MEMS enhanced capacitive pick-off and electrostatic rebalance electrode placement
First Claim
1. A Micro Electro-Mechanical System (MEMS) sensor, comprising:
- a sensing element suspended for motion relative to a rotational axis;
a relatively stationary substrate spaced away from the sensing element; and
first and second capacitors formed by the sensing element and the substrate, the first and second capacitors being arranged in a pattern that is oriented substantially crosswise to the rotational axis of the sensing element with at least a portion of the first capacitor being arranged beside at least a portion of the second capacitor along a longitudinal axis of the sensing element that is perpendicular to the rotational axis such that, during rotational excursions of the sensing element both approaching and withdrawing from the stationary substrate, a capacitance formed over a portion of the first capacitor remains substantially identical to a capacitance formed over a portion of the second capacitor.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A Micro Electro-Mechanical System (MEMS) acceleration sensing device, formed of a sensing element having first and second substantially planar and parallel spaced apart opposing surfaces and being suspended for pendulous motion about a hinge axis oriented along a minor axis of the sensing element; and one or more substrates each having a face spaced from one of the opposing surfaces of the sensing element, each of the substrates having pluralities of electrodes arranged substantially crosswise to the hinge axis of the sensing element symmetrically to a longitudinal axis of the sensing device and forming respective first and second capacitors with the moveable sensing element. Each of the one or more substrates optionally including a clearance relief for extending the rotational range of motion of the sensing element.
49 Citations
27 Claims
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1. A Micro Electro-Mechanical System (MEMS) sensor, comprising:
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a sensing element suspended for motion relative to a rotational axis;
a relatively stationary substrate spaced away from the sensing element; and
first and second capacitors formed by the sensing element and the substrate, the first and second capacitors being arranged in a pattern that is oriented substantially crosswise to the rotational axis of the sensing element with at least a portion of the first capacitor being arranged beside at least a portion of the second capacitor along a longitudinal axis of the sensing element that is perpendicular to the rotational axis such that, during rotational excursions of the sensing element both approaching and withdrawing from the stationary substrate, a capacitance formed over a portion of the first capacitor remains substantially identical to a capacitance formed over a portion of the second capacitor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A Micro Electro-Mechanical System (MEMS) acceleration sensing device, comprising:
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a sensing element suspended for rotational motion about a single rotational axis; and
a pair of substantially planar substrates spaced on opposite sides of the sensing element, each of the substrates having first and second electrodes arranged in side-by-side patterns along a longitudinal axis of the sensing element that is oriented substantially perpendicular to the single rotational axis such that at least a portion of each of the first and second electrodes are positioned at substantially identical distances from the single rotational axis. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A Micro Electro-Mechanical System (MEMS) capacitive acceleration sensing device, comprising:
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a sensing element having first and second substantially planar and parallel spaced apart opposing surfaces and being suspended for pendulous motion about a single rotational axis oriented along a first axis of the sensing element;
one or more substantially planar substrates each having a face spaced away from one of the opposing surfaces of the sensing element; and
first and second pluralities of electrodes arranged lengthwise along the face of each substrate in elongated patterns that are oriented substantially perpendicular to the rotational axis of the sensing element such that at least a portion of each of the first and second pluralities of electrodes simultaneously experience substantially identical relative separation distances from the sensing element during rotational excursions of the sensing element about the rotational axis in which the sensing element both approaches and withdraws from the face of at least one of the substrates.
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21. A Micro Electro-Mechanical System (MEMS) capacitive acceleration sensing device, comprising:
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a sensing element having first and second substantially planar and parallel spaced apart opposing surfaces and being suspended for pendulous motion about a hinge axis oriented along a shorter axis of the sensing element; and
one or more substantially planar substrates each having a face spaced away from one of the opposing surfaces of the sensing element, the face of each of the one or more substrates further comprising a three-dimensional structure having substantially planar and parallel trough and mesa surfaces oriented crosswise to the hinge axis of the sensing element, the trough surface being spaced more distantly than the mesa surface from the surface of the sensing element, and each of the substrates having first and second pluralities of electrodes arranged respectively on the trough and mesa surfaces in elongated patterns oriented substantially crosswise to the hinge axis of the sensing element and forming respective first and second capacitors with the sensing element. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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Specification