being secured to the base 64. That is, when the cap 62 is moved toward the base 64, the center of the diaphragm portion 66 will contact the fluid in the cavity 70 before any other part of the diaphragm portion 66. Further movement of the cap 62 toward the base 64 will result in the fluid contact point gradually moving radially outwardly on the diaphragm portion 66, thereby forcing air pockets to the outer perimeter of the cavity 70 and eventually out through the threads 74. The amount of fluid placed in the cavity 70 before assembly is only slightly more than the amount required for the final assembled package 60. The excess fluid will be allowed to leak out into the threads 74. The foregoing description of the present invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. Furthermore, the description is not intended to limit the invention to the form disclosed herein. Consequently, variations and modifications commensurate with the above teachings, and the skill or knowledge of the relevant art, are within the scope of the present invention. For example, the materials used for the base, the diaphragm and the cap could vary from those described, depending on design constraints such as temperature, pressure and environmental issues. The embodiments described herein are further intended to explain best modes known for practicing the invention and to enable others skilled in the art to utilize the invention in such, or other, embodiments and with various modifications required by the particular applications or uses of the present invention. It is intended that the appended claims be construed to include alternative embodiments to the extent permitted by the prior art.