Hinge assembly for integrated accelerometer

• US 5,428,996 A
• Filed: 01/24/1994
• Issued: 07/04/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 12/24/1990
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation (Northrop Grumman Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Litton Systems Incorporated (Northrop Grumman Corporation)
• Inventors: Lodwig, Dean H., Abbink, Henry C., Engel, James W., Stewart, Robert E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chilcot, Jr., Richard E.
• Assistant Examiner(s): BIEGEL, RONALD L
• Application Number:
  US08/185,466
• Time in Patent Office: 526 Days
• Field of Search: 73/514, 73/517 B, 73/517 R
• US Class Current: 73/514.36
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 15/0802 Details
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 15/093 by photoelectric pick-up
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 15/132 with electromagnetic counterbalancing means

Abstract

An integrated accelerometer includes hinges of silicon composition for securing the strut legs of a pendulous mass to the accelerometer body. Both the body of the accelerometer and the pendulous mass are of metal-coated compositions. Metallized pads are provided on selected surfaces of the hinges for forming eutectic bonds with the body and struts of the pendulous mass of the accelerometer. A heavily-doped continuous region adjacent the surface of the hinge connects the eutectic bonds through a flexure region of reduced thickness to complete necessary device circuitry.

Claims

1. An integrated accelerometer comprising, in combination:

a) a planar support base of metal-coated ceramic composition having an internal aperture;

b) a pendulous mass of metal-coated ceramic composition including a pair of strut legs;

c) a pair of hinges for flexibly engaging the free ends of said strut legs to said support base; and

d) each of said hinges being of single crystal silicon composition and including metallic pads for bonding to said base and to said pendulous mass.

2. An accelerometer as defined in claim 1 wherein eutectic bonds fix said hinge to said base and to said pendulous mass.

3. An accelerometer as defined in claim 2 wherein said hinge further includes:

a) a first etched paddle-like region for contacting said pendulous base;

b) a second etched paddle-like region for contacting said pendulous mass; and

c) an etched flexure region of reduced thickness for connecting said first paddle-like region to said second paddle-like region.

4. An accelerometer as defined in claim 3 wherein said metallic pads are located on said first and second paddle-like regions.

5. An accelerometer as defined in claim 4 wherein said flexure region further comprises:

a) a first tapered region for joining said first paddle-like region to a region of a predetermined reduced thickness;

b) a second tapered region for joining said second paddle-like region to said region of reduced thickness; and

c) a region of low resistivity located within said hinge for providing electrical connection between said paddle-like regions through said region of reduced thickness.

6. An accelerometer as defined in claim 5 wherein said metallic pads comprise tin.

7. An accelerometer as defined in claim 6 wherein said eutectic bonds comprise tin and gold.

8. An accelerometer as defined in claim 5 further characterized in that:

a) said silicon is n-type; and

b) said region of low resistivity is doped with arsenic atoms.

9. An accelerometer as defined in claim 5 further characterized in that:

a) said silicon is n-type; and

b) said region of low resistivity is doped with boron atoms.

10. An accelerometer as defined in claim 5 further characterized in that:

a) a hardstop is fixed to each of said hinges; and

b) each of said hardstops is of silicon composition.

11. An acceleromter as defined in claim 10 wherein each of said hardstops is of single crystal silicon.

12. An accelerometer as defined in claim 11 wherein each of said hardstops includes metal pads for bonding to a hinge.

13. An accelerometer as defined in claim 12 wherein said hardstops are fixed to said hinges by means of eutectic bonds.

14. An accelerometer as defined in claim 13 wherein said hardstops are bonded to said first paddle-like regions of said hinges.