Acceleration sensing device

• US 5,614,673 A
• Filed: 11/02/1995
• Issued: 03/25/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 11/21/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha (Mitsubishi Electric Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha (Mitsubishi Electric Corporation)
• Inventors: Yamamoto, Masahiro
• Primary Examiner(s): Oda, Christine K.
• Application Number:
  US08/552,073
• Time in Patent Office: 509 Days
• Field of Search: 280/735, 340/650, 340/438, 73/1 D, 73/514.16, 73/514.21, 73/514.23, 73/514.33, 73/514.36, 73/514.32, 338/2
• US Class Current: 73/514.33
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 15/122 by metal resistance strain gauges, e.g. wire resistance strain gauges
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 2015/0828 the mass being of the paddle type being suspended at one of its longitudinal ends
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 21/00 Testing or calibrating of apparatus or devices covered by the preceding groups

Abstract

An acceleration sensing device having a cantilevered acceleration sensing beam mounted at one of its ends on a base mounted on a package substrate. Strain caused by the movement of a weight disposed at a free end of the acceleration sensing beam is detected with a bridge circuit. When the base separates from the package substrate, an abnormal state sensing electrode of the weight comes into electrical contact with the package substrate, which is a ground terminal, so that an output from a differential amplifier of the bridge circuit is fixed to a low (or high) level, warning of the abnormal state.

Claims

1. An acceleration sensing device comprising:

an electrically conductive package substrate;

a base disposed on said package substrate;

an acceleration sensing beam attached to said base at one end of said acceleration sensing beam, said acceleration sensing beam also having a free end;

a weight disposed on said free end of said acceleration sensing beam;

sensor means disposed on said acceleration sensing beam for detecting strain of said acceleration sensing beam;

output means connected to said sensor means for outputting a detection signal from said sensor means;

a ground terminal electrically connected to said package substrate; and

abnormal-state sensing means at said weight opposite said package substrate and electrically connected between said sensor means and said output means electrically contacting said package substrate for connecting said ground terminal to said sensor means and to said output means when said base separates from said package substrate.

2. The acceleration sensing device according to claim 1, wherein said abnormal-state sensing means comprises an electrode disposed on a surface of said weight.

3. The acceleration sensing device according to claim 2, wherein said electrode is a nickel plating.

4. An acceleration sensing device comprising:

an electrically conductive package substrate;

a base disposed on said package substrate;

an acceleration sensing beam attached to said base at one end of said acceleration sensing beam, said acceleration sensing beam also having a free end;

sensor means disposed on said acceleration sensing beam for detecting strain of said acceleration sensing beam;

output means connected to said sensor means for outputting a detection signal from said sensor means;

a ground terminal electrically connected to said package substrate; and

abnormal-state sensing means comprising, integrally, an electrical conductor and an electrically conducting weight, said electrically conducting weight being disposed on said free end of said acceleration sensing beam, said abnormal-state sensing means electrically contacting said package substrate and connecting said ground terminal to said sensor means and to said output means when said base separates from said package substrate.