Movable sensor device

• US 7,337,666 B2
• Filed: 03/02/2006
• Issued: 03/04/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/02/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Original Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Inventors: Mase, Shunji
• Primary Examiner(s): KWOK, HELEN C
• Application Number:
  US11/365,606
• Publication Number:
  US 20060197173A1
• Time in Patent Office: 733 Days
• Field of Search: 735/040.4, 735/041.2, 735/041.4, 735/041.5, 735/041.6, 735/041.3, 735/143.2, 257414-419
• US Class Current: 73/504.12
• CPC Class Codes: B81B 2201/0235 Accelerometers
• CPC Class Codes: B81B 3/0078 Constitution or structural means for improving mechanical properties not provided for in B81B3/007 - B81B3/0075
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 19/5719 using planar vibrating masses driven in a translation vibration along an axis

Abstract

A movable sensor device includes a laminate body in which a micromechanical acting layer having a movable sensor structure and a coating layer coated on the micromechanical acting layer is successively laminated on a substrate. A draft portion penetrates through the laminate body in the lamination direction. The draft portion and a residual portion thereof are disposed at a peripheral portion of the movable sensor structure in the laminate body. The residual portion is a thin portion that is smaller in thickness than the laminate body and has a spring function.

Claims

1. A movable sensor device comprising:

a laminate body in which a micromechanical acting layer having a movable sensor structure and a coating layer coated on the micromechanical acting layer is successively laminated on a substrate;

a draft portion penetrating through the laminate body in a lamination direction; and

a residual portion of the draft portion, wherein the draft portion and the residual portion are disposed at a peripheral portion of the movable sensor structure in the laminate body,

wherein the residual portion is a thin portion that is smaller in thickness than the laminate body and has a spring function for attenuating external vibration, and

wherein the residual portion supports an inner part of the laminate body surrounded by the draft portion.

5. The movable sensor device according to claim 1, wherein the movable sensor structure is an angular velocity detecting structure having a vibrator for detecting an angular velocity.

2. A movable sensor device comprising:

a substrate;

a micromechanical acting layer provided on the substrate;

a coating layer provided on the micromechanical acting layer; and

an electrically conductive zone layer provided on the coating layer,

wherein the coating layer has a monocrystal area and a polycrystalline area that are epitaxially grown on an monocrystalline area existing under the monocrystal area and on a polycrystalline start layer existing under the polycrystalline area respectively,

wherein the micromechanical acting layer has a monocrystal area and a polycrystalline area that are epitaxially grown on an monocrystalline area existing under the monocrystal area and on a polycrystalline start layer existing under the polycrystalline area respectively,

wherein a movable sensor structure is formed in the polycrystalline area of the micromechanical acting layer,

wherein a draft portion and a residual portion of the draft portion are formed in a laminate portion constructed by laminating the substrate, the monocrystalline area of the micromechanical acting layer and the monocrystalline area of the coating layer so that the draft portion penetrates through the laminate portion in a direction of the laminating,

wherein the residual portion is designed to serve as a thin portion smaller in thickness than the laminate portion and has a spring function for attenuating external vibration, and

wherein the residual portion supports an inner part of the laminate body surrounded by the draft portion.

3. The movable sensor device according to claim 2, wherein the residual portion is formed as the thin portion by removing the substrate and the monocrystalline area of the micromechanical acting layer in the laminate portion and leaving a part of the monocrystalline area of the coating layer.

4. The movable sensor device according to claim 2, wherein the movable sensor structure is an angular velocity detecting structure having a vibrator for detecting an angular velocity.