Motion detector and method of producing the same

• US 7,196,404 B2
• Filed: 05/20/2004
• Issued: 03/27/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/20/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Analog Devices, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Analog Devices, Inc.
• Inventors: Kelly, Thomas W., Schirmer, Mark L.
• Primary Examiner(s): THAI, LUAN C
• Application Number:
  US10/849,578
• Publication Number:
  US 20050260788A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,041 Days
• Field of Search: 257/666, 257/676, 257/E23.039, 257/E23.031, 735/041.2, 735/040.3, 735/040.9, 735/140.1
• US Class Current: 257/676
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/01006 Mounting of electrical components in vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 1/023 for acceleration measuring devices
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 13/00 Indicating or recording presence, absence, or direction, of movement electric switches H01H; counting moving objects G06M7/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/00 Indexing scheme for arrangements or methods for connecting or disconnecting semiconductor or solid-state bodies as covered by H01L24/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/0002 Not covered by any one of groups H01L24/00, H01L24/00 and H01L2224/00

Abstract

A method of producing an electronic device electrically and mechanically couples an integrated circuit to a leadframe to produce an intermediate assembly. At least a portion of the intermediate assembly then is encapsulated with a molten encapsulating material. After it is encapsulated, the method permits the molten encapsulating material to substantially solidify. A method of detecting the orientation of a sensor as mounted to an external object also is disclosed.

Claims

1. A sensor mount for mounting a motion sensor to a single mount apparatus of an external object, the motion sensor being capable of detecting motion along or about a sensor axis, the sensor mount comprising:

a mounting area for mounting the sensor; and

a coupler system that is capable of coupling to the single mount apparatus of the external object in a manner that aligns the sensor axis with any one of a first axis, a second axis, or a third axis,

the motion sensor being capable of detecting motion of the external object along or about the axis to which the sensor axis is aligned.

2. The sensor mount as defined by claim 1 further comprising circuitry for detecting the orientation of the sensor mount.

3. The sensor mount as defined by claim 1 wherein the coupler system includes a plurality of substantially orthogonal bushings that are capable of receiving a fastener.

4. The sensor mount as defined by claim 1 wherein the sensor is capable of detecting motion along or about one axis only.

5. The sensor mount as defined by claim 1 wherein the sensor is a MEMS device, the MEMS device being an accelerometer or a gyroscope.

6. The sensor mount as defined by claim 1 wherein, the first, second, and third axes are substantially orthogonal.

7. The sensor mount as defined by claim 1 wherein the sensor mount has a lead frame, the sensor being mounted to the leadframe to form an intermediate assembly, the intermediate assembly being at least partly encapsulated by an encapsulating material.

8. The sensor mount as defined by claim 1 further comprising the motion sensor mounted to the mounting area.