Force transducer etched from silicon
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An apparatus for sensing an applied force, comprising:
- a first suspended beam being deflectable only in response to an orthogonal component of the applied force;
a second suspended beam positioned opposite said first suspended beam, said second suspended beam oscillating in response to application of electrical power and position of the first beam;
power means for applying said electrical power between said first suspended beam and said second suspended beam in relation to deflection of said first suspended beam; and
sensing means for sensing the applied force by sensing electrical power between said first suspended beam and said second suspended beam.
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Abstract
An accelerometer fabricated by silicon etching techniques. A first suspended beam is formed having a first conductive portion, the beam being deflectable in response to an acceleration force. a second beam having second and third conductive portions is suspended over the first beam. Phased lock loop circuitry oscillates the second beam at resonance and provides an electrical signal proportional to the acceleration force.
60 Citations
21 Claims
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1. An apparatus for sensing an applied force, comprising:
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a first suspended beam being deflectable only in response to an orthogonal component of the applied force; a second suspended beam positioned opposite said first suspended beam, said second suspended beam oscillating in response to application of electrical power and position of the first beam; power means for applying said electrical power between said first suspended beam and said second suspended beam in relation to deflection of said first suspended beam; and sensing means for sensing the applied force by sensing electrical power between said first suspended beam and said second suspended beam. - View Dependent Claims (2)
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3. An apparatus for sensing an applied force, comprising:
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a first suspended beam etched from a silicon substrate, said first suspended beam having a first conductive portion and being deflectable only in response to the applied force; a second suspended beam coupled to said substrate such that it is suspended opposite said first suspended beam, said second suspended beam including a second conductive portion and a third conductive portion both being positioned opposite said first conductive portion, said second suspended beam oscillating at a resonant frequency only in response to application of electrical power; power means for applying said electrical power between said first conductive portion and said second conductive portion in relation to deflection of said first suspended beam to oscillate said second suspended beam at said resonant frequency; and sensing means for sensing the applied force by sensing electrical power between said third conductive portion and said first conductive portion. - View Dependent Claims (4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. An apparatus for detecting an acceleration force, comprising:
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a first suspended beam defined by a portion of a silicon substrate between a pair of cavities, said first suspended beam being deflectable only in response to the acceleration force and having a first conductive portion; a pair of flexing means symmetrically positioned around said first suspended beam and integrally formed from said substrate for enabling deflection of said first suspended beam in response to the acceleration force; a second suspended beam coupled to said substrate and suspended opposite said first suspended beam, said second suspended beam having a second conductive portion and a third conductive portion each positioned opposite said first conductive portion, said second suspended beam oscillating at a resonant frequency only in response to application of electrical power; power means for applying said electrical power between said first conductive portion and said second conductive portion as a function of deflection of said first suspended beam to oscillate said second suspended beam at said resonant frequency; and sensing means for sensing the acceleration force by sensing electrical power between said third conductive portion and said first conductive portion. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification