Multi-axis capacitive accelerometer

• US 8,205,498 B2
• Filed: 11/16/2009
• Issued: 06/26/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 11/18/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
• Original Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
• Inventors: Hsu, Yu-Wen, Chen, Sheah, Chien, Hsin-Tang
• Primary Examiner(s): WILLIAMS, HEZRON
• Assistant Examiner(s): Shah, Samir M
• Application Number:
  US12/618,791
• Publication Number:
  US 20100122579A1
• Time in Patent Office: 953 Days
• Field of Search: 735/143.2, 734/88, 735/041.2, 735/10, 735/140.1, 735/142.4, 735/142.9, 735/143.8
• US Class Current: 73/514.32
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 15/125 by capacitive pick-up
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 15/18 in two or more dimensions
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 2015/0814 for translational movement of the mass, e.g. shuttle type
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 2015/082 for two degrees of freedom of movement of a single mass
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 2015/0831 the mass being of the paddle type having the pivot axis between the longitudinal ends of the mass, e.g. see-saw configuration

Abstract

A multi-axis accelerometer is consisted of a substrate with sensing electrodes and a structure layer. The structure layer includes anchor bases fixed on the substrate. A first proof mass is disposed over the substrate and has a first opening and a second opening symmetric to each other. The first proof mass is suspended to the anchor bases. Fixed sensing blocks are disposed on the substrate, and capacitors are formed between each fixed sensing block and the first proof mass for sensing acceleration along two in-plane directions. A second proof mass and a third proof mass are disposed in the first opening and the second opening and are asymmetrically suspended. Separate electrodes are disposed on the substrate and form two differential capacitors with the second proof mass and the third proof mass for sensing the out-of-plane acceleration.

Claims

1. A multi-axis capacitive accelerometer, comprising:

a substrate, having a plurality of sensing electrodes thereon;

a structure layer, suspended over the substrate, the structure layer comprises;

a plurality of anchor bases, fixed on the substrate;

a plurality of elastic structures, comprising at least a first set of elastic linkages, a second set of elastic linkages and a third set of elastic linkages;

a first proof mass, suspended over the substrate by the first set of elastic linkages and connected to the anchor bases for constraining motion of the first proof mass either in a first direction or a second direction on a plane when sustaining an acceleration, wherein the first direction and the second direction are perpendicular to one another;

a second proof mass, suspended inside the first proof mass by the second set of elastic linkages for shifting in a direction perpendicular and coplanar with the shifting direction of the first proof mass;

a plurality of first fixed sensing blocks, disposed inside the first proof mass, wherein a first capacitive structure is formed between each first fixed sensing block and the corresponding first proof mass or second proof mass;

a third proof mass and a fourth proof mass, corresponding to the sensing electrodes on the substrate and being symmetrically disposed at two opposite sides of a central axis of the first proof mass, wherein the third proof mass and the fourth proof mass are asymmetrically suspended inside the second proof mass by the third set of elastic linkages and are provided with rotating axes along the first direction for achieving asymmetry in the second direction, and when the first proof mass sustains a force in a third direction perpendicular to the first direction and the second direction, the third proof mass and the fourth proof mass rotate along a rotating axis; and

a plurality of second fixed sensing blocks, disposed inside the first proof mass, wherein each second fixed sensing block forms a second capacitive structure with the second proof mass.

2. The multi-axis capacitive accelerometer according to claim 1, wherein each first capacitive structure comprises:

a comb-like electrode, extended from the first proof mass or the second proof mass, and having a plurality of comb-like capacitive plates; and

a fixed comb-like electrode, extended from one of the first fixed sensing blocks and having a plurality of fixed comb-like capacitive plates, wherein the comb-like capacitive plates and the fixed comb-like capacitive plates are disposed in parallel and alternately.

3. The multi-axis capacitive accelerometer according to claim 2, wherein the comb-like capacitive plates and the fixed comb-like capacitive plates of each first capacitive structure are extended in the first direction for sensing an acceleration in the second direction.

4. The multi-axis capacitive accelerometer according to claim 1, wherein each second capacitive structure comprises:

a comb-like electrode, extended from the second proof mass, and having a plurality of comb-like capacitive plates; and

a fixed comb-like electrode, extended from one of the second fixed sensing blocks and having a plurality of fixed comb-like capacitive plates, wherein the comb-like capacitive plates and the fixed comb-like capacitive plates are disposed in parallel and alternately.

5. The multi-axis capacitive accelerometer according to claim 4, wherein the comb-like capacitive plates and the fixed comb-like capacitive plates of each second capacitive structure are extended in the second direction for sensing an acceleration in the first direction.

6. The multi-axis capacitive accelerometer according to claim 1, wherein the first set of elastic linkages is connected between the first proof mass and the anchor bases for driving the first proof mass shifting in the first direction or the second direction.

7. The multi-axis capacitive accelerometer according to claim 1, wherein the second set of elastic linkages is connected between the second proof mass and the first proof mass for driving the second proof mass shifting in a direction perpendicular to and coplanar with a shifting direction of the first proof mass.

8. The multi-axis capacitive accelerometer according to claim 1, wherein the third set of elastic linkages is disposed between the second proof mass and the third proof mass and between the second proof mass and the fourth proof mass and respectively connected to two ends of corresponding rotating axes for driving the third proof mass and the fourth proof mass rotating along the corresponding rotating axes.

9. The multi-axis capacitive accelerometer according to claim 1, wherein the sensing electrodes of the substrate are disposed at two opposite sides of each rotating axis.

10. The multi-axis capacitive accelerometer according to claim 1, wherein the first proof mass has a bottom surface facing the substrate and a plurality of bumps on the bottom surface.

11. The multi-axis capacitive accelerometer according to claim 1, wherein the third proof mass and the fourth proof mass are provided with a plurality of micro-holes for reducing damping effect.

12. The multi-axis capacitive accelerometer according to claim 1, wherein the first proof mass has a first opening for accommodating the second proof mass, and the second proof mass has a second opening for accommodating the third proof mass and a third opening for accommodating the fourth proof mass.

13. The multi-axis capacitive accelerometer according to claim 1, wherein the first set of elastic linkages connects the anchor bases and the first proof mass, and the second set of elastic linkages connects the first proof mass and the second proof mass.

14. The multi-axis capacitive accelerometer according to claim 1, wherein the elastic structures comprise springs.

15. A multi-axis capacitive accelerometer, comprising:

a substrate, having at least two sensing electrodes disposed on a surface thereof;

a structure layer, comprising;

a plurality of anchor bases, fixed on the surface of the substrate;

a first proof mass, suspended over the surface of the substrate and provided with a central axis, the first proof mass further having a first opening and a second opening both located inside the first proof mass and symmetrically disposed at two opposite sides of the central axis;

a first set of elastic linkages, connecting the anchor base and the first proof mass;

a plurality of fixed sensing blocks, adjacent to the first proof mass and situated on the surface of the substrate, wherein a capacitive structure is formed between each of the fixed sensing blocks and the first proof mass;

a second proof mass and a third proof mass, respectively located inside the first opening and the second opening, and suspended over the sensing electrodes of the substrate to form a sensing capacitance; and

a second set of elastic linkages and a third set of elastic linkages, respectively connected between the second proof mass and the first proof mass and between the third proof mass and the first proof mass for asymmetrically suspending the second proof mass and the third proof mass in the first opening and the second opening, respectively, the second proof mass and the third proof mass rotating along axes parallel to an X-axis when sustaining an acceleration along a Z-axis, wherein a rotating axis of the second proof mass and a rotating axis of the third proof mass are symmetrically disposed at two opposite sides of the central axis of the first proof mass.

16. The multi-axis capacitive accelerometer according to claim 15, wherein the fixed sensing blocks are located outside the first proof mass.

17. The multi-axis capacitive accelerometer according to claim 16, wherein each capacitive structure formed by the fixed sensing blocks and the first proof mass comprises:

a comb-like electrode, extended from the first proof mass and having a plurality of comb-like capacitive plates; and

a fixed comb-like electrode, extended from one of the fixed sensing blocks and having a plurality of fixed comb-like capacitive plates, wherein the comb-like capacitive plates and the fixed comb-like capacitive plates are disposed in parallel and alternately.

18. The multi-axis capacitive accelerometer according to claim 17, wherein the capacitive structures comprise:

a plurality of first capacitive structures, wherein the comb-like capacitive plates and the fixed comb-like capacitive plates of each first capacitive structure are extended along a first direction parallel to the surface of the substrate for sensing an acceleration in a second direction, and the first direction and the second direction are coplanar and perpendicular to one another; and

a plurality of second capacitive structures, wherein the comb-like capacitive plates and the fixed comb-like capacitive plates of each second capacitive structure are extended along the second direction for sensing an acceleration in the first direction.

19. The multi-axis capacitive accelerometer according to claim 16, wherein the anchor bases comprise a first fixed block and a second fixed block disposed at two opposite sides of the first proof mass.

20. The multi-axis capacitive accelerometer according to claim 19, wherein the first set of elastic linkages comprises a first spring and a second spring respectively corresponding to the first fixed block and the second fixed block, and the first spring and the second spring provide restoring forces in a first direction and a second direction, the first direction and the second direction being coplanar and perpendicular to one another.

21. The multi-axis capacitive accelerometer according to claim 20, wherein the first proof mass is symmetric along the central axis and is connected to the first fixed block and the second fixed block through the first spring and the second spring respectively.

22. The multi-axis capacitive accelerometer according to claim 20, wherein the second set of elastic linkages comprises a third spring and a fourth spring located on the corresponding rotating axis and connected between the first proof mass and the second proof mass.

23. The multi-axis capacitive accelerometer according to claim 22, wherein the third set of elastic linkages comprises a fifth spring and a sixth spring located on the corresponding rotating axis and connected between the first proof mass and the third proof mass.

24. The multi-axis capacitive accelerometer according to claim 16, wherein the first proof mass has a bottom surface facing the substrate and a plurality of bumps on the bottom surface.

25. The multi-axis capacitive accelerometer according to claim 16, wherein the second proof mass and the third proof mass are provided with a plurality of micro-holes for reducing damping effect.

26. The multi-axis capacitive accelerometer according to claim 15, wherein the first proof mass further has a plurality of third openings therein and at least a part of the fixed sensing blocks are located in the third openings.

27. The multi-axis capacitive accelerometer according to claim 26, wherein each capacitive structure formed by the fixed sensing block and the first proof mass comprises:

a comb-like electrode, extended from the first proof mass and having a plurality of comb-like capacitive plates; and

a fixed comb-like electrode, extended from one of the fixed sensing blocks and having a plurality of fixed comb-like capacitive plates, wherein the comb-like capacitive plates and the fixed comb-like capacitive plates are disposed in parallel and alternately.

28. The multi-axis capacitive accelerometer according to claim 27, wherein the capacitive structures comprise:

a plurality of first capacitive structures, wherein the comb-like capacitive plates and the fixed comb-like capacitive plates of each first capacitive structure are extended along a first direction parallel to the surface of the substrate for sensing an acceleration in a second direction, and the first direction and the second direction are coplanar and perpendicular to one another; and

a plurality of second capacitive structures, wherein the comb-like capacitive plates and the fixed comb-like capacitive plates of each second capacitive structure are extended along the second direction for sensing an acceleration in the first direction.

29. The multi-axis capacitive accelerometer according to claim 28, wherein the anchor bases comprise a first fixed block and a second fixed block disposed at two opposite sides of the first proof mass.

30. The multi-axis capacitive accelerometer according to claim 29, wherein the first set of elastic linkages comprises a first spring and a second spring respectively corresponding to the first fixed block and the second fixed block, and the first spring and the second spring provide restoring forces in a first direction and a second direction, the first direction and the second direction being coplanar and perpendicular to one another.

31. The multi-axis capacitive accelerometer according to claim 30, wherein the first proof mass is symmetric along the central axis and is connected to the first fixed block and the second fixed block through the first spring and the second spring respectively.

32. The multi-axis capacitive accelerometer according to claim 30, wherein the second set of elastic linkages comprises a third spring and a fourth spring located on the corresponding rotating axis and connected between the first proof mass and the second proof mass.

33. The multi-axis capacitive accelerometer according to claim 32, wherein the third set of elastic linkages comprises a fifth spring and a sixth spring located on the corresponding rotating axis and connected between the first proof mass and the third proof mass.

34. The multi-axis capacitive accelerometer according to claim 26, wherein the first proof mass has a bottom surface facing the substrate and a plurality of bumps on the bottom surface.

35. The multi-axis capacitive accelerometer according to claim 26, wherein the second proof mass and the third proof mass are provided with a plurality of micro-holes for reducing damping effect.

36. The multi-axis capacitive accelerometer according to claim 15, wherein the first set of elastic linkages, the second set of elastic linkages or the third set of elastic linkages comprises springs.