Electrostatic capacitance type acceleration sensor

• US 7,624,638 B2
• Filed: 11/01/2007
• Issued: 12/01/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/09/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
• Original Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
• Inventors: Konno, Nobuaki, Hirata, Yoshiaki
• Primary Examiner(s): Kwok; Helen C.
• Application Number:
  US11/933,685
• Publication Number:
  US 20080110260A1
• Time in Patent Office: 761 Days
• Field of Search: 735/143.2, 735/142.9, 735/141.6, 735/141.7, 735/141.8, 735/143.6, 735/143.8, 735/142.1
• US Class Current: 73/514.32
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 15/125 by capacitive pick-up

Abstract

First and second detection frames are supported by a substrate to be rotatable about first and second torsion axes. A first link beam is connected to the first detection frame on an axis located at a position moved from a position of the first torsion axis in a first direction crossing the first torsion axis and directed to one end side of the first detection frame. A second link beam is connected to the second detection frame on an axis located at a position shifted from a position of the second torsion axis in a second direction opposite to the first direction. An inertia mass body is displaceable in a thickness direction of the substrate by being linked with the first and second detection frames by the first and second link beams, respectively. This constitution makes it possible to obtain a highly precise acceleration sensor hardly influenced by disturbances.

Claims

1. An acceleration sensor comprising:

a substrate;

a first torsion beam supported by the substrate to be distorted around a first torsion axis;

a first detection frame supported by the substrate with the first torsion beam so as to be rotatable about the first torsion axis;

a second torsion beam supported by the substrate to be distorted around a second torsion axis;

a second detection frame supported by the substrate with the second torsion beam so as to be rotatable about the second torsion axis;

a plurality of detection electrodes formed on the substrate so as to face each of the first and second detection frames, for detecting an angle formed between the substrate and each of the first and second detection frames on the basis of electrostatic capacitance;

a first link beam connected to the first detection frame on an axis located at a position moved from a position of the first torsion axis in a first direction crossing the first torsion axis and directed to one end side of the first detection frame;

a second link beam connected to the second detection frame on an axis located at a position shifted from a position of the second torsion axis in a second direction opposite to the first direction; and

an inertia mass body supported above the substrate to be displaceable in a thickness direction of the substrate, by being linked with the first and second detection frames by the first and second link beams, respectively.

2. The acceleration sensor according to claim 1, wherein a dimension between the first torsion axis and the first link beam is equal to a dimension between the second torsion axis and the second link beam.

3. The acceleration sensor according to claim 1, wherein the first and second torsion axes are in parallel with each other.

4. The acceleration sensor according to claim 1, further comprising a supporting beam for supporting the inertia mass body above the substrate to enable the inertia mass body to be elastically displaceable in the thickness direction of the substrate.

5. The acceleration sensor according to claim 1, further comprising a cap covering the first and second detection frames.

6. The acceleration sensor according to claim 1, wherein the inertia mass body has a conductive part, and further comprising an electrode for electrostatically driving the inertia mass body in the thickness direction of the substrate, on the substrate under the conductive part.

7. The acceleration sensor according to claim 1, wherein

the plurality of detection electrodes includes:

a plurality of first detection electrodes formed on the substrate so as to face the first detection frame, for detecting an angle formed between the substrate and the first detection frame on the basis of electrostatic capacitance; and

a plurality of second detection electrodes formed on the substrate so as to face the second detection frame, for detecting an angle formed between the substrate and the second detection frame on the basis of electrostatic capacitance, and

the plurality of first detection electrodes are provided symmetrically with respect to an axis of rotation of the first detection frame when seen in plane, and the plurality of second detection electrodes are provided symmetrically with respect to an axis of rotation of the second detection frame when seen in plane.

8. The acceleration sensor according to claim 7, wherein centers of gravity of the first and second detection frames are located on the axes of rotation of the first and second detection frames, respectively.

9. The acceleration sensor according to claim 7, wherein the first and second torsion axes are the axes of rotation of the first and second detection frames, respectively.