Stress detection method for force sensor device with multiple axis sensor and force sensor device employing this method

• US 7,472,611 B2
• Filed: 12/11/2007
• Issued: 01/06/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/01/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Tamagawa Seiki Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Fujitsu Limited, Fujitsu Media Devices Limited (Fujitsu Limited)
• Inventors: Ono, Masaaki, Ishikawa, Hiroshi, Hanazawa, Toshio, Tokunaga, Hiroshi, Miyashita, Tsutomu
• Primary Examiner(s): Lefkowitz; Edward
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kirkland, III; Freddie
• Application Number:
  US12/000,227
• Publication Number:
  US 20080173106A1
• Time in Patent Office: 392 Days
• Field of Search: 73/13.7, 73/13.8, 73/17.7, 73/17.8, 734/93, 735/040.2, 738/626.26, 738/626.27
• US Class Current: 73/862.626
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 15/123 by piezo-resistive elements, e.g. semiconductor strain gauges
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 15/18 in two or more dimensions
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 2015/084 the mass being suspended at more than one of its sides, e.g. membrane-type suspension, so as to permit multi-axis movement of the mass
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 21/00 Testing or calibrating of apparatus or devices covered by the preceding groups

Abstract

The present invention provides the stress detection method for force sensor device with multiple axis sensor device and force sensor device employing this method, whose installation angle is arbitrary. The stress detection method includes, first and second force sensors whose detection axes are orthogonal to each other. When the detection axis of first force sensor forms angle θ with direction of detected stress Ax, and the stress component of direction perpendicular to direction of the detected stress Ax is Az, output Apx of the axis direction of first force sensor is found as Apx=α_x (Ax×cos θ+Az×sin θ), and output Apz of the axis direction of the second force sensor is found as Apz=α_z (Ax×sin θ+Az×cos θ), and, when α_x and α_z are detection sensitivity coefficients of first and second force sensors respectively, the detection sensitivity coefficient α_z of second force sensor is set as α_z=α_x tan θ, and the detected stress Ax is found as Ax=(Apx−Apz)/α_x(cos θ−tan θ×sin θ).

Claims

1. A force sensor device that detects stress delivered in a detected axis direction comprising:

a frame portion with outside edges of a rectangular shape;

a weight that is disposed within the frame portion; and

four flexible beams that are arranged in orthogonal axis directions that pass through the center of the weight, the respective one end of which is connected to the weight and the respective other end of which is connected to the frame portion at an inclination that forms a 45°

angle with the outside edge of the frame portion,

wherein each of the four flexible beams comprises a detection element a physical quantity of which varies according to the flexibility of the beams when stress is delivered to the weight.

2. The force sensor device according to claim 1, wherein the detection element a physical quantity of which varies comprises four piezoresistive elements, which are arranged in two mutually orthogonal axis directions that pass through the center of the weight and at the positions where the beams are connected to the frame portion and the weight;

and

the four piezoresistive elements are connected to a Wheatstone bridge.

3. The force sensor device according to claim 2, further comprising:

two sets of the four piezoresistive elements in either one of the two orthogonal axis directions,

wherein the stress of the first axis direction is detected by means of the four piezoresistive elements of one of the two sets and the stress in a direction that is perpendicular to the two orthogonal axis directions is detected by the four piezoresistive elements of the other set.

4. The force sensor device according to claim 2, further comprising:

switch unit that oppositely switch an arrangement in which two resistive elements of four piezoresistive elements arranged in either axis direction of two orthogonal axis directions are connected to the Wheatstone bridge,

wherein the detection of stress in the first axis direction or the detection of stress in the perpendicular direction is rendered possible by means of the connection switching by the switch means.

5. A force sensor device that detects stress delivered in a detected axis direction, comprising:

a frame portion with outside edges of a rectangular shape;

a weight that is disposed within the frame portion;

four flexible beams that are arranged in orthogonal axis directions that pass through the center of the weight, the respective one end of which is connected to the weight and the respective other end of which is connected to the frame portion at an inclination that forms a 45°

angle with the outside edge of the frame portion;

a first electrode portion that is formed on the weight and on each of the four flexible beams; and

an opposing electrode portion that is disposed to face the first electrode portion via an insulator,

wherein the capacitance between the first electrode portion and the opposing electrode portion varies according to the flexibility of the beams when stress is delivered to the weight.