Acceleration sensor

• US 6,082,197 A
• Filed: 08/12/1997
• Issued: 07/04/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Bosch Automotive Systems Corporation (Robert Bosch GmbH)
• Original Assignee: Zexel Corporation (Robert Bosch GmbH)
• Inventors: Mizuno, Jun, Nottmeyer, Kay
• Primary Examiner(s): Oda, Christine K.
• Application Number:
  US08/909,764
• Time in Patent Office: 1,057 Days
• Field of Search: 73/514.02, 73/514.16, 73/514.18, 73/514.32, 73/514.36
• US Class Current: 73/514.36
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 15/0802 Details
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 15/125 by capacitive pick-up
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 15/18 in two or more dimensions
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 2015/082 for two degrees of freedom of movement of a single mass

Abstract

In the sensor: torsion beams 7a, 7b are fixedly connected between the centers of opposite outer sides of central fixed board 1 and the corresponding centers of opposite inner sides of a window 5; electrodes 11a, 11b, 12a, 12b are mounted on a front and a rear surface of weight portions 9a, 9b; and, an outer cover 21, which is constructed of an upper and a lower board 17, 19 provided with electrodes 23a, 23b, 25a, 25b corresponding to the electrodes of the weight portions, is mounted on a side surface of an outer frame 15 in which both the central fixed board 1 and the weight board 3 are received, so that the central fixed board 1 is rotatably supported. It is possible to increase the length of each of the torsion beams 7a, 7b. These electrodes 11a, 11b, 12a, 12b may be produced through a single path in printing process.

Claims

1. A multi-axis acceleration sensor comprising:

a base plate;

two supporting posts extending vertically from an upper surface of said base plate;

a supporting beam comprising a first axle portion and a second axle portion which intersects said first axle portion at right angles, wherein said second axle portion has opposite ends which are connected to said supporting posts, respectively;

a weight supported by said supporting beam such that a clearance is provided between said second axle portion and said base plate to allow movement of said weight relative to said base plate, said weight being formed in the shape of a frame defining an opening,

wherein said first and second axle portions are disposed within the opening, and opposite ends of the first axle portion are connected to inner peripheral side surfaces of the frame at central portions thereof;

a plurality of electrode segments fixedly mounted on an outer peripheral surface of said weight so as to extend outwardly therefrom;

a first electrode provided with a plurality of electrode segments which are parallel to said electrode segments extending from said weight, said first electrode being fixedly mounted on said base plate in the vicinity of said weight; and

a second electrode fixedly mounted on said base plate and facing a flat surface of said weight,

wherein displacement of said weight is determined by using a variation in capacitance between said electrode segments of said weight and said first and second electrodes.

2. A multi-axis acceleration sensor as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said first and second axle portions of said supporting beam are integrally formed with each other so as to intersect at a right angle to each other at their centers.

3. A multi-axis acceleration sensor as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first axle portion of said supporting beam is aligned with a center line of said weight.

4. A multi-axis acceleration sensor as claimed in claim 1, wherein said posts are disposed within the perimeter of the opening portion of said weight.

5. A multi-axis acceleration sensor comprising:

a base plate;

two supporting posts extending vertically from an upper surface of said base plate;

a first supporting beam comprising a first axle portion and a second axle portion arranged perpendicularly to said first axle portion, wherein a first end of said first axle portion is connected to a central portion of said second axle portion, a second end of said first axle portion is connected to an outer periphery of said second axle portion, and opposite ends of said second axle portion are connected to said supporting posts;

a weight supported by said first supporting beam such that a clearance is provided between said second axle portion and said base plate to allow movement of said weight above said base plate,

a plurality of electrode segments fixedly mounted on an outer peripheral surface of said weight so as to extend outwardly therefrom;

a first electrode provided with a plurality of electrode segments which are parallel to said electrode segments extending from said weight, said first electrode being fixedly mounted on said base plate in the vicinity of said weight; and

a second electrode fixedly mounted on said base plate and facing a flat surface of said weight,

wherein displacement of said weight can be determined by using a variation in capacitance between said electrode segments of said weight and said first and second electrodes.

6. A multi-axis acceleration sensor as claimed in claim 5, further comprising a second support beam connected to an opposite side of said weight relative to said first support beam.