ACCELERATION SENSOR

• US 20110203373A1
• Filed: 08/13/2009
• Published: 08/25/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/13/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
• Original Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
• Inventors: Konno, Nobuaki
• Application Number:
  US13/127,172
• Publication Number:
  US 20110203373A1
• 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 2015/0831 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 2015/0837 the mass being suspended so as to only allow movement perpendicular to the plane of the substrate, i.e. z-axis sensor

Abstract

An acceleration sensor includes a substrate, and a plurality of acceleration detection units supported by the substrate. Each of the plurality of acceleration detection units has a torsion beam supported by the substrate and distorted about a torsion axis line; a detection frame supported by the torsion beam so as to be rotatable about the torsion axis line; a detection electrode formed on the substrate so as to face the detection frame; a link beam supported by the detection frame at a position on an axis line deviated from the torsion axis line when seen in plane; and an inertia mass body supported by the link beam so as to be displaceable in a thickness direction of the substrate. The plurality of acceleration detection units include first and second acceleration detection units. The first and second acceleration detection units are disposed side by side along a direction of the first torsion axis line. Thereby, a highly accurate acceleration sensor that suppresses a vibration with a high frequency and a high acceleration can be obtained.

Claims

1. An acceleration sensor, comprising:

a substrate; and

a plurality of acceleration detection units supported by said substrate,

each of said plurality of acceleration detection units having;

a torsion beam supported by said substrate and distorted about a torsion axis line;

a detection frame supported by said torsion beam so as to be rotatable about said torsion axis line;

a detection electrode formed on said substrate so as to face said detection frame;

a link beam supported by said detection frame at a position on an axis line deviated from said torsion axis line when seen in plane; and

an inertia mass body supported by said link beam so as to be displaceable in a thickness direction of said substrate,

said plurality of acceleration detection units including first and second acceleration detection units,

said first and second acceleration detection units being disposed side by side along a direction of said torsion axis line of said first acceleration detection unit.

2. The acceleration sensor according to claim 1, wherein said link beam of said first acceleration detection unit is disposed on one side with respect to said torsion axis line of said first acceleration detection unit when seen in plane, and said link beam of said second acceleration detection unit is disposed on the other side with respect to said torsion axis line of said first acceleration detection unit when seen in plane.

3. The acceleration sensor according to claim 1, wherein dimensions of offset amounts between said torsion beams and said link beams of said plurality of acceleration detection units are equal to each other.

4. The acceleration sensor according to claim 1, wherein said torsion axis lines of said plurality of acceleration detection units are parallel to each other.

5. The acceleration sensor according to claim 1, wherein

said plurality of acceleration detection units further include third and fourth acceleration detection units, and

said first to fourth acceleration detection units are disposed side by side along the direction of said torsion axis line of said first acceleration detection unit.