"MINIATURIZED DEVICE FOR PRESSURE MEASUREMENTS

OVER A VERY WIDE RANGE"

TECHNOLOGICAL BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

5 Field of Application.

The present invention relates to the field of pressure sensor devices, particularly miniaturized sensor devices, for use to measure level pressures over a very wide range of values (from high vacuum conditions to very high pressure conditions) and, when under low pressure conditions, to measure partial pressures and gas concentrations.

10 Description of the Prior Art.

In the field of sensors, pressure sensor devices play an increasingly important role; such devices has a wide and growing context of use, especially in industrial applications, within production machines or plants or manufacturing environments or systems for analysis and measurement, for example to manage the fluid-dynamics of a whole system, i s In these applications, it may be necessary to measure the pressure with high precision, in many different points, in often unfavorable environmental conditions, thus resulting in critical, or even extreme, operating conditions for the devices. Moreover, the pressure conditions to which the devices can be subjected, and which they have to detect, may vary within a very wide range, from very low pressures typical of high vacuum (for example, 1CH ³ 20 mbar) to very high pressures (for example, 10 ⁴ mbar).

Individual devices able to operate over this very wide pressures range, as it would be desirable, are not known.

The existing sensor devices are capable to operate, at the most, over very narrow subranges, relative to the above-mentioned range.

25 For example, for pressures that are not very low, and considering only high performance, i.e., "high end", devices, capacitive diaphragm pressure sensors are known, which, depending on design parameters, can measure pressures within different sub-ranges, that are however subsets of the range from 10 ^"4 mbar to 10 ³ mbar. However, there are no known individual devices able to measure a pressure over the whole range from 10 ^"4 mbar to 30 10 ⁴ mbar. If one wants to cover this range, a sensor system comprising multiple individual devices in parallel must be used: for example, at least three capacitive pressure sensor in parallel may be necessary.

For pressures equal or less than 10 ^"4 mbar, further devices are to be used, based on a totally different, rather sophisticated and complex concept, usually called "vacuum gauges". 35 Known vacuum gauges are mainly of two types: "Hot Cathode Ionization Gauge" (e.g., of the Bayard-Alpert type) and "Cold Cathode Ionization Gauge" (e.g., Penning gauge and Inverted Magnetron IMG, which ionize the residual gas by means of a glow and/or plasma discharge). For example, the "Bayard-Alpert" vacuum gauges are substantially based on an emission of electrons, which ionize the gas particles that are present, and on the subsequent 5 detection of the obtained ions, the number of which depends on the concentration of the gas particles, and thus on the pressure.

These devices, in turn, must be inserted into a complex sensor system, in parallel to the capacitive pressure sensor, if the range of detectable pressures requires to be extended to low values.

10 In any case, the minimum pressure values that are measurable by using known types of vacuum gauges can hardly reach pressure values below 1CH ⁰ or 10 ^"11 mbar, at most.

This is due to inherent constraints of the physic phenomena involved in the detection, particularly to the generation of X-rays that inevitably occurs when ionizing electrons impact on grids for ion extraction/detection. These X-rays, by also colliding on the ion detectors, i s generate spurious signals that totally distort the detection results (detected ions), when pressures are very low.

Therefore, for pressures in the order of 10 ^"12 - 10 ^"13 mbar, it can be even said that there are no known miniaturized devices, of a standard type, which are capable of measuring such pressures.

20 Even considering only pressure ranges that are measurable by the known devices, it has been noted above that only a complex system, comprising multiple individual devices in parallel, can comply to the need of wide range pressure measurements.

The drawback of complexity, which causes the further disadvantages of high costs and low reliability, is worsened by the fact that each individual device, in order to be able to work,

25 requires "macroscopic" electronic components, in addition to the sensor itself: for example, processing modules, signal processing modules, interface modules, either wired or wireless, towards higher-level controllers, etc.

Moreover, in addition to the complexity resulting e.g., from the considerable overall dimensions, power consumption and costs, the fact of using very structured sensor systems

30 implies a tendency to decrease reliability and increases the requirements for initial calibration, diagnostic, and possibly recalibration procedures.

Such procedures must be performed ad hoc for each individual device sensor over a narrow range, and moreover, generally, by extracting each device from the system and proceeding with diagnostics and recalibration outside the instrument/environment where they

35 are normally installed, i.e., off-line. In summary, in light of the above, the need to have a pressure sensor device which is, even when considered individually, as "universal" as possible (i.e., capable of measuring a pressure over a very wide range, such as for example 1 CH ³ - 10 ⁴ mbar) is much felt.

There is also a need to make this device as miniaturized as possible, while still 5 maintaining a high measurement precision at any pressure level, within the above-mentioned range.

In addition, there is a need that this device is as "self-contained" as possible, in terms of calibration and diagnostics.

Finally, in the vacuum or low pressure situations, it would be convenient to be able to 10 perform not only measurements of total pressure but also of partial pressures and gas concentrations, in an effective way by an individual device.

None of the above-mentioned known devices is able to fulfill the above individual needs and least of all the combination of such needs.

The possibility of having a "universal" miniaturized and self-contained pressure sensor i s device appears a really challenging objective, considering that the various needs (for example miniaturization and self-containment) may result in conflicting design requirements which are very difficult to fulfill altogether.

In light of the above, the object of the present invention is to devise and provide a miniaturized device for pressure measurements over a very wide range and for 20 measurements of gas concentration, and a related measurement method, which results to be improved such as to fulfill the above-mentioned needs, and able to at least partially overcome the drawbacks described above with reference to the prior art.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This object is achieved by a device according to claim 1.

25 Further embodiments of this device are defined in the dependent claims 2 to 16.

A method for measuring pressure over a very wide range, carried out by the device of the invention, is defined in claim 17.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further characteristics and advantages of a miniaturized device for pressure and 30 concentration measurements over a very wide range, according to the present invention, will result from the following description of preferred embodiments given by way of indicative though non-limiting examples, with reference to the attached figures, in which:

- Fig. 1 illustrates a simplified functional diagram of a device, according to the invention;

35 - Fig. 2 illustrates a schematic structural diagram of an embodiment of a device according to the invention;

- Fig. 3 illustrates a structural diagram of a further embodiment of a device according to the invention;

- Fig. 4 shows another exemplary implementation of the device of Fig. 3;

5 - Figs. 5A and 5B illustrate a structural diagram of another embodiment of a device according to the invention;

- Fig. 6 illustrates a structural diagram of a further embodiment of a device according to the invention;

- Fig. 7 illustrates a mode of ion extraction provided in an embodiment of the device. 10 DETAILED DESCRIPTION

With reference to the figures, particularly to Figs. 1 and 2, a miniaturized device 1 for pressure and gas concentration measurements, over a very wide range, is described.

This device 1 comprises at least one first electro-mechanical miniaturized pressure sensor member 1 1 , configured to detect a first pressure value Pi and to generate a first i s electrical signal Si representative of the above-mentioned first pressure value Pi.

The device 1 further comprises an ionization-based detection member 19, configured to detect a second pressure value P2 and to generate a second electrical signal S2 representative of the above-mentioned second pressure value P ₂ . The ionization-based detection member 19 comprises at least one ionization source 21 , an ionization region 20, 20 ion extraction means 22 and at least one ion detector 23, configured to detect ions and generate the above-mentioned second electrical signal S2, depending on the amount of ions detected and representative of the second pressure value P ₂ .

The device 1 also comprises electronic processing means 10, which are operatively connected to the first sensor member 11 and to the ionization-based detection member 19, 25 and are configured to determine a measured pressure value P based on the above- mentioned first electrical signal Si and second electrical signal S _2.

Finally, the device 1 comprises interface means 15, operatively connected to the electronic processing means 10, and configured to output the measured pressure value P.

The first sensor member 1 1 , the ionization-based detection member 19, the electronic 30 processing means 10 and the interface means 15 are all included in a single integrated device.

It should be noted that as "integrated device" is meant herein a device that is manufactured by means of integrated micro/nano-electronic techniques and that is contained, or containable, in a single, individual package.

35 According to a preferred exemplary implementation, the device 1 is an integrated device made by means of a single chip 40 (for example shown in Fig. 3), typically made of silicon. In this case, the first sensor member 11 , the ionization-based detection member 19, the electronic processing means 10 and the interface means 15 are all included, i.e., integrated, in the single chip 40 of the integrated device 1.

5 According to a different example, also included in the invention, the device 1 comprises two half-chips, which are connected to each other also at a microscopic level.

According to other exemplary implementations, the device 1 may comprise multiple chips connected to each other also at a microscopic scale, or an individual multi-layer chip, such as to obtain anyway an integrated device.

10 Based on the above, the definition of "miniaturized device" can be also understood, i.e., a device which, by being integrated, has a size in the micrometric scale, for example of an overall order of magnitude of hundreds of μηι ² or of mm ² , which size is still lower than the minimum size that can be handled and operated, wherein such minimum size is obtained by providing the device with a suitable packaging.

i s It should be further noted that such a miniaturization not only concerns the actual sensor members (which allows the measurement range to be extended) but also the further processing and interface members belonging to the device (which contributes to improve the signal-to-noise ratio).

According to an exemplary implementation, related to a situation where the range of

20 measurable pressures is split into two measurement sub-ranges, the electronic processing means 10 of the device 1 are configured to generate the measured pressure value P as coincident with the first Pi or the second P ₂ detected pressure values (thus, based on the first or second electrical signals, Si or S2, respectively), depending on the fact that the pressure to be measured belongs to one or the other one of the measurement sub-ranges.

25 In an implementation option, the electronic processing means 10 are configured to automatically detect the measurement sub-range, based on a sequential activation of the device 1 starting from the first sensor member 1 1. Therefore, according to this option, the device can be operated in any environment, at any pressure level from 10 ^"13 mbar to 10 ⁴ mbar. Upon activation, the processing means 10 activate the first electro-mechanical sensor

30 member 11 , which is able to operate over an operating range comprising the first sub-range (for example, from 10 ^"4 mbar to 10 ⁴ mbar). If the electro-mechanical sensor member 11 generates a meaningful result (i.e., a valid value of Pi), this reveals that the environment pressure is within the first pressure sub-range, and the detected value Pi is provided in output as the result of measured pressure P. Instead, if the electro-mechanical sensor

35 member 1 1 does not generate a meaningful result, this reveals that the environment pressure is within the second pressure sub-range, and thus the electronic processing means 10 activate the ionization-based detection member 19, able to operate over an operative range comprising the second sub-range (for example, from 10 ^"13 mbar to 10 ^"4 mbar), and the value P2 detected from the latter is provided in output as the result of measured pressure P. It should be noted that the operating ranges of the sensor member 1 1 and detection member 19 can also extend beyond the first and second sub-range respectively, and can be partially overlapping.

The characteristic and the methodology described above allow using the device 1 as an almost universal pressure sensor.

According to one embodiment (for example shown in Fig. 2), the device 1 also comprises at least one second electro-mechanical miniaturized pressure sensor member 12 (which will be herein also called "reference sensor 12") arranged within a respective casing 13, suitable to seal the second sensor member 12 and configured to detect a third pressure value Pr _ef , having a function of reference pressure value, and to generate a reference electrical signal S _re f, representative of the reference pressure value P _re f. As it will be shown below, such second sensor member 12 contributes to improve the measurement precision of the device and to enable self-calibration and self-diagnostics procedures.

The first 1 1 and second 12 miniaturized electro-mechanical sensor members will be now considered in greater detail.

Each of the miniaturized electro-mechanical sensor members can be made, in principle, by using any electro-mechanical transducer, capable to provide an electrical variable representative of the detected pressure.

Particularly, the first 11 and the second sensor member 12 are configured to have a mechanical or electro-mechanical behaviour, respectively correlated to a first and a second mechanical or electro-mechanical variable (for example, position, or movement, or oscillation), depending on the pressure (Pi, P ₂ ) or on the fluid-dynamics to which the sensor member is respectively subjected.

Moreover, the first 11 and second 12 sensor members are further configured to either generate or transform the above-mentioned first electrical signal Si and reference electrical signal S _ref (representative of the first pressure value Pi and the reference pressure value Pref, respectively) based on the respective first and second mechanical or electromechanical variables that are sensible to pressure or to fluid-dynamics.

For example, the amplitude or resonance frequency or width of the spectrum peak or other electrical variables of the electrical signals Si and S ₂ can be correlated and can represent (according to perse known theoretical perspectives) a pressure value detected by the respective sensor member.

It should be noted that the two sensor members, in a preferred exemplary embodiment, are identical, and are designed to behave in the same way, based on the same principles and on the same variables.

5 In other exemplary embodiments, the two sensor members can even differ from each other, as long as the correlation of their behaviours is precisely known, such as to allow to define a "nominal behaviour" and, as it will be better explained herein below, to identify possible deviations of the first sensor member 1 1 from that "nominal behaviour".

According to a preferred exemplary embodiment, the first 1 1 and second 12 sensor

10 members are similar to each other, and each of them comprises a respective oscillating member of the M EMS/N EMS (Micro/Nano-Electro-Mechanical System) type.

Particularly, according to an implementation option, such M EMS/NEMS oscillating member comprises a micro-cantilever configured to oscillate with a dynamic response depending on the pressure to which it is subjected.

i s Therefore, in Figs. 2-4, a first micro-cantilever, that is the first sensor member, is designated as 1 1 , while a second micro-cantilever, that is the second sensor members is designated as 12; the second micro-cantilever is illustrated in a dashed line, because it is actually covered by the casing 13, in the illustrated views.

The micro-cantilever operating principle provides that the characterizing electro-

20 mechanical variable is an oscillation: the micro-cantilever oscillates with a dumping factor a depending on the pressure to which it is subjected. Therefore, it is able to generate an electrical signal (i.e., Si or S _re whose dynamic response is representative of the pressure to which the micro-cantilever is subjected. Typically, the dumping factor a is inversely proportional to the (miniaturized) thickness d of the micro-cantilever. Therefore, the

25 miniaturization of the micro-cantilever (and, generally speaking, of the sensor member) is one of the aspects that contribute to make the range of pressure values, measurable by the device of the invention, especially wide.

According to an implementation option, each of the two micro-cantilevers 1 1 , 12, is excited by applying a forcing waveform having a known frequency. The dynamic response

30 and, accordingly, the related typical parameters, like for example resonance frequency, Q factor, oscillation amplitude, depend on the pressure. For this purpose, the device may further comprise a function generator circuit or frequency generator 51 , configured to cause an input oscillation at each of the first and second micro-cantilevers, by means of an excitation signal.

35 Moreover, in this option, it is provided that the electronic processing means 10 comprise a processing unit 52 and a demodulating circuit 53, configured to estimate first and second output oscillation frequencies of the first and second micro-cantilevers, respectively, based on the frequency of either the first electrical signal Si or of the reference electrical signal S _re f, respectively, and of the excitation signal; the demodulating circuit 53 then communicates to the processing unit 52 an information related to these first and second oscillation frequencies and excitation signal frequency.

According to an implementation example, as shown in the figures, this demodulating circuit 53 is a signal "lock-in" circuit.

The example illustrated above is actually based on a double MEMS/NEMS oscillator, integrated in the device, where the two MEMS/NEMS oscillators share the frequency generation and demodulation lock-in circuit, and are instead characterized by the first and second micro-cantilevers, as the respective active member, as well as by the excitation signal as a reference.

The frequency generation circuit 51 "feeds" both micro-cantilevers 1 1 , 12, and the lock- in circuit 53 detects the output oscillation frequencies of both micro-cantilevers, thereby providing a signal depending on the comparison of these two frequencies and the reference excitation signal.

By considering the device 1 as comprising a double MEMS/NEMS oscillator, it can be understood how a plurality of pressure detection methodologies can be applied. In fact, the device can be configured to detect the pressure based on one or more characteristics of the electrical signals Si and S _re . for example, based on a variation in the oscillation frequency relative to a nominal or forcing frequency; or based on a broadening of the oscillation peak, as visible in the spectrum of each electrical signal; or further by measuring the Q factor thereof. To this purpose, it is possible to use, for example, known methodologies and correlations for the operation of micro-cantilever oscillators, among which those reported in Hosaka et al., "Damping characteristics of beam-shaped micro-oscillators", Sensors and Actuators A 49 (1995), 87-95, may be cited for example.

According to different particular exemplary embodiments, the micro-cantilevers 1 1 , 12 of the first and second sensor members are configured to oscillate in a parallel direction or in a perpendicular direction relative to the surface of the chip 40 composing the device.

The role of the reference sensor 12, within the operating procedures of the device 1 , will be described in a following part of the description.

The ionization-based detection member 19 is now considered in greater detail. It should be noted that such ionization-based detection member 19 can be considered, in some aspects, as a miniaturized and optimized mass spectrometer, in terms that will be better described herein below.

According to an implementation example, the above-mentioned ionization region 20 contains gas particles, whose pressure is to be measured, and is arranged in such a way to be crossed by ionization particles generated by the source 21 , so that the ionization particles ionize the gas particles, thereby generating respective ions.

The above-mentioned ion extraction means 22 are configured to determine a preferred trajectory for the generated ions, within the ionization region 20, towards at least one ion extraction window 31.

The above-mentioned at least one ion detector 23 has micrometric dimensions and is arranged at the respective at least one ion extraction window 31 , such as to be shielded against trajectories of X-rays generated by impacts of the ionizing electrons with parts of the ionization region 20 other than the ion detector 23.

According to an implementation example, the ionization source 21 comprises at least one electron emission source. This source can be for example an "El (Electron Ionization) Smart" source, particularly a "cold" field-effect emission source, such as a nano-tubes and/or micro-tips source; the "cold" emission source increases the ionization efficiency even at extremely low pressures. In other exemplary options, the ionization source can be a plasma (o glow) source, or a chemical ionization (CI) source, or another source, perse known, suitable to cause particle ionization according to one of the known ionization methods.

The ionization region 20 can be described as a "chamber" of microscopic dimensions, for example, parallelepiped shaped with sidewalls forming a grid 30 on which the electrons can collide and recombine. At one of the sidewalls, the ionization source 21 can be arranged, emitting particles (for example electrons) that are capable to ionize the gas particles in the "chamber", which electrons travel in an almost straight direction towards the opposite wall (grid).

The ion extraction means 22 are configured to generate suitable electromagnetic fields, such as to extract the ionized, thus charged, particles from inside the chamber and drive them, by means of electromagnetic interaction, along a desired trajectory, or preferential trajectory, passing through one or more preset exit points, where the above-mentioned one or more "extraction windows" 31 are arranged.

In different implementation examples, the extraction windows 31 can be at different points in the ionization region 20 grid.

Advantageously (as shown in Fig. 5), the extraction windows can be placed, for example, at the walls that are perpendicular relative to the wall where the ionization source 21 is located, such as to determine ion exit trajectories that are 90°-angled with respect to the electron path 33.

Other embodiments are possible, wherein the exit trajectory is 180°-angled or inclined at a different angle, relative to the electron path (see for example Figs. 2 and 3).

According to different implementation examples included in the invention, the ion extraction means 22 can be made by means of one or more ion guides 22.

Particularly, according to some implementation variants, such ion guides 22 can consist of ion extraction nozzles 22 and/or electrostatic lenses 22 and/or electrostatic sectors and/or magnetic sectors.

More particularly, the ion guides 22 can be implemented by means of a quadrupole mass filter without bias, perse known (as will be illustrated below), or by means of a radiofrequency hexapole or octupole or by an electrical or magnetic sector.

Each of the one or more ions detectors 23 can be implemented by means of a perse known detector, which is sensitive to ions colliding on its surface, and configured to generate the above-mentioned second electrical signal S2 (typically, an electrical current) proportional to the number of colliding ions. Since the number of colliding ions is proportional to the concentration of ions present in the ionization region 20, which is in turn proportional to the number of gas particles present in the ionization region 20, and thus to the pressure, it is concluded that the second electrical signal S2 generated by the ion detector 23 is representative, with great precision, of the pressure inside the ionization region.

Particularly, the ion detector 23 can be implemented by employing, on a miniaturized scale, principles used for example in known detectors of the Faraday cup, or SEM, or Channeltron types.

As already remarked above, the ion detector 23 has micrometric dimensions, i.e., dimensions having a micrometric or sub-millimetric order of magnitude. More specifically, the ion detector 23 has an impact surface whose sides (if it has a square or polygonal shape) or whose radius (if it has a circular shape) are of the order of magnitude of tens or hundreds μηι (micron) - and anyway sub-millimetric (e.g., about 100 μηι) - such that the area of the impact surface is of a micrometric order of magnitude, i.e., less than one mm ² .

It should be noted that the structure of the ionization-based detection member 19 described above allows to drastically reduce, up to almost cancel, the undesired effects due to the X-rays generated in the ionization region 20 when the electrons emitted by the source recombine on the grid 30. When such X-rays collide on the one or more ion detectors 23, they generate a spurious signal (for example, a spurious electrical current) which disturbs the correct signal (representative of the number of detected ions and thus of the pressure), generates noise, and finally reduces the instrument sensitivity. The drawbacks related to the X-rays can be reduced by means of each of the different aspect of the device described herein.

Firstly, each of the one or more ion detectors 23 is arranged outside the ionization region 20, i.e., beyond the grids 30 defining the same, and is connected to the same only by means of the one or more respective extraction windows 31 , through which the ions to be detected pass. This implies that only the minimal X-rays fraction passing through these windows (and not the totality of X-rays present in the ionization region) hits the ion detector: thus, the spurious signal generated by the X-rays and the consequent interference is reduced to a corresponding fraction. The aspect noted above is made possible by the fact that the ions can be extracted from the ionization region 20, using any geometry or angle, as shown above.

Secondly, each of the ion detectors 23 has micrometric dimensions, and the reduction of the impact surface causes a proportional reduction of the amount of impacting X-rays.

Thirdly, according to a particular implementation option, the ion extraction means 22 further comprise X-rays radiations shielding means, configured to shield the at least one ion detector with respect to X-rays, such as to reduce its exposure to X-rays. Such shielding means can be for example the same extraction lenses 22, or specifically arranged shielding nozzles.

According to an exemplary embodiment, the device 1 further comprises magnetic field generation means 32 (for example, a magnet, or a ferromagnetic material member), configured to generate a magnetic field such as to affect the trajectory of the ionizing electrons in a desired way. For example, this trajectory can be made helicoidal.

The role of the reference sensor 12, enclosed in the sealing and protective casing 13, will be now considered. According to an exemplary implementation, the casing 13 is configured to adopt a closed state and an open state: in the closed state, it protects the at least one second sensor member 12 from being directly exposed to the surrounding environment; in the open state, it allows the at least one second sensor member to be directly exposed to the surrounding environment.

When the casing 13 is closed and sealed, it encloses the second sensor member 12, thus protecting it from degradation phenomena possibly resulting from environmental conditions, and at the same time keeping fixed pressure conditions, stabilized on a known value (the above-mentioned "reference pressure" value P _re f) which is a certain and absolute reference point defined a priori. Thereby, the second sensor member 12 keeps the "nominal behaviour", for which it has been carefully characterized a priori, with a good or excellent accuracy. Thus, the second sensor member takes the important function of "reference sensor", having a stable and anyway predictable behaviour, even during operation.

In greater detail, all the electro-mechanical or mechatronic properties of the second reference sensor member 12 are known, since they have been characterized a priori with respect to the reference pressure, for example, as a function of operating temperature, 5 oscillation frequency, oscillation amplitude, and so on; and they have been further stored in a memory included in the electronic processing means 10.

From a mathematical point of view, the characterization data of the reference sensor 12 actually define a "reference hypersurface" allowing to know exactly the mechatronic properties of the sensor member and the operating conditions (for example, operating 10 temperature), based on the reference electrical signal S _re f generated by the reference sensor 12, and being known the reference pressure to which it is subjected inside the sealed casing.

Therefore, when the processing means 10 receive an electrical signal S _re f from the reference sensor 12, they refer it to the known reference pressure value P _re f, as maintained inside the sealed casing 13, and thus, based on the stored characterization data, the i s processing means 10 can know both the mechatronic properties and the operating conditions of the reference sensor 12. Consequently, the processing means 10 are also able to calculate the exact conversion factor existing between S _re f and P _re f (which will be herein designated as "reference conversion factor").

It should be noted that the operating conditions of the reference sensor 12 are 20 essentially the same conditions, except for the pressure, that are undergone by the first electro-mechanic sensor member 11 and by the ionization-based detection member 19, which members are very close to each other in the device 1.

Thus, when the first electro-mechanic sensor member 11 is active, the processing means 10 are able to calculate a suitable conversion factor (which will be herein designated 25 as "first conversion factor", or "first calibration factor") to be applied to the signal Si generated by the first sensor member 1 1 , in order to calculate exactly the pressure value P to which the first sensor member 11 , thus the device 1 , is subjected, i.e., the value to be measured.

Similarly, when the ionization-based detection member 19 is active, the processing 30 means 10 are able to calculate another suitable conversion factor (which will be herein designated "second conversion factor" or "second calibration factor") to be applied to the signal S2 generated by the ionization-based detection member 19, in order to calculate exactly the pressure value P to which this detection member 19, thus the device 1 , is subjected, i.e., the value to be measured.

35 The first and second conversion factors are indeed correlated in a deterministic and known manner (because of the initial characterization) to the reference conversion factor.

Briefly, due to the fact of receiving information both from the reference sensor 12, on one hand, and from the first sensor member 11 or from the ionization-based detection member 19, on the other hand, the processing means 10 are capable in any case to estimate more accurately the actual pressure present at the device, i.e., the measured pressure P, taking into account both the reference electrical signal S _ref , on one hand, and the first Si or second S2 electrical signals, on the other hand.

It should be also noted that, according to an implementation option, the device includes a plurality of reference sensor members 12 to detect a respective plurality of reference pressure values P _ref , and the electronic processing means 10 are further configured to generate the measured pressure value P based on a processing of the detected reference pressure values P _re f. The plurality of "reference sensors" can be exploited both to improve the estimate precision and for the sake of redundancy and reliability.

The operation described above is carried out both upon activation of the device 1 and during the normal operating cycle; thus, such operation actually carries out an "initial self- calibration" and a "running calibration" procedure, which the device is able to perform.

Moreover, according to a further implementation example, the electronic processing means 10 are configured to process data received from the first sensor member 1 1 or from the detection member 19, on the one side, and by the reference sensor 12, on the other side. The electronic processing means 10 are further configured, based on the received data, to carry out a diagnostic procedure on the first sensor member 11 , such as to identify potential hysteresis phenomena and/or imperfections and/or potential thermal and/or mechanical drifts which the first sensor member is subject to, and/or a diagnostic procedure of the ionization- based detection member 19, such as to identify possible performances degradation phenomena which the ionization-based detection member is subject to.

More precisely, when the pressure existing in the environment of the device is known, and is equal to the reference pressure, the signals Si or S2, on the one side, and the reference signal S _re f, on the other side, are compared.

In this case, if the difference between the reference signal S _re f and the electrical signal Si (or S ₂ depending on the case) is a relatively small quantity, less than a preset threshold, it means that the first sensor member 11 (or the ionization-based detection member 19, respectively) works well, and diagnostics have a positive outcome; possibly, the detected difference is compensated by acting on the above-mentioned first conversion factor (or second conversion factor, respectively), in a way similar to what described above about the calibration. On the other hand, if the difference between the reference signal S _re f and the electrical signal Si (or S ₂ depending on the case) is a relatively significant quantity, for example larger than the above-mentioned threshold, diagnostics have a negative outcome, and a mere calibration compensation is not sufficient anymore.

According to an implementation example, the device 1 is capable to carry out a diagnostic procedure even if the pressure of the external environment is not known, or if it does not coincide with the reference pressure, as long as this pressure is within the operation range of the reference sensor 12. In this example, the casing 13 is temporarily opened, such as to temporarily expose the second sensor member 12 to the same environment to which the first sensor member 1 1 and the ionization-based detection member 19 are exposed. Then, the diagnostic procedure is performed, and finally the casing 13 is closed and sealed again and the reference pressure conditions are restored, for example by means of an embedded "getter".

In case a plurality of second sensor members 12 are provided, it is possible to keep one of them always closed and sealed, under reference pressure conditions.

In case the diagnostic yields a negative outcome, according to a further exemplary option, the electronic processing means 10 are further configured to carry out an adjusting procedure of the device 1 , based on the results of said diagnostic procedure. This adjustment procedure includes an adjusting and/or compensation and/or optimization procedure of the first sensor member 1 1 , to correct and/or compensate hysteresis phenomena and/or imperfections and/or identified drifts, and also an adjusting and/or compensation and/or optimization procedure on the ionization-based detection member to correct and/or compensate performance degradation phenomena.

It should be noted that, in other implementation examples, the adjustment can be performed also based on optimization procedures directly operating on the electrical/electronic variables on which the detection mechanism is based.

The advantage of having available in the device 1 a diagnostic procedure, which is actually a "self-diagnostic", is evident. The further advantage of having available the consequent adjusting (or recalibration) procedure, which is actually a "self-adjusting", is also evident.

Only if even this "self-adjusting" procedure fails to restore proper operating conditions, a failure signal is sent from the electronic processing means 10 towards the higher level system controllers.

In order to allow the adjusting procedure, the device 1 further comprises controlled heating means, comprising one or more temperature sensors 61 , e.g., miniaturized thermometer(s), and at least one heating member 62 (for example, one or more micro- resistors), placed near and/or over the first sensor member 11 and the ionization-based detection member 19, and a heat supply (or "heater") 63. The heating member 62 is configured to carry out a degassing and/or a removal of gases adsorbed on the surface of 5 the micro-cantilever 11 of the first sensor member 11 , and in suitable portions of the ionization-based detection member 19. This is done under the control of the electronic processing means 10, which in turn operate based on the temperature detected by the thermometer 61 and on the results of the diagnostic procedure.

In this case, the above-mentioned adjusting procedure of the first sensor member 11

10 comprises the degassing and/or removal of gases adsorbed on the micro-cantilever 11 surface, by means of the controlled heating means. The above-mentioned adjusting procedure of the ionization-based detection member 19 comprises the degassing and/or removal of gases adsorbed in portions of the ionization-based detection member 19, by means of the controlled heating means.

i s It should be noticed that the above-mentioned heat supply 63 can be used to vary the operating thermal conditions of the device, in a controlled manner, also in operating steps other than self-adjusting.

According to an exemplary implementation, the device 1 further comprises specific protection technical thin films configured to reduce the adsorption of the process gases (for

20 example, hydrophobic films to prevent the adsorption of moisture present in the process environment) and to prevent corrosion phenomena. These protection thin films are arranged such as to cover at least the first sensor member 1 1 and the ionization-based detection member 19.

According to a further exemplary embodiment, the device further comprises a package 25 80 comprising micrometric frame filters, and/or anti-particulate filters, arranged such as to cover at least the sensor members 11 , 12, and the ionization-based detection member 19 included in the device 1 , and configured to protect them from particulate or soot. This option is particularly advantageous when the device 1 is intended to be used in industrial environments.

30 The example described here is shown in the exploded view of Fig. 4, with reference to an embodiment of the device 1 , but it can be also applied in embodiments illustrated in Figs. 5A, 5B and 6.

According to an implementation option, the electronic processing means 10 comprise at least one electronic processor (CPU) 52 integrated in the device 1. This CPU can then 35 operate as an embedded on-chip programmable microprocessor. According to an implementation example, the interface means 15 comprise input and output means, wireless or wired and/or with pins. As a whole, this interface can interact with the external world (for example with an external plant control system) in a versatile and adaptable manner, both to transmit and to receive information and/or signals and/or commands.

According to an implementation option, the interface means 15 comprise both wired input means 71 and a wireless transmitter 70 (for example a WiFi transmitter), to remotely transmit signals from closed operation areas (such as pump internal zones, process and measurement systems), and output pins 72 able to provide for example an direct analog output signal and/or a digital TTL output signal and/or an interface for a serial communication protocol.

The presence of a CPU 52 and of an interface 15, integrated in the device, allows the device 1 to receive and send information (for example, control signals) from and to a higher- level control system, for example the operative plant/environment control system where the device operates. Thereby, the device 1 is completely integrated in the operative plant/environment.

According to an exemplary implementation option, the device 1 comprises further integrated electronic circuitry, comprising one or more of the following electronics circuits: dedicated I/O management circuits, a supply and management circuit 64 (connected to an external supply interface 65) of the heating member, a management circuit 67 of the detection member (comprising a voltage supply connected to the ionization-based detection member 19 parts that require to be kept to controllable voltages), a processing circuit 66 of the signal coming from the at least one ion detector 23 of the detection member (comprising inter alia a current/voltage converter).

Several "auxiliary" electronic circuits, optionally present in the device 1 (frequency generator 51 , lock-in circuit 52, heater 53, dedicated I/O management circuits, management circuits 67 of the detection member, etc.) have been illustrated above. These auxiliary electronic circuits are integrated in the device 1. Optionally, they can be made in the same chip containing the sensor members, the processing means and the interface means, or in further chips, micro-connected to the above-mentioned main chip, such as to constitute the integrated device.

Referring to the structural aspects of the device, particularly to the case where it comprises one chip only, three different embodiments are illustrated in Figs. 3, 5A-5B and 6 by way of example. These different embodiments share all the components and the structural aspects previously described, and therefore they are illustrated using the same numerical references.

The embodiments differ in the way the components are arranged in the device, particularly in the single chip 40 comprised in the device.

In the embodiment illustrated in Fig. 3, the first 11 and second 12 sensor members and 5 the ionization-based detection member 19, as well as said electronic processing means 10, are arranged on a same side of the chip constituting the device.

In another embodiment, the first sensor member 1 1 and the detection member 19 are arranged on one side of the chip, while the electronic processing means 10 (and optionally the reference sensor member 12) are arranged on the other side of the chip forming the 10 device. This is illustrated in Fig. 5A (showing one side of the chip) and 5B (showing the other side of the chip).

Such embodiment offers the advantage of segregating the heating members with respect to the other components of the device, reducing the heat dissipation issues. Moreover, the other components are placed on the side of chip 40 faced towards higher i s pressure or atmospheric pressure, such as they can be more easily cooled.

In the embodiment illustrated in Fig. 6, the first 11 and second 12 sensor members, the ionization-based detection member 19, and the electronic processing means 10 are arranged such as to project as a relief, on different planes, with respect to the surface of the chip 40 composing the device.

20 Further embodiments, also included in the invention, can be made by arranging the above-mentioned members of the device in any combination on either side of the chip 40.

As already remarked, the device 1 described above is able to detect pressure values between 10 ^"13 mbar and 10 ⁴ mbar, wherein the first pressure sub-range comprises for example pressures between 10 ^"4 mbar and 10 ⁴ mbar and the second pressure sub-range 25 comprises for example pressures between 10 ^"13 mbar and 10 ^"4 mbar.

Now, it will be considered the case wherein the device 1 detects very low level pressures, and, in these conditions, it is desired to perform a Gas Analysis or Residual Gas Analysis function.

For this purpose, according to one embodiment, the device 1 is configured to provide 30 also partial pressure measurements of several gases possibly present in the rarefied air contacting the ionization-based detection member 19.

In this embodiment, the ionization-based detection member 19 comprises at least one ion selective filtering member, which is configured to shield the at least one ion detector from all the ions but one respective selected ion, in such a way that the at least one ion detector 35 measures the partial pressure related to such selected ion. According to an exemplary implementation, the filtering member is a filtering member that can be tuned to select and sequentially send different types of ions on a same ion detector, so that such ion detector sequentially measures the partial pressure of the different selected ions, such as to perform a Gas Analysis or Residual Gas Analysis function.

5 According to one particular implementation option, the ionization-based detection member 19 comprises a plurality of additional ion detectors to detect a respective plurality of ions. The plurality of additional ion detectors can be coupled with a respective plurality of ion selective filtering members, or with only one, each of them being configured to shield the respective ion detector from all the ions but a respective selected ion, so that the device 10 operates both as a meter of total pressure, and as a meter of partial pressure related to each one of the plurality of selected ions, thereby performing a Gas Analysis or Residual Gas Analysis function.

In a particular implementation example, each of the at least one ion selective filtering member comprises a quadrupole mass filter, according to operation principles perse known i s (described for example in Reinhard - von Zahn, "Das elektrische Massenfilter als Massenspektrometer und Isotopentrenner" Zs. Physik, 152, (1958), 143-182; or in Greaves, "Vacuum mass spectrometry", Vacuum, 20, (1970), 65-74).

In other implementation examples, the filtering member comprises electrical sectors and/or magnetic sectors.

20 In other terms, the device 1 , based on the basic structure illustrated at the beginning of this description, can be advantageously adapted such as to also become a device for performing Gas Analysis or Residual Gas Analysis, substantially operating on the ion extraction means 23, and applying theories perse known in the mass spectrometry field.

The above-mentioned filter members, when made by means of quadrupole filters, are

25 driven by voltages, having different amplitudes and waveforms, for example having a DC amplitude value U, and/or a superimposed oscillation amplitude value V and a superimposed oscillation frequency ω. By operating on these variables, for example, different trajectories or speeds can be imposed, in a controlled manner, to the various kinds of ions, mainly depending on their mass.

30 Thus, it is possible make sure that only a desired type of ions, or any subset of ions, or all the ions, once extracted through the extraction windows 31 , have a trajectory allowing them to collide on the ion detectors 23. In this way, it is possible to obtain, in a controlled manner, according to what is desired, total pressure measurements, partial pressure of each of different ions, and Gas Analysis or Residual Gas Analysis.

35 Moreover, by varying the above-mentioned electrical variables V, U, ω in a controlled and desired manner over time, it is possible to carry out sequentially a series of different measurements, thus progressively tuning the device to measure ions of different type and mass.

A method for measuring pressure over a very wide pressure range, carried out by 5 means of a device 1 according to the invention, is now described.

This method comprises the steps of automatically detecting an operative pressure measurement range, by electronic means 10 of the device 1 , based on a sequential turning on of a first sensor member 1 1 of the device 1 , configured to measure pressures within a first sub-range, and of a ionization-based detection member 19 of the device 1 , configured to 10 measure pressures within a second sub-range.

If the detected operative range is the first sub-range, then the method comprises the step of detecting a first pressure value Pi and generating a first electrical signal Si representative of the first pressure value Pi, by the first sensor member 11 of the device 1.

On the other hand, if the detected operative range is the second sub-range, the i s method comprises the step of detecting a second pressure value P2 and generating a second electrical signal S2 representative of the second pressure value P2, by the ionization- based detection member 19.

The method then comprises the step of determining, by the electronic processing means 10, a measured pressure value P based on the above-mentioned first or second 20 electrical signals, Si and S2; and finally of providing in output the measured pressure value P,, by the interface means 15 of the device 1.

The above-mentioned first sensor member 1 1 , ionization-based detection member 19, electronic processing means 10 and interface means 15 are included in an single integrated device.

25 According to an exemplary implementation, the method further comprises the steps of storing, in the electronic processing means 10, characterization data of at least a further reference sensor member 12 of the device 1 , at a reference pressure P2; then, maintaining the further reference sensor member 12 at the reference pressure P2, inside a casing 13; calibrating the first sensor member 1 1 , the ionization-based detection member 19 and the

30 further reference sensor member 12, by means of the electronic processing means 10, based on a reference electrical signal S _re f generated by the reference sensor member 12 and based on the above-mentioned characterization data.

As it can be seen, the object of the present invention is achieved by the system described above, by virtue of the illustrated characteristics.

35 First of all, from what has been described above, it is apparent that the device of the present invention is a miniaturized device capable of maintaining high precision and reliability performances, and moreover capable of measuring pressures within a very wide range of at least 18 orders of magnitude, from 10 ^"13 mbar to 10 ⁴ mbar, thus becoming an almost universal single device for pressure measurements.

It is also important to observe that, due to the structural and functional characteristics of the device, it proves to be self-contained, because it is capable of self-calibration and self- diagnostics. The device is able to deal with, and correct to a certain extent, the several degradation causes which may actually arise and which would worsen the device performances, by affecting the sensor members.

Moreover, the device allows, as illustrated above, to manage microscopic signals at microscopic level, with the consequent further advantage of improving the achievable signal- to-noise ratios.

Finally, as described above, the device of the invention allows advantageously to obtain both total pressure measurements and partial pressure measurements, in low and very low pressure conditions, and to also perform Gas Analysis or Residual Gas Analysis functions.

To the embodiments of the miniaturized device for pressure measurements described above, those skilled in the art, in order to meet contingent needs, can carry out modifications, adaptations and replacements of elements with others functionally equivalent also in conjunction with the prior art, also by creating hybrid implementations, without departing from scope of the following claims. Each of the characteristics described as belonging to a possible embodiment can be carried out independently of the other embodiments described herein. It should be also noted that the term "comprising" does not exclude other elements or steps, the term "a" does not exclude a plurality. Furthermore, the figures are not necessarily in scale; on the contrary, relevance is given to the illustration of the principles of the present invention.