Sensor using a resistance element
First Claim
1. A sensor for detecting a physical quantity acting as an external force comprising:
- a substrate having first and second opposite surfaces and including a working portion located at a center of said substrate, a flexible portion located around said working portion and a fixed portion located around said flexible portion, said flexible portion including a groove into said substrate from one of said surfaces of said substrate so that a thickness of said substrate at said groove of said flexible portion is less than that of said substrate in said working portion and said fixed portion;
a working body connected at one end to said second surface of said working portion for transmitting an external force to said working portion, whereby mechanical deformation of said flexible portion of said substrate is produced, the working body having an outside side surface;
a pedestal connected at one end to said second surface of said fixed portion of said substrate for supporting said fixed portion of said substrate fixedly relative to said flexible and working portions of said substrate, the pedestal having an inside side surface opposite said outside side surface of said working body at a space therefrom; and
detection elements on one of said surfaces of said flexible portion of said substrate each for providing an electric characteristic that changes on the basis of said mechanical deformation, whereby said external force is detected;
wherein said detection elements comprise a first detection element located on a first axis and a second detection element located on a second-axis, said first axis and said second axis being on said one of said surfaces of said flexible portion of said substrate with said detection elements and perpendicular to each other;
wherein a first component along said first axis of said external force is detected on the basis of said electric characteristic of said first detection element and a second component along said second axis of said external force is detected on the basis of said electric characteristic of said second detection element; and
wherein said space of said inside side surface of said pedestal from said outside side surface of said working body is set so that said outside side surface of said working body contacts with said inside side surface of said pedestal when said components of said external force exceed a predetermined intensity.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A sensor comprises a semiconductor pellet (10) including a working portion (11) adapted to undergo action of a force, a fixed portion (13) fixed on the sensor body, and a flexible portion (13) having flexibility formed therebetween, a working body (20) for transmitting an exterted force to the working portion, and detector means (60-63) for transforming a mechanical deformation produced in the semiconductor pellet to an electric signal to thereby detect a force exerted on the working body as an electric signal. A signal processing circuit is applied to the sensor. This circuit uses analog multipliers (101-109) and analog adders/subtracters (111-113), and has a function to cancel interference produced in different directions. Within the sensor, two portions (E3, E4-E8) located at positions opposite to each other and producing a displacement therebetween by action of a force are determined. By exerting a coulomb force between both the portions, the test of the sensor is carried out. Further, a pedestal (21, 22) is provided around the working body (20). The working body and the pedestal are located with a predetermined gap or spacing therebetween. A displacement of the working body is caused to limitatively fall within a predetermined range corresponding to the spacing. The working body and the pedestal are provided by cutting a same common substrate (350, 350'"'"').
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Citations
12 Claims
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1. A sensor for detecting a physical quantity acting as an external force comprising:
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a substrate having first and second opposite surfaces and including a working portion located at a center of said substrate, a flexible portion located around said working portion and a fixed portion located around said flexible portion, said flexible portion including a groove into said substrate from one of said surfaces of said substrate so that a thickness of said substrate at said groove of said flexible portion is less than that of said substrate in said working portion and said fixed portion; a working body connected at one end to said second surface of said working portion for transmitting an external force to said working portion, whereby mechanical deformation of said flexible portion of said substrate is produced, the working body having an outside side surface; a pedestal connected at one end to said second surface of said fixed portion of said substrate for supporting said fixed portion of said substrate fixedly relative to said flexible and working portions of said substrate, the pedestal having an inside side surface opposite said outside side surface of said working body at a space therefrom; and detection elements on one of said surfaces of said flexible portion of said substrate each for providing an electric characteristic that changes on the basis of said mechanical deformation, whereby said external force is detected; wherein said detection elements comprise a first detection element located on a first axis and a second detection element located on a second-axis, said first axis and said second axis being on said one of said surfaces of said flexible portion of said substrate with said detection elements and perpendicular to each other; wherein a first component along said first axis of said external force is detected on the basis of said electric characteristic of said first detection element and a second component along said second axis of said external force is detected on the basis of said electric characteristic of said second detection element; and wherein said space of said inside side surface of said pedestal from said outside side surface of said working body is set so that said outside side surface of said working body contacts with said inside side surface of said pedestal when said components of said external force exceed a predetermined intensity. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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Specification