Pyramid socket suspension
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A micro-machined electromechanical system (MEMS) device, comprising:
- a plurality of crystalline wafers each having first and second substantially planar and parallel spaced apart opposing surfaces;
first and second clamshell covers formed in first and second ones of the crystalline wafers, the clamshell covers each comprising a substantially planar base portion surrounded by upright peripheral wall portions;
a micro-machined electromechanical sensing mechanism formed in a third one of the crystalline wafers, the sensing mechanism comprising a frame portion sized to fit within the upright peripheral wall portions of the first and second clamshell covers and a proof mass formed within the frame portion and flexibly suspended therefrom;
a first plurality of complementary interfaces positioned between the frame portion of the sensing mechanism and the base portion of the first clamshell cover and being fixed relative to one of the frame portion and the first clamshell cover; and
a second plurality of complementary male projection and female socket interfaces positioned between the frame portion of the sensing mechanism and the base portion of the second clamshell cover and being flexibly suspended relative to one of the frame portion and the second clamshell cover.
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Abstract
An apparatus and method for flexibly suspending a sensing mechanism between a pair of cover plates, including a sensing mechanism formed in a crystalline silicon substrate; a pair of cover plates formed in crystalline silicon substrates; a first plurality of complementary interfaces in fixed relation between the sensing mechanism and a first one of the cover plates; and a second plurality of complementary interfaces flexibly suspended between the sensing mechanism and a second one of the cover plates with one or more of the flexibly suspended interfaces being a complementary male and female interface.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A micro-machined electromechanical system (MEMS) device, comprising:
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a plurality of crystalline wafers each having first and second substantially planar and parallel spaced apart opposing surfaces; first and second clamshell covers formed in first and second ones of the crystalline wafers, the clamshell covers each comprising a substantially planar base portion surrounded by upright peripheral wall portions; a micro-machined electromechanical sensing mechanism formed in a third one of the crystalline wafers, the sensing mechanism comprising a frame portion sized to fit within the upright peripheral wall portions of the first and second clamshell covers and a proof mass formed within the frame portion and flexibly suspended therefrom; a first plurality of complementary interfaces positioned between the frame portion of the sensing mechanism and the base portion of the first clamshell cover and being fixed relative to one of the frame portion and the first clamshell cover; and a second plurality of complementary male projection and female socket interfaces positioned between the frame portion of the sensing mechanism and the base portion of the second clamshell cover and being flexibly suspended relative to one of the frame portion and the second clamshell cover. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. An apparatus for flexibly suspending a sensing mechanism between a pair of cover plates, the apparatus comprising:
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first, second and third crystalline wafers each having first and second substantially planar and parallel spaced apart opposing surfaces; a micro-machined electromechanical force sensing mechanism formed in the first crystalline substrate, the sensing mechanism being formed with a relatively stationary frame portion substantially surrounding an operational portion thereof formed as a proof mass flexibly suspended within the frame portion; a pair of cover plates formed in the second and third crystalline substrates and mounted on either side of the sensing mechanism and interfaced with the frame portion thereof; a plurality of flat tipped male projections and complementary flats interfaced between the frame portion of the sensing mechanism and the first cover plate; a plurality of male projections and complementary female indentations flexibly suspended between the flame portion or the sensing mechanism and the second cover plate; and a bond joint between the pair of cover plates. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. An apparatus for flexibly suspending a sensing mechanism between a pair of cover plates, the apparatus comprising:
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a pair of cover plates formed in respective crystalline silicon substrates each formed with a base surrounded by walls, an inner surface of the base of a first of the cover plates being formed with a plurality of flat tipped male projections, and an inner surface of the base of a second of the cover plates being formed with a plurality of male truncated pyramid-shaped projections; and a micro-machined electromechanical force sensing mechanism formed in a crystalline silicon substrate, the sensing mechanism having a proof mass flexibly suspended from a frame portion thereof with the frame portion having a first surface formed with a plurality of flats each complementary to one of the plurality of flat tipped male projections formed on the inner surface of the base of a first cover plate, and a second surface formed with a plurality of female truncated pyramidal-shaped indentations each complementary to one of the plurality of male truncated pyramid-shaped projections. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification