Stanley J Lukasiewicz

US Patent:

6487911, Dec 3, 2002

Filed:

Nov 21, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/717763

Inventors:

Peter H. Frackelton - Rumford RI
Stanley J. Lukasiewicz - North Attleboro MA

Assignee:

Texas Instruments Incorporated - Dallas TX

International Classification:

G01L 700

US Classification:

73718, 73714

Abstract:

A fluid pressure sensor ( ) has a generally polyhedron configured capacitive transducer ( ) electrically connected to a flexible circuit using interference fit U-shaped edge connectors ( ). The flexible circuit ( ) is received in an electronics chamber formed in a top end of a base member ( ) with the corners of the transducer disposed on the face surface ( ) of the top. A cover ( ) is formed with a circular fluid pressure opening ( ) through which a sealing gasket ( ) extends, the gasket having tabs ( ) received in a seat ( ) formed in the bottom surface of the top wall ( ) of the cover. A transducer receiving seat ( ) is also formed in the bottom surface of the cover for placement of transducer ( ). The cover is formed with opposing legs ( ) which interfit with notches ( ) in the base and a third leg ( ) slidingly received in a slot formed in the base through which conductive tails ( ) of the flexible circuit ( ) extend for electrical engagement with a hexport ( ) slidingly received over the cover and top portion of the base member.

US Patent:

57405948, Apr 21, 1998

Filed:

Jul 22, 1996

Appl. No.:

8/681252

Inventors:

Stanley J. Lukasiewicz - North Attleboro MA
Vishwa N. Shukla - North Attleboro MA
Allan J. Siuzdak - Cumberland RI

Assignee:

Texas Instruments Incorporated - Dallas TX

International Classification:

H01G 516

US Classification:

29 2541

Abstract:

A capacitive fluid pressure transducer is shown formed of a monolithic ceramic body (10) having a cavity located between a diaphragm portion (12) and a base portion (14). Opposed capacitor plates (22, 24) are disposed on opposed surfaces of the diaphragm portion and the base portion. The capacitor plates (22, 24) are formed of palladium oxide/silver having a ratio selected to create a fluid pressure level in the cavity as a result of oxygen evolution incident to the reduction of palladium oxide during the sintering cycle to offset the tendency of the diaphragm to bow inwardly due to shrinkage mismatch of the metal and ceramic materials.

US Patent:

54853451, Jan 16, 1996

Filed:

Nov 14, 1994

Appl. No.:

8/339039

Inventors:

Stanley J. Lukasiewicz - North Attleboro MA
Robert P. Bishop - Pembroke MA
Robert O. Southworth - Pawtucket RI
Keith W. Kawate - Attleboro Falls MA

Assignee:

Texas Instruments Incorporated - Dallas TX

International Classification:

H01G 700
G01L 912

US Classification:

3612833

Abstract:

A monolithic capacitive differential pressure transducer (10, 44,) is shown composed of ceramic material having first and second cavities formed adjacent to opposed face surfaces to form first and second flexible diaphragms (12, 14; 50, 52) and a motion transfer pin (24, 58) attached to and extending between the diaphragms. Capacitor plates are disposed on a surface of at least one flexible diaphragm and a stationary member to form a capacitive gap. Component parts are first pressed from ceramic powder and assembled into a unit using one of several methods including relatively high pressure to press them together or using a combination of low pressure along with raising the temperature of the material to soften the binder in the ceramic material at surfaces of the parts which are to be joined together. Selected gaps, both along the x-y direction and along the z direction may be obtained, particularly in assembling the parts using high pressure using consumable spacer material which is sublimated in a debinderization cycle prior to sintering of the unit to form a monolithic body.

US Patent:

50380699, Aug 6, 1991

Filed:

Nov 9, 1987

Appl. No.:

7/118374

Inventors:

Stanley Lukasiewicz - Rumford RI
Charles M. Anastasia - Barrington RI
Lawrence E. Cooper - Attleboro MA
Gregg W. Pestana - Attleboro MA

Assignee:

Texas Instruments Incorporated - Dallas TX

International Classification:

H01L 4108

US Classification:

310338

Abstract:

A presure sensor for providing an electrical signal corresponding to pressure in a cylinder of an automotive engine has a rigid load-spreading element rigidly secured to a first surface of a ceramic piezoelectric body by a rigid bonding material precisely conformed to the first surface to be in substantially uniform load-transferring relation to all parts of the first body surface, has a rigid support member rigidly secured to a parallel, opposite surface of the ceramic piezoelectric body by a rigid bonding material precisely conformed to the opposite surface to be in substantially uniform load-transferring relation to all parts of the opposite body surface to form a piezoelectric unit and has a peripheral part of the rigid support member precisely mounted with an interference fit in a bore in a metal component of a mounting structure so that the body of a piezoelectric material and the load-spreading element extend in a cantilever relation at a precisely determined location to be engaged by force applied through a diaphragm in response to an applied pressure to provide an electrical signal precisely corresponding to the pressure.

US Patent:

54991587, Mar 12, 1996

Filed:

Nov 14, 1994

Appl. No.:

8/339038

Inventors:

Robert P. Bishop - Pembroke MA
Paul L. Hainey - Douglas MA
Stanley J. Lukasiewicz - North Attleboro MA
Allan J. Siuzdak - Cumberland RI
Robert E. Luminello - Johnston RI
Vishwa N. Shukla - North Attleboro MA

Assignee:

Texas Instruments Incorporated - Dallas TX

International Classification:

H01G 700

US Classification:

3612834

Abstract:

A monolithic capacitive pressure transducer (12) is shown composed of ceramic material having a first closed cavity (12) separated from a surface thereof by a flexible wall member and a second closed cavity (16) defined by rigid wall members. Capacitor plates (32, 36; 40, 44) are formed on two opposed surfaces defining each cavity. Vias (33, 37; 41, 45) are formed extending from the capacitor plates to permit electrical connection therewith. The transducer is made by separately forming under pressure a diaphragm (20) and first and second base portions (22, 30) having recesses (24) in the top and bottom surfaces using ceramic powder coated with an organic binder. A metal layer is deposited on the pieces which are then joined together to form a single unit. A spacer (26) may be inserted in the recesses to ensure that a predetermined gap is maintained in each cavity during the joining operation. The parts are then debinderized by heating to a first temperature level to allow the binder organics, as well as the spacer organics if a spacer is employed, to be vaporized and/or decomposed and removed through the open pores of the diaphragm and base.

US Patent:

53688341, Nov 29, 1994

Filed:

Aug 13, 1993

Appl. No.:

8/106259

Inventors:

Bernard M. Kulwicki - North Attleboro MA
David F. Lynch - Attleboro MA
Stanley J. Lukasiewicz - Rumford RI

Assignee:

Texas Instruments Incorporated - Dallas TX

International Classification:

C01G 2300

US Classification:

423598

Abstract:

Titanate ceramic materials are made by forming a common solution (10) of barium acetate, strontium acetate, isopropyl titanate, lactic acid and water, forming a mist of particles of approximately 50 um or smaller, directing a carrier stream of gas (14) through the mist into a reaction zone in a furnace (20) where the material is pyrolyzed and then collected as a powder in a filter (24) or deposited onto a substrate. The tetra-isopropyl titanate and lactic acid may be replaced by commercially available titanium ammonium lactate. In a first embodiment the carrier gas is an oxidizing gas while in a second embodiment it is an inert gas resulting in powder having greater density.

US Patent:

51266172, Jun 30, 1992

Filed:

Aug 2, 1991

Appl. No.:

7/739590

Inventors:

Stanley J. Lukasiewicz - Rumford RI
Charles M. Anastasia - Barrington RI
Lawrence E. Cooper - Attleboro MA
Gregg W. Pestana - Attleboro MA

Assignee:

Texas Instruments Incorporated - Dallas TX

International Classification:

H01L 4108

US Classification:

310338

Abstract:

A pressure sensor for providing an electrical signal corresponding to pressure in a cylinder of an automotive engine has a rigid load-spreading element rigidly secured to a first surface of a ceramic piezoelectric body by a rigid bonding material precisely conformed to the first surface to be in substantially uniform load-transferring relation to all parts of the first body surface, has a rigid support member rigidly secured to a parallel, opposite surface of the ceramic piezoelectric body by a rigid bonding material precisely conformed to the opposite surface to be in substantially uniform load-transferring relation to all parts of the opposite body surface to form a piezoelectric unit, and has a peripheral part of the rigid support member precisely mounted with an interference fit in a bore in a metal component of a mounting structure so that the body of piezoelectric material and the load-spreading element extend in cantilever relation at a precisely determined location to be engaged by force applied through a diaphragm in response to an applied pressure to provide an electrical signal precisely corresponding to the pressure.

US Patent:

55252800, Jun 11, 1996

Filed:

Apr 7, 1994

Appl. No.:

8/224219

Inventors:

Vishwa N. Shukla - North Attleboro MA
Stanley J. Lukasiewicz - Rumford RI
Francois A. Padovani - Westwood MA

Assignee:

Texas Instruments Incorporated - Dallas TX

International Classification:

B32B 3112
B32B 3126
C04B 3332
G01L 912

US Classification:

264 59

Abstract:

A monolithic capacitive pressure transducer is shown composed of ceramic material having a closed cavity formed near a surface thereof and having capacitor plates formed on two opposed surfaces defining the cavity. Vias are formed extending from the capacitor plates to permit electrical connection therewith. The transducer is made by separately forming under pressure a diaphragm and a base having a recess in the top surface using ceramic powder coated with an organic binder. A metal layer is deposited on the two pieces and the pieces are then joined together to form a single unit. A spacer may be inserted in the recess to ensure that a predetermined gap is maintained between the two parts during the joining operation. The parts are then debinderized by heating in air to a first temperature level to allow the binder organics, as well as the spacer organics if a spacer is employed, to be vaporized and/or decomposed and removed through the open pores of the diaphragm and base. The unit is then brought up to a sintering temperature in a reducing atmosphere to change it into a monolithic body and to convert the metallized layer into a conductive layer bonded to the ceramic.