MEMS accelerometer
First Claim
1. A microelectromechanical (MEMS) accelerometer comprising:
- a proof mass suspended by a hinge type flexure;
at least one planar coil located on the proof mass, the at least one planar coil having a coil plane; and
at least one magnet positioned such that a magnetic flux field passes through the at least one planar coil at a flux angle between approximately 30 degrees and approximately 60 degrees relative to the coil plane.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Microelectromechanical (MEMS) accelerometer and acceleration sensing methods. A MEMS accelerometer includes a proof mass suspended by at least one hinge type flexure, at least one planar coil located on the proof mass, and at least one magnet positioned such that a magnetic flux field passes through the at least one planar coil at an angle between approximately 30 degrees and approximately 60 degrees relative to the coil plane. In an example embodiment, the angle is approximately 45 degrees. The at least one magnet may include a first annular magnet positioned on a first side of the proof mass and a second annular magnet positioned on a second side of the proof mass. A method includes sensing a capacitance of a pickoff in the MEMS accelerometer and rebalancing the MEMS accelerometer by sending a current through the planar coil.
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Citations
12 Claims
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1. A microelectromechanical (MEMS) accelerometer comprising:
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a proof mass suspended by a hinge type flexure; at least one planar coil located on the proof mass, the at least one planar coil having a coil plane; and at least one magnet positioned such that a magnetic flux field passes through the at least one planar coil at a flux angle between approximately 30 degrees and approximately 60 degrees relative to the coil plane. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method of sensing acceleration with a MEMS accelerometer that includes a proof mass suspended by at least one hinge type flexure, at least one planar coil located on the proof mass, the at least one planar coil having a coil plane, and at least one magnet positioned such that a magnetic flux field passes through the at least one planar coil at a flux angle between approximately 30 degrees and approximately 60 degrees relative to the coil plane, the method comprising:
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sensing a capacitance of a pickoff in the MEMS accelerometer; and rebalancing the MEMS accelerometer by sending a current through the at east one planar coil such that the current passes through the magnetic flux field, wherein the current is based on the sensed capacitance. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11)
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12. A microelectromechanical (MEMS) accelerometer comprising:
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a MEMS proof mass suspended by at least one hinge type flexure; a first planar coil located on a first side of the proof mass, the first planar coil having a first coil plane; a second planar coil located on a second side of the proof mass, the second planar coil having a second coil plane; a first annular magnet positioned on a first side of the proof mass; a second annular magnet positioned on a second side of the proof mass; and a magnetic return path structure coupled to the first annular magnet and the second annular magnet, wherein the first and second annular magnets are positioned such that a magnetic flux field passes through the first and second planar coils a flux angle of approximately 45 degrees relative to the first and second coil planes.
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Specification