Multi-axis force sensor and acceleration sensor

• US 8,250,934 B2
• Filed: 02/09/2010
• Issued: 08/28/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/10/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Inventors: Sakurai, Nobuhiro
• Primary Examiner(s): Caputo, Lisa
• Assistant Examiner(s): DUNLAP, JONATHAN M
• Application Number:
  US12/702,858
• Publication Number:
  US 20100199783A1
• Time in Patent Office: 931 Days
• Field of Search: 73862041-862045, 737/64, 296/211, 296/101, 295/921
• US Class Current: 73/862.044
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 5/162 of piezoresistors
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 5/1627 of strain gauges using piezoresistors G01L5/162
• 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 2015/0842 the mass being of clover leaf shape

Abstract

There is provided a multi-axis force sensor including first and second bridge circuit groups detecting resistances of respective first and second groups of strain resistance elements provided at respective strain producing portions. The strain producing portions are formed on two axes intersecting with respect to each other at a right angle. The first group of strain resistance elements are arranged on one axis across an action portion so as to face with respect to each other, and the second group of strain resistance elements are arranged on another axis across the action portion so as to face with respect to each other. The first bridge circuit groups respectively output a positive voltage when receiving tensile force, and the second bridge circuit groups respectively output a negative voltage when receiving tensile force.

Claims

1. A multi-axis force sensor comprising:

an action portion to which external force is applied;

a support portion which supports the action portion;

a connection portion which connects the support portion to the action portion;

strain producing portions which are formed at the connection portion and which produce strain originating from the external force;

a first group of strain resistance elements and a second group of strain resistance elements provided at the respective strain producing portions;

first bridge circuit groups which detect respective resistances of the first group of strain resistance elements and second bridge circuit groups which detect respective resistances of the second group of strain resistance elements,

wherein the strain producing portions are formed on two axes intersecting at right angle on the same plane,

the first group of strain resistance elements are provided on one axis across the action portion so as to face with respect to each other, the second group of strain resistance elements are provided on another axis across the action portion so as to face with respect to each other,

the first bridge circuit groups output a positive voltage respectively when the first group of strain resistance elements receive tensile force originating from the external force and output a negative voltage when the first group of strain resistance elements receive compressive force, and the second bridge circuit group output a negative voltage respectively when the second group of strain resistance elements receive tensile force and output a positive voltage when the second group of strain resistance elements receive compressive force.

2. The multi-axis force sensor according to claim 1, wherein the first group of strain resistance elements comprise a p-type semiconductor strain gauge respectively, and the second group of strain resistance elements comprise an n-type semiconductor strain gauge respectively.

3. The multi-axis force sensor according to claim 1, wherein the first group of strain resistance elements are built in ground sides of the first bridge circuit groups respectively, and the second group of strain resistance elements are built in voltage-input sides of the second bridge circuit groups respectively.

4. An acceleration sensor comprising:

an action portion having a weight with a mass;

a frame which is fixed to an external structural body and supports the weight;

a connection portion which connects the action portion to the frame;

strain-generating portions which are formed at the connection portions and produce deformation originating from displacement of the weight;

a first group of strain resistance elements and a second group of strain resistance elements all of which are provided at the strain-generating portion; and

first bridge circuit groups which detect respective resistances of the first group of strain resistance elements and second bridge circuit groups which detect respective resistances of the second group of strain resistance elements,

wherein the strain-generating portions are formed on two axes intersecting at right angle on the same plane,

the first group of strain resistance elements are provided on one axis across the action portion so as to face with respect to each other, the second group of strain resistance elements are provided on another axis across the action portion so as to face with respect to each other,

the first bridge circuit groups output a positive voltage respectively when the first group of strain resistance elements receive tensile force originating from the external force and output a negative voltage when the first group of strain resistance elements receive compressive force, and the second bridge circuit group output a negative voltage respectively when the second group of strain resistance elements receive tensile force and output a positive voltage when the second group of strain resistance elements receive compressive force.