FUNCTIONAL DEVICE, ACCELERATION SENSOR, AND SWITCH

• US 20150183636A1
• Filed: 11/26/2014
• Published: 07/02/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/26/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Akiba, Akira, Hashimoto, Mitsuo, Fukuyama, Munekatsu
• Granted Patent: US 9,446,937 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B81B 2203/0136 Comb structures
• CPC Class Codes: B81B 3/0051 For defining the movement, i.e. structures that guide or limit the movement of an element mechanical arrangements for preventing or damping vibration or shock H01H3/60

Abstract

A functional device includes: a substrate; and a movable section configured to be held by the substrate and to be movable along a first direction in a surface of the substrate, in which the movable section includes a plurality of first shaft portions with relatively high rigidity, the plurality of first shaft portions are arranged side by side to extend along the first direction and to be line-symmetric to one another, and protrusions configured to brake the movable section are provided on substantially extended lines of the first shaft portions.

Claims

1. A functional device comprising:

a substrate; and

a movable section configured to be held by the substrate and to be movable along a first direction in a surface of the substrate,

wherein the movable section includes a plurality of first shaft portions with relatively high rigidity,

the plurality of first shaft portions are arranged side by side to extend along the first direction and to be line-symmetric to one another, and

protrusions configured to brake the movable section are provided on substantially extended lines of the first shaft portions.

2. The functional device according to claim 1, wherein

the substrate has a recessed section,

the movable section is movably held in the recessed section, and

the protrusions are provided to one or both of the movable section and the recessed section.

3. The functional device according to claim 1, wherein each of the protrusions is held by the movable section or the substrate with a spring in between.

4. The functional device according to claim 3, wherein the protrusions and the springs are formed integrally with the substrate.

5. The functional device according to claim 1, wherein a part on a surface side or a whole of each of the protrusions is configured of an organic film.

6. The functional device according to claim 1, wherein the protrusions are provided in positions shifted from position directly facing the first shaft portions toward a mass center point of the movable section.

7. The functional device according to claim 1, wherein the movable section includes a second shaft portion connected to one end or both ends of each of the plurality of first shaft portions, and

each of the protrusions is provided to face a connection point between each of the first shaft portions and the second shaft portion.

8. The functional device according to claim 7, wherein

the movable section includes a third shaft portion supporting the first and second shaft portions, and

the plurality of first shaft portions have line symmetry with respect to the third shaft portion.

9. The functional device according to claim 1, wherein the protrusions are provided to ends on one side or ends on both sides of the first shaft portions.

10. The functional device according to claim 1, wherein

the movable section includes a plurality of first electrodes provided to be protruded from each of the first shaft portions, and

a plurality of second electrodes are further included, the second electrodes being provided integrally with the substrate and alternately arranged with the first electrodes of the movable section.

11. The functional device according to claim 10, wherein the movable section is driven by an electrostatic force generated between the first electrodes and the second electrodes.

12. An acceleration sensor provided with a functional device, the functional device comprising:

a substrate; and

a movable section configured to be held by the substrate and to be movable along a first direction in a surface of the substrate,

wherein the movable section includes a plurality of first shaft portions with relatively high rigidity,

the plurality of first shaft portions are arranged side by side to extend along the first direction and to be line-symmetric to one another, and

protrusions configured to brake the movable section are provided on substantially extended lines of the first shaft portions.

13. The acceleration sensor according to claim 12, wherein

the movable section includes a plurality of first electrodes provided to be protruded from each of the first shaft portions,

a plurality of second electrodes are further included, the second electrodes being provided integrally with the substrate and alternately arranged with the first electrodes of the movable section, and

the movable section are arranged to allow intervals between the first electrodes and the second electrodes to be equal to one another in a no-voltage application state.

14. The acceleration sensor according to claim 13, wherein a capacitance generated between the first electrodes and the second electrodes is detected.

15. A switch provided with a functional device, the functional device comprising:

a substrate; and

a movable section configured to be held by the substrate and to be movable along a first direction in a surface of the substrate,

wherein the movable section includes a plurality of first shaft portions with relatively high rigidity,

the plurality of first shaft portions are arranged side by side to extend along the first direction and to be line-symmetric to one another, and

protrusions configured to brake the movable section are provided on substantially extended lines of the first shaft portions.

16. The switch according to claim 15, wherein

the movable section includes a plurality of first electrodes provided to be protruded from each of the first shaft portions,

a plurality of second electrodes are further included, the second electrodes being provided integrally with the substrate and alternately arranged with the first electrodes of the movable section, and

the movable section is arranged in a position shifted along the first direction from a position where intervals between the first electrodes and the second electrodes are equal to one another in a no-voltage application state.

17. The switch according to claim 16, wherein the movable section is driven by an electrostatic force generated between the first electrodes and the second electrodes.