×

Acceleration sensor with ring-shaped movable electrode

  • US 6,199,430 B1
  • Filed: 02/02/1999
  • Issued: 03/13/2001
  • Est. Priority Date: 06/17/1997
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
Patent Images

1. An acceleration sensor comprising:

  • a substrate;

    an anchor part fixedly disposed on the substrate;

    a movable electrode disposed over the substrate and having a cylindrical movable electrode side face;

    a beam connecting the anchor part and the movable electrode and elastically deformed to displace the movable electrode in a direction approximately parallel to a surface of the substrate by acceleration applied in the direction; and

    a fixed electrode fixedly disposed on the substrate and having a cylindrical fixed electrode side face that makes a specific interval with the movable electrode side face when no acceleration is applied to the movable electrode, the fixed electrode including a detecting fixed electrode for detecting the acceleration and a sensitivity controlling fixed electrode electrically insulated from the detecting fixed electrode for controlling sensitivity of the acceleration, wherein the acceleration is detected based on a change in interval between the movable electrode side face and the fixed electrode side face; and

    wherein first and second potential differences between the movable electrode and the detecting fixed electrode and between the movable electrode and the sensitivity controlling fixed electrode are independently controlled.

View all claims
  • 1 Assignment
Timeline View
Assignment View
    ×
    ×