Multiaxial monolithic acceleration sensor

• US 20060021436A1
• Filed: 06/10/2003
• Published: 02/02/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/11/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: EADS Deutschland GmbH (Airbus SE), Conti Temic Microelectronic GmbH (Continental AG)
• Original Assignee: EADS Deutschland GmbH (Airbus SE), Conti Temic Microelectronic GmbH (Continental AG)
• Inventors: Seidel, Helmut, Prechtel, Ulrich, Kapser, Konrad
• Application Number:
  US10/517,808
• Publication Number:
  US 20060021436A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 73/514.380
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 15/125 by capacitive pick-up
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 15/18 in two or more dimensions
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 2015/0831 the mass being of the paddle type having the pivot axis between the longitudinal ends of the mass, e.g. see-saw configuration
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 2015/0834 the mass constituting a pendulum having the pivot axis disposed symmetrically between the longitudinal ends, the center of mass being shifted away from the plane of the pendulum which includes the pivot axis
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 2015/0845 using a plurality of spring-mass systems being arranged on one common planar substrate, the systems not being mechanically coupled and the sensitive direction of each system being different
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 2015/086 using a torsional suspension spring

Abstract

A multi-axial monolithic acceleration sensor has the following features. The acceleration sensor consists of plural individual sensors with respectively a main sensitivity axis arranged on a common substrate. Each individual sensor is rotatably moveably suspended on two torsion spring elements and has a seismic mass with a center of gravity. Each individual sensor has components that measure the deflection of the seismic mass. The acceleration sensor preferably consists of at least three identical individual sensors. Each individual sensor is suspended eccentrically relative to its center of gravity and is rotated by 90°, 180° or 270° relative to the other individual sensors.

Claims

1. Tri-axial monolithic acceleration sensor (1), which comprises the following characteristic features:

a) the acceleration sensor (1) consists of plural individual sensors (2a-d) with respectively a main sensitivity axis (11) arranged on a common substrate (8),

b) each individual sensor (2a-d) is rotatably movably suspended on two torsion spring elements (4a-h) and comprises a seismic mass (3a-d) with a center of gravity (S_a, S_b, S_c and S_d),

c) each individual sensor (2a-d) comprises means for the measurement (10) of the deflection of the seismic mass (3a-d),

characterized in that

d) the acceleration sensor (1) consists of at least three identical individual sensors (2a-d),

e) each individual sensor (2a-d) is suspended eccentrically relative to its center of gravity (S_a, S_b, S_c, S_d) and

f) is rotated relative to the other individual sensors (2a-d) by 90°

, 180°

or 270°

.

2. Acceleration sensor according to claim 1, characterized in that the at least three identical individual sensors (2a-d) are arranged in a rectangle.

8. Acceleration sensor according to claim 1, characterized in that the substrate (8) is arranged between a lower cover disk (7) and an upper cover disk (9) for the sealing and for the protection against environmental influences.

9. Acceleration sensor according to claim 1, characterized in that a measurement of the deflection of each seismic mass (3a-d) is achieved by means of a differential capacitive measurement.

10. Acceleration sensor according to claim 9, characterized in that metallized surfaces (10a-d) that are isolated from one another are structured on the upper cover disk (9) close to the torsion axis defined by the respective torsion spring element (4a-h) for the differential capacitive measurement.

11. Acceleration sensor according to claim 10, characterized in that the surfaces (10a-d) are arranged symmetrically to the torsion axis defined by the respective torsion spring element (4a-h).

3-7. -7. (canceled)

12. Bi-axial monolithic acceleration sensor (1), that comprises the following characteristic features:

a) the acceleration sensor (1) consists of two individual sensors (2a-d) with respectively a main sensitivity axis (11) arranged on a common substrate (8),

b) each individual sensor (2a-d) is rotatably movably suspended on two torsion spring elements (4a-h) and comprises a seismic mass (3a-d) with a center of gravity (S_a, S_b, S_c and S_d),

c) each individual sensor (2a-d) comprises means for the measurement (10) of the deflection of the seismic mass (3a-d),

characterized in that

d) the acceleration sensor (1) consists of two identical individual sensors (2a-d),

e) each individual sensor (2a-d) is suspended eccentrically relative to its center of gravity (S_a, S_b, S_c, S_d) and is rotated by 180°

relative to the other individual sensor (2a-d) and

f) the main sensitivity axis (11) of the one individual sensor (2a-d) extends vertically to the substrate (8) and the main sensitivity axis (11) of the other individual sensor (2a-d) extends vertically to the substrate (8).

13. Acceleration sensor according to claim 12, characterized in that the substrate (8) is arranged between a lower cover disk (7) and an upper cover disk (9) for the sealing and for the protection against environmental influences.

14. Acceleration sensor according to claim 12, characterized in that a measurement of the deflection of each seismic mass (3a-d) is achieved by means of a differential capacitive measurement.

15. Acceleration sensor according to claim 14, characterized in that metallized surfaces (10a-d) that are isolated from one another are structured on the upper cover disk (9) close to the torsion axis defined by the respective torsion spring element (4a-h) for the differential capacitive measurement.

16. Acceleration sensor according to claim 15, characterized in that the surfaces (10a-d) are arranged symmetrically to the torsion axis defined by the respective torsion spring element (4a-h).