Semiconductor dynamic sensor having variable capacitor formed on laminated substrate

• US 7,059,190 B2
• Filed: 08/26/2004
• Issued: 06/13/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/08/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Original Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Inventors: Ohta, Tameharu, Sakai, Minekazu
• Primary Examiner(s): KWOK, HELEN C
• Application Number:
  US10/926,147
• Publication Number:
  US 20050076714A1
• Time in Patent Office: 656 Days
• Field of Search: 735/143.2, 735/142.9, 735/040.2, 735/040.4, 735/041.2, 735/141.8, 735/142.1, 735/143.6, 735/041.4, 361/280, 361/283.3
• US Class Current: 73/514.32
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 15/0802 Details
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 15/125 by capacitive pick-up

Abstract

An acceleration sensor is formed on a top surface of a laminated silicon-on-insulator substrate. The acceleration sensor is composed of first and second capacitors each including a movable electrode that moves according to acceleration imposed thereon. The first and the second capacitors are so made that their capacitances change differently when the same acceleration is imposed and that the capacitance difference represents an amount of acceleration imposed thereon. A third capacitor having an output electrode solidly connected to the base substrate via the insulation layer is also formed on the same silicon-on-insulator substrate. An output representing amount of acceleration is taken out from the output electrode of the third capacitor.

Claims

1. A semiconductor dynamic sensor formed on a laminated substrate composed of a base substrate, an insulation layer and a thin semiconductor layer, laminated in this order, the semiconductor dynamic sensor comprising:

a first capacitor including a first beam structure formed on the thin semiconductor layer, the first beam structure having first beams and a first movable electrode supported by the first beams and facing the base substrate with an air gap therebetween, so that the first movable electrode moves in a direction perpendicular to a surface of the thin semiconductor layer when a dynamic force is imposed on the first movable electrode while a first carrier voltage is being applied thereto, a first capacitance being formed between the first movable electrode and the base substrate; and

a second capacitor including a second beam structure formed on the thin semiconductor layer, the second beam structure having second beams and a second movable electrode supported by the second beams and facing the base substrate with an air gap therebetween, so that the second movable electrode moves in a direction perpendicular to the surface of the thin semiconductor layer when a dynamic force is imposed on the second movable electrode while a second carrier voltage is being applied thereto, a second capacitance being formed between the second movable electrode and the base substrate, wherein;

the first capacitance varies according to the dynamic force applied to the first movable electrode, and the second capacitance varies, in a manner different from the first capacitance, according to the dynamic force applied to the second movable electrode; and

an output signal representing a capacitance difference between the first capacitance and the second capacitance is taken out from the base substrate.

2. The semiconductor dynamic sensor as in claim 1, further comprising a third capacitor having an output electrode formed on the thin semiconductor layer, the output electrode being solidly connected to the base substrate via the insulation layer, thereby forming a third capacitance between the output electrode and the base substrate, wherein:

the output signal is transmitted from the base substrate to the output electrode through the third capacitance.

3. The semiconductor dynamic sensor as in claim 1, wherein:

a length of the second beams are different from a length of the first beams, so that the second capacitance varies in a manner different from that of the first capacitance when the dynamic force is applied to the first movable electrode and the second movable electrode.

4. The semiconductor dynamic sensor as in claim 1, wherein:

a width of the second beams are different from a width of the first beams, so that the second capacitance varies in a manner different from that of the first capacitance when the dynamic force is applied to the first movable electrode and the second movable electrode.

5. The semiconductor dynamic sensor as in claim 1, wherein:

a mass or a surface area of the second movable electrode is different from a mass or a surface area of the first movable electrode, so that the second capacitance varies in a manner different from that of the first capacitance when the dynamic force is applied to the first movable electrode and the second movable electrode.

6. The semiconductor dynamic sensor as in claim 1, wherein:

a thickness or a material of the insulation layer between the first beam structure and the base substrate is different from a thickness or a material of the insulation layer between the second beam structure and the base substrate, so that the second capacitance varies in a manner different from that of the first capacitance when the dynamic force is applied to the first movable electrode and the second movable electrode.

7. The semiconductor dynamic sensor as in claim 1, wherein:

the thin semiconductor layer surrounding the first beam structure and the second beam structure is utilized as an output electrode to which the output signal is transmitted from the base substrate through a capacitor formed between the thin semiconductor layer and the base substrate.

8. The semiconductor dynamic sensor as in claim 1, wherein:

a hole reaching the base substrate from a surface of the thin semiconductor layer is formed, and a terminal pad is formed in the hole to directly contact the base substrate; and

the output signal is taken out from the terminal pad contacting the base substrate.

9. The semiconductor dynamic sensor as in claim 1, wherein:

the semiconductor dynamic sensor is an acceleration sensor for detecting an amount of acceleration for use in an automotive vehicle.

10. A semiconductor dynamic sensor formed on a laminated substrate composed of a base substrate, an insulation layer and a thin semiconductor layer, laminated in this order, the semiconductor dynamic sensor comprising:

a first capacitor including a first beam structure formed on the thin semiconductor layer, the first beam structure having first beams and a first movable electrode supported by the first beams and facing the base substrate with an air gap therebetween, so that the first movable electrode moves in a direction perpendicular to a surface of the thin semiconductor layer when a dynamic force is imposed on the first movable electrode while a first carrier voltage is being applied thereto, a first capacitance being formed between the first movable electrode and the base substrate; and

a second capacitor having an output electrode formed on the thin semiconductor layer, the output electrode being solidly connected to the base substrate via the insulation layer, thereby forming a second capacitance between the output electrode and the base substrate, wherein;

an output signal representing the first capacitance that varies in accordance with the dynamic force imposed on the first movable electrode is transmitted from the base substrate to the output electrode through the second capacitance and is taken out from the output electrode.

11. The semiconductor dynamic sensor as in claim 10, wherein:

a constant voltage is supplied to a frame portion of the thin semiconductor layer surrounding the first beam structure and the output electrode, thereby utilizing the frame portion as a shield layer.

12. The semiconductor dynamic sensor as in claim 10, wherein:

the second capacitor is removed from the thin semiconductor layer, and a frame portion surrounding the first beam structure is utilized as the output electrode for taking out the output signal.

13. The semiconductor dynamic sensor as in claim 10, wherein:

the semiconductor dynamic sensor is an acceleration sensor for detecting an amount of acceleration for use in an automotive vehicle.