Micro-accelerometer with capacitive resonator

• US 6,311,556 B1
• Filed: 11/23/1999
• Issued: 11/06/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 05/23/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sextant Avionique
• Original Assignee: Sextant Avionique
• Inventors: Lefort, Olivier, Thomas, Isabelle
• Primary Examiner(s): CHAPMAN JR, JOHN E
• Application Number:
  US09/424,221
• Time in Patent Office: 714 Days
• Field of Search: 735/142.9, 735/143.2, 735/143.6, 735/143.7, 735/142.1, 735/142.3
• US Class Current: 73/514.29
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 1/006 used for thermal compensation
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 1/023 for acceleration measuring devices
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 15/097 by vibratory elements
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 2015/0828 the mass being of the paddle type being suspended at one of its longitudinal ends

Abstract

A micro-accelerometer having three micromachined conducting-silicon plates bonded in superposition with the interposition of insulating layers. The central plate includes a subassembly sensitive to acceleration, and a peripheral frame electrically insulated from the subassembly and surrounding the subassembly. The peripheral frame forms a spacer between a lower plate and an upper plate from which it is also electrically insulated. The subassembly includes a base fixed on the lower plate and a cantilevered proof mass suspended from the base, an electrical connection being made between the lower plate and the base of the subassembly. The suspension of the proof mass includes, on the one hand, a central vibrating beam which is connected to the proof mass and to the base and is placed substantially in the horizontal plane of an upper face of the proof mass and, on the other hand, two short side suspension arms which are connected to the base and are placed on either side of the central beam but in a horizontal plane passing substantially through the center of gravity of the proof mass. Such a micro-accelerometer may find application for an aircraft, in the context of assisting with inertial navigation.

Claims

1. Micro-accelerometer comprising:

three micromachined conducting-silicon plates bonded in superposition with the interposition of insulating layers, the central plate comprising a subassembly sensitive to accelerations, and a peripheral frame electrically insulated from the subassembly and surrounding the subassembly, said frame forming a spacer between a lower plate and an upper plate from which it is also electrically insulated, the subassembly comprising a base fixed on the lower plate and a cantilevered proof mass suspended from the base, an electrical connection being made between the lower plate and the base of the subassembly, the suspension of the proof mass comprising, on the one hand, a central vibrating beam which is connected to the proof mass and to the base and is placed substantially in the horizontal plane of an upper face of the proof mass, and, on the other hand, two short side suspension arms which are connected to the base and are placed on either side of the central beam but in a horizontal plane passing substantially through the center of gravity of the proof mass.

2. Micro-accelerometer according to claim 1, wherein the base of the proof subassembly has a U-shape seen on a horizontal plane, the inside of the U being turned towards the proof mass, the vibrating beam being connected to the center of the U-shaped base and the side suspension arms being connected to the ends of the branches of the U.

3. Micro-accelerometer according to claim 1, wherein the proof mass of the proof subassembly has a U-shape seen on a horizontal plane, the inside of the U being turned towards the base, the vibrating beam being connected to the center of the U-shaped base and the side suspension arms being connected to the ends of the branches of the U.

4. Micro-accelerometer according to claim 2, wherein the side suspensions arms are shorter than the vibrating beam.

5. Micro-accelerometer according to claim 1, wherein the point where the vibrating beam is fixed on the proof mass lies substantially directly above a bending axis of the proof mass about the fixture represented by the suspension arms.

6. Micro-accelerometer according to claim 1, wherein the middle of the vibrating beam lies substantially directly above a bending axis of the proof mass about the fixture represented by the suspension arms.

7. Micro-accelerometer according to claim 1, wherein the peripheral frame is physically separated from the proof subassembly by etching the silicon of the central plate through its full thickness between the frame and the subassembly, over the entire periphery of the latter.

8. Micro-accelerometer according to claim 1, further comprising at least one connection contact on each of the silicon plates, the connection contact of the lower plate being used to apply a voltage to the vibrating beam by direct silicon conduction through the lower plate and central plate, the connection contact on the upper plate being used to apply a voltage to an upper-plate area opposite the beam, and the connection contact on the central plate being used to apply a fixed electrostatic-screening potential to this plate.

9. Micro-accelerometer according to claim 8, wherein the silicon of the vibrating beam and the silicon of the opposite upper-plate area form the two electrodes of a capacitor fitted into a tuned electrical circuit by means of the upper-plate and lower-plate contacts.

10. Micro-accelerometer according to claim 1, wherein a temperature compensation element is integrated in one of the silicon plates.

11. Micro-accelerometer according to claim 1, further comprising stops machined in the upper and lower plates facing the proof mass, said stops having a small area facing the proof mass in order to limit stray capacitances.

12. A micro-accelerometer comprising:

a lower conducting plate bonded to a central conducting plate via a first insulating layer; and

an upper conducting plate bonded to said central conducting plate via a second insulating layer,

wherein said central conducting plate comprises;

a subassembly sensitive to accelerations, and

a peripheral frame electrically insulated from the subassembly and surrounding the subassembly,

wherein the subassembly comprises;

a base fixed and electrically connected to said lower conducting plate,

a cantilevered proof mass suspended from the base,

a central beam connected to said base and said proof mass, and

two side suspension arms connected to said base and said proof mass,

wherein said central beam is substantially in a plane of an upper face of the proof mass, and said two side suspension arms are on either side of the central beam in a plane passing substantially through the center of gravity of the proof mass.

13. A micro-accelerometer according to claim 12, wherein said base of said subassembly has a U-shape defining a center and two branches, the central beam being connected to said center and said two side suspension arms being connected to said branches.

14. A micro-accelerometer according to claim 12, wherein said two side suspension arms are shorter than said central beam.

15. A micro-accelerometer according to claim 12, wherein the central beam is connected to the proof mass at a point located above a bending axis of the proof mass.

16. A micro-accelerometer according to claim 12, wherein the middle of the central beam is located above a bending axis of the proof mass.

17. A micro-accelerometer according to claim 12, further comprising at least one connection contact on each of the lower, upper and central conducting plates.

18. A micro-accelerometer according to claim 17, wherein the central beam is electrically connected to said connection contact of said lower conducting plate, and an upper conducting plate area opposite said central beam is electrically connected to said connection contact of said upper conducting plate, so that said central beam and said upper conducting plate area form two electrodes of a capacitor.

19. A micro-accelerometer according to claim 12, further comprising stops located on said upper and lower conducting plates and facing said proof mass, said stops being configured to reduce stray capacitances.

20. A micro-accelerometer according to claim 12, wherein said lower conducting plate, said upper conducting plate, and said central conducting plate comprise silicon.