Acceleration sensor with limited movability in the vertical direction

• US 6,634,232 B1
• Filed: 09/19/2002
• Issued: 10/21/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/15/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Schubert, Dietrich, Fischer, Frank, Kohn, Oliver, Rettig, Rasmus
• Primary Examiner(s): MOLLER, RICHARD ALAN
• Application Number:
  US10/110,618
• Time in Patent Office: 397 Days
• Field of Search: 735/141.5, 735/142.9, 735/143.2
• US Class Current: 73/514.15
• CPC Class Codes: B81B 2201/0235 Accelerometers
• CPC Class Codes: B81B 3/0051 For defining the movement, i.e. structures that guide or limit the movement of an element mechanical arrangements for preventing or damping vibration or shock H01H3/60
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 15/0802 Details
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 15/125 by capacitive pick-up
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 2015/0814 for translational movement of the mass, e.g. shuttle type

Abstract

The present invention relates to an acceleration sensor including an oscillating structure which is movably suspended on a substrate and deflectable in response to the action of an acceleration, a plane of oscillation of the oscillating structure being essentially parallel to a substrate plane, and further including evaluation arrangements for measuring a deflection of the oscillating structure due to acceleration. In this context, provision is made for stop arrangements which limit a deflection movement of the oscillating structure in a direction essentially perpendicular to the plane of oscillation (x-, y-plane) of the oscillating structure.

Claims

1. An acceleration sensor, comprising:

a moveable, oscillating structure suspended on a substrate and which is deflectable in response to acceleration, a plane structure of oscillation of the oscillating structure being essentially parallel to a substrate plane;

an evaluation arrangement for measuring a deflection of the oscillating structure due to acceleration;

a stop arrangement for limiting a deflection movement of the oscillating structure, wherein the stop arrangement is essentially perpendicular to the plane of oscillation of the oscillating structure, and wherein the stop arrangement is situated between the oscillating structure and the substrate, and wherein the stop arrangement is connected to the oscillating structure in a force-locked manner; and

an element connected to the substrate in a force-locked manner forming a counter-stop.

2. The acceleration sensor according to claim 1, wherein the stop arrangement is connected to the oscillating structure via a connecting element.

3. The acceleration sensor according to claim 2, wherein a gap width of a gap between the stop arrangement of the oscillating structure and the counter-stop is determined by a length of the connecting element.

4. The acceleration according to claim 3, wherein the counter-stop includes a section of a lateral stop.

5. The acceleration sensor according to claim 4, wherein the lateral stop forms a ring step facing in the direction of the substrate to form the counter-stop.

6. The acceleration sensor according to claim 5, wherein the stop arrangement is arranged underneath at least two neighboring fingers of the oscillating structure.

7. The acceleration sensor according to claim 6, wherein the counter-stop includes at least one electrode of an evaluation circuit of the acceleration sensor, the at least one electrode extending between the fingers.