I have a pressure/temperature sensor for a vehicle, which I decided to tear apart to see exactly how the sensor works.
This sensor as designed by the manufacturer it is meant to be immersed in oil to detect fluid temperature. The pressure sensor side of it seems pretty straight forward in that there is a hole in the sensor physical body and a PCB.
I am stuck on how the temperature sensor works in this specific sensor, if you look at the picture I attached the entire PCB is covered in a glue like substance I am guessing to insulate it from the oil. The temperature sensor is covered in some sort of cement like substance and is bonded only to a metal rod.
I am a little loss as to how the temperature sensor would be able to detect change in the fluid temperature if there is all the insulation glue on the board isolating the sensor from any fluid. My only guess is the metal rod acts to conduct heat towards the temperature sensor on the PCB. So to prove this I have tried measuring the temperature signal via a pin on the sensor and oscilloscope. I've immersed the sensor in oil, raised the heat of the oil and applied the proper 5 V to the sensor. For some reason the temperature signal will stay only at 1.3 V regardless of oil temperature.
I am beginning to think maybe the sensor can only read the temperature with a pressurized fluid, and not just sitting in fluid. Any input is appreciated thanks