Three-axis inertial sensor for detecting linear acceleration forces
First Claim
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1. An inertial sensor comprising:
- a proof mass spaced apart from a planar surface of a substrate, said proof mass having a first section and a second section, said first section having a first mass that is greater than a second mass of said second section;
an anchor coupled to said planar surface of said substrate; and
a spring system interconnected between said anchor and said first and second sections of said proof mass, said spring system being configured to enable translational motion of said first and second sections of said proof mass in response to linear acceleration forces imposed on said inertial sensor in any of three orthogonal directions.
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Abstract
An inertial sensor includes a proof mass spaced apart from a surface of a substrate. The proof mass has a first section and a second section, where the first section has a first mass that is greater than a second mass of the second section. An anchor is coupled to the surface of the substrate and a spring system is interconnected between the anchor and the first and second sections of the proof mass. The spring system enables translational motion of the first and second sections of the proof mass in response to linear acceleration forces imposed on the inertial sensor in any of three orthogonal directions.
13 Citations
20 Claims
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1. An inertial sensor comprising:
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a proof mass spaced apart from a planar surface of a substrate, said proof mass having a first section and a second section, said first section having a first mass that is greater than a second mass of said second section; an anchor coupled to said planar surface of said substrate; and a spring system interconnected between said anchor and said first and second sections of said proof mass, said spring system being configured to enable translational motion of said first and second sections of said proof mass in response to linear acceleration forces imposed on said inertial sensor in any of three orthogonal directions. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. An inertial sensor comprising:
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a proof mass spaced apart from a planar surface of a substrate, said proof mass having a first section, a second section, a third section, and a fourth section, said third section diagonally opposing said first section relative to a center point of said proof mass, said fourth section diagonally opposing said second section relative to said center point, and each of said first and third sections having a first mass that is greater than a second mass of each of said second and fourth sections; a first anchor coupled to said planar surface of said substrate; a second anchor coupled to said planar surface of said substrate; a first spring system interconnected between said first anchor and said first and second sections of said proof mass; and a second spring system interconnected between said second anchor and said third and fourth sections of said proof mass, wherein said first and second spring systems are configured to enable translational motion of said first, second, third, and fourth sections of said proof mass in response to linear acceleration forces imposed on said inertial sensor in any of three orthogonal directions. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. An inertial sensor comprising:
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a proof mass spaced apart from a planar surface of a substrate, said proof mass having a first section and a second section, said first section having a first mass that is greater than a second mass of said second section; an anchor coupled to said planar surface of said substrate; and a spring system comprising; a first spring element; a rotational beam having a first beam end and a second beam end, said first spring element interconnecting said anchor and a midpoint of said rotational beam, said midpoint being centered between said first and second beam ends; a second spring element interconnecting said first beam end of said rotational beam and said first section of said proof mass; and a third spring element interconnecting said second beam end of said rotational beam and said second section said proof mass, wherein; in response to a first linear acceleration force in a first direction substantially parallel to said planar surface, said spring structure is configured to enable said first and second sections of said proof mass to undergo translational motion in said first direction and in anti-phase relative to one another; in response to a second acceleration force in a second direction substantially parallel to said planar surface and orthogonal to said first direction, said spring structure is configured to enable said first and second sections of said proof mass to undergo said translational motion in said second direction and in-phase relative to one another; and in response to a third acceleration force in a third direction normal to said planar surface of said substrate, said spring structure is configured to enable said first and second sections of said proof mass to undergo said translational motion in said third direction and in anti-phase relative to one another. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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Specification