Symmetrical differential capacitive sensor and method of making same
First Claim
1. A device comprising:
- a Micro Electro-Mechanical System (MEMS) sensor, said sensor comprising;
a substrate;
a movable sensing element attached to said substrate, said movable element being adapted for motion relative to a rotational axis substantially geometrically centered between first and second ends of said movable sensing element to form a first section between said rotational axis and said first end, said first section having a first shape, and a second section between said rotational axis and said second end, said second section exhibiting a second shape that is substantially equivalent to said first shape such that said movable element is geometrically symmetric relative to said rotational axis, said first section including first apertures extending through said movable element to produce said first section having a first mass, said second section including second apertures extending through said movable element to produce said second section having a second mass that is less than said first mass; and
at least one electrode positioned on said substrate facing said first and second sections of said movable element.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A symmetrical differential capacitive sensor (60) includes a movable element (66) pivotable about a geometrically centered rotational axis (70). The element (66) includes sections (86, 88). Each of the sections (86, 88) has a stop (94, 96) spaced equally away from the rotational axis (70). Each of the sections (86, 88) also has a different configuration (104, 108) of apertures (102, 106). The configurations (104, 108) of apertures (102, 106) create a mass imbalance between the sections (86, 88) so that the element (66) pivots about the rotational axis (70) in response to acceleration. The apertures (102, 106) also facilitate etch release during manufacturing and reduce air damping when the element (66) rotates. Apertures (126, 128) are formed in electrodes (78, 80) underlying the apertures (102, 106) to match the capacitance between the two sections (86, 88) of movable element (86) to provide the same bi-directional actuation capability.
65 Citations
16 Claims
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1. A device comprising:
a Micro Electro-Mechanical System (MEMS) sensor, said sensor comprising; a substrate; a movable sensing element attached to said substrate, said movable element being adapted for motion relative to a rotational axis substantially geometrically centered between first and second ends of said movable sensing element to form a first section between said rotational axis and said first end, said first section having a first shape, and a second section between said rotational axis and said second end, said second section exhibiting a second shape that is substantially equivalent to said first shape such that said movable element is geometrically symmetric relative to said rotational axis, said first section including first apertures extending through said movable element to produce said first section having a first mass, said second section including second apertures extending through said movable element to produce said second section having a second mass that is less than said first mass; and at least one electrode positioned on said substrate facing said first and second sections of said movable element. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A Micro Electro-Mechanical System (MEMS) sensor comprising:
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a substrate; a movable sensing element attached to said substrate, said element being adapted for motion relative to a rotational axis substantially geometrically centered between first and second ends of said movable sensing element to form a first section between said rotational axis, said first section having a first shape, and said first end and a second section between said rotational axis and said second end, said second section having a second shape that is substantially equivalent to said first shape such that said movable element is geometrically symmetric relative to said rotational axis, said first section including first apertures extending through said movable element to produce said first section having a first mass, said second section including second apertures extending through said movable element to produce said second section having a second mass that is less than said first mass, said first apertures are arranged in said first section in a first configuration, said second apertures are arranged in said second section in a second configuration, said second configuration differing from said first configuration, and each of said first and second configurations describing a size and a quantity of corresponding ones of said first apertures and said second apertures; a first stop extending from a surface of said movable element proximate said first end; a second stop extending from said surface of said movable element proximate said second end, and each of said first and second stops is displaced a substantially equivalent distance from said rotational axis; and at least one electrode positioned on said substrate facing said first and second sections of said movable element. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16)
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Specification