US 12,292,316 B2
Sensor apparatus
David B. Kane, Richmond, VA (US); Yezdi B. Pithawalla, Richmond, VA (US); Srinivasan Janardhan, Glen Allen, VA (US); and Gerd Kobal, Sandy Hook, VA (US)
Assigned to Altria Client Services LLC, Richmond, VA (US)
Filed by Altria Client Services LLC, Richmond, VA (US)
Filed on Mar. 12, 2024, as Appl. No. 18/602,737.
Application 18/602,737 is a continuation of application No. 18/189,346, filed on Mar. 24, 2023, granted, now 11,953,354.
Application 18/189,346 is a continuation of application No. 17/329,539, filed on May 25, 2021, granted, now 11,629,981, issued on Apr. 18, 2023.
Application 17/329,539 is a continuation of application No. 15/858,287, filed on Dec. 29, 2017, granted, now 11,035,704, issued on Jun. 15, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2024/0219213 A1, Jul. 4, 2024
Int. Cl. G01F 1/42 (2006.01); A24C 5/34 (2006.01); A24F 40/485 (2020.01); A24F 40/51 (2020.01); A24F 40/65 (2020.01); A24F 40/80 (2020.01); G01F 1/34 (2006.01); G01F 1/36 (2006.01); H05B 3/44 (2006.01); A24F 40/10 (2020.01)
CPC G01F 1/42 (2013.01) [A24C 5/3406 (2013.01); A24F 40/485 (2020.01); A24F 40/51 (2020.01); A24F 40/65 (2020.01); A24F 40/80 (2020.01); G01F 1/34 (2013.01); G01F 1/363 (2013.01); H05B 3/44 (2013.01); A24F 40/10 (2020.01)] 16 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A sensor apparatus, comprising:
a housing defining a channel structure including an inlet, an outlet, and an inner surface defining a fluid conduit extending from the inlet to the outlet through an interior of the channel structure, the fluid conduit not including a restriction in a diameter of the fluid conduit, the channel structure configured to couple with an external element, such that the channel structure is configured to
receive a fluid drawn through the external element at the inlet, the fluid at least partially drawn through the external element from an ambient environment that is external to the fluid conduit, and
direct the fluid through the fluid conduit; and
a single, individual sensor device in hydrodynamic contact with the fluid conduit and not restricting the fluid conduit, the single, individual sensor device configured to measure a local pressure at a single location that is in hydrodynamic contact with the fluid conduit at separate points in time over at least a period of time,
wherein the housing defines
a cavity space within an interior of the sensor apparatus and separate from the fluid conduit, the single, individual sensor device located in the cavity space, and
a conduit extending between the fluid conduit and the cavity space, such that a portion of the cavity space proximate to the single, individual sensor device and separate from the fluid conduit is in hydrodynamic contact with at least at a portion of the fluid conduit that is proximate to an interface between the conduit and the fluid conduit.