Capacitance type physical quantity sensor

• US 20040231421A1
• Filed: 04/29/2004
• Published: 11/25/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/22/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Original Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Inventors: Ohara, Junji, Yamamoto, Toshimasa, Teshigahara, Akihiko, Yoshioka, Tetsuo, Kano, Kazuhiko, Takeuchi, Yukihiro
• Granted Patent: US 7,201,053 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 73/514.32
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 15/0802 Details
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 15/125 by capacitive pick-up
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 2015/0814 for translational movement of the mass, e.g. shuttle type

Abstract

A capacitance type physical quantity sensor detects physical quantity. The sensor includes a movable portion including a movable electrode and a fixed portion including a fixed electrode. The fixed electrode includes a detection surface facing a detection surface of the movable electrode. The movable electrode is movable toward the fixed electrode in accordance with the physical quantity so that a distance between the detection surfaces is changeable. At least one of the movable and the fixed electrodes includes a groove. The groove is disposed on a top or a bottom of the one of the movable and the fixed electrodes, has a predetermined depth from the top or the bottom, and extends from the detection surface to an opposite surface.

Claims

1. A capacitance type physical quantity sensor for detecting physical quantity, the sensor comprising:

a movable portion including a movable electrode; and

a fixed portion including a fixed electrode;

wherein the movable electrode includes a detection surface,

wherein the fixed electrode includes a detection surface facing the detection surface of the movable electrode,

wherein the movable electrode is movable toward or against the fixed electrode in accordance with the physical quantity applied to the sensor so that a distance between the detection surfaces of the movable and the fixed electrodes is changeable,

wherein at least one of the movable and the fixed electrodes includes a groove, and

wherein the groove is disposed on a top or a bottom of the one of the movable and the fixed electrodes, has a predetermined depth from the top or the bottom, and extends from the detection surface to an opposite surface opposite to the detection surface of the one of the movable and the fixed electrodes.

2. The sensor according to claim 1, further comprising:

a substrate,

wherein the movable portion further includes a spring and a massive portion,

wherein the fixed portion further includes an anchor,

wherein the movable portion is supported on the substrate through the spring,

wherein the massive portion together with the movable electrode is displaceable in accordance with the physical quantity applied to the sensor,

wherein the movable electrode is integrally disposed on a side of the massive portion to extend from the massive portion,

wherein the fixed electrode extends from the anchor so that the fixed electrode is supported on the substrate through the anchor, and

wherein the sensor detects the physical quantity on the basis of a change of a capacitance provided by a capacitor between the detection surfaces of the movable and the fixed electrodes, the change of the capacitance caused by a displacement of the movable electrode in accordance with the physical quantity applied to the massive portion.

3. The sensor according to claim 1,

wherein the groove works as a flow path for flowing a fluid disposed between the movable and the fixed portions in a case where the movable portion moves toward or against the fixed electrode.

4. The sensor according to claim 1,

wherein the movable portion is displaceable in a direction perpendicular to the detection surfaces of the movable and the fixed electrodes.

5. The sensor according to claim 1,

wherein the movable portion has a displaceable direction, in which the movable portion is displaceable,

wherein the groove has a penetration direction, in which the groove penetrates the one of the movable and the fixed electrodes, and

wherein the displaceable direction is parallel to the penetration direction.

6. The sensor according to claim 1,

wherein the movable portion has a displaceable direction, in which the movable portion is displaceable,

wherein the groove is disposed on both of the movable and the fixed electrodes, and

wherein the groove on the movable electrode is not arranged in line with the groove on the fixed electrode in the displaceable direction.

7. The sensor according to claim 1,

wherein the sensor is a capacitance type acceleration sensor, a capacitance type yaw rate sensor, a capacitance type angular speed sensor, or a capacitance type angular acceleration sensor.

8. The sensor according to claim 2,

wherein the movable electrode includes a plurality of comb-tooth electrodes,

wherein the fixed electrode includes a plurality of comb-tooth electrodes, and

wherein each comb-tooth electrode of the movable electrode faces the comb-tooth electrode of the fixed electrode so that each of the detection surfaces of the movable and the fixed electrodes is provided.

9. The sensor according to claim 2,

wherein the groove is disposed from the top to the bottom of the fixed electrode so that the fixed electrode is divided into a plurality of parts, and

wherein each part of the fixed electrode is insulated from the substrate, connects each other through a wiring disposed on the substrate, and supported on the substrate through the wiring.

10. The sensor according to claim 9,

wherein each part of the fixed electrode connects to the wiring at one connection portion, which has a connection area smaller than a bottom of the part of the fixed electrode.

11. The sensor according to claim 10,

wherein between the bottom of the part of the fixed electrode and the substrate, a clearance is disposed, and

wherein the clearance is disposed from the detection surface to the opposite surface of the fixed electrode.

12. The sensor according to claim 9,

wherein the movable electrode includes a plurality of comb-tooth electrodes,

wherein at least neighboring two of the comb-tooth electrodes are connected together with a connection member, and

wherein the connection member is disposed in the groove of the fixed electrode.

13. The sensor according to claim 9,

wherein the wiring is partially embedded in the substrate.

14. A capacitance type physical quantity sensor for detecting physical quantity, the sensor comprising:

a movable portion including a movable electrode; and

a fixed portion including a fixed electrode,

wherein the movable electrode includes a detection surface,

wherein the fixed electrode includes a detection surface facing the detection surface of the movable electrode,

wherein the movable electrode is movable toward or against the fixed electrode in accordance with the physical quantity applied to the sensor so that a distance between the detection surfaces of the movable and the fixed electrodes is changeable,

wherein at least one of the movable and the fixed electrodes includes a thin portion, and

wherein the thin portion extends from the detection surface to an opposite surface opposite to the detection surface of the one of the movable and the fixed electrodes.

15. The sensor according to claim 14, further comprising:

a substrate,

wherein the movable portion further includes a spring and a massive portion,

wherein the fixed portion further includes an anchor,

wherein movable portion is supported on the substrate through the spring,

wherein the massive portion together with the movable electrode is displaceable in accordance with the physical quantity applied to the sensor,

wherein the movable electrode is integrally disposed on a side of the massive portion to extend from the massive portion,

wherein the fixed electrode extends from the anchor so that the fixed electrode is supported on the substrate through the anchor, and

wherein the sensor detects the physical quantity on the basis of a change of a capacitance provided by a capacitor between the detection surfaces of the movable and the fixed electrodes, the change of the capacitance caused by a displacement of the movable electrode in accordance with the physical quantity applied to the massive portion.

16. The sensor according to claim 15,

wherein the movable electrode includes a plurality of comb-tooth electrodes,

wherein the fixed electrode includes a plurality of comb-tooth electrodes, and

wherein each comb-tooth electrode of the movable electrode faces the comb-tooth electrode of the fixed electrode so that each of the detection surfaces of the movable and the fixed electrodes is provided.

17. The sensor according to claim 14,

wherein the thin portion works as a flow path for flowing a fluid disposed between the movable and the fixed portions in a case where the movable portion moves toward or against the fixed electrode.

18. The sensor according to claim 14,

wherein the movable portion is displaceable in a direction perpendicular to the detection surfaces of the movable and the fixed electrodes.

19. The sensor according to claim 14,

wherein the movable portion has a displaceable direction, in which the movable portion is displaceable,

wherein the thin portion has an extending direction, in which the thin portion extends on the one of the movable and the fixed electrodes, and

wherein the displaceable direction is parallel to the extending direction.

20. The sensor according to claim 14,

wherein the movable portion has a displaceable direction, in which the movable portion is displaceable,

wherein the thin portion is disposed on both of the movable and the fixed electrodes, and

wherein the thin portion on the movable electrode is not arranged in line with the thin portion on the fixed electrode in the displaceable direction.