MEMS devices exhibiting linear characteristics
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A microfabricated variable capacitor, comprising:
- a stationary stator portion including a plurality of electrically conductive plates each spaced apart from one another, each said pair of adjacent plates forming a channel therebetween, each of said plates being in a first common electrical communication;
a movable rotor portion including a plurality of electrically conductive blades each of said plurality of blades being in a second common electrical communication;
a stub in contact with the movable rotor portion; and
wherein said movable rotor portion is suspended relative to said stationary stator portion by flexible support portions that bias each of said blades vertically within a corresponding one of said channels, the stub displaces the movable rotor portion relative to the stationary stator portion against the bias of the flexible support portion, a portion of each said blade coacts with an adjacent said plate to store electrical charge, and the capacitance between the first electrical communication and the second electrical communication varies as said blades are displaced in a vertical direction.
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Abstract
A micro electro mechanical system device has a first subassembly having sensor element including a coupler, and a second subassembly including a comb drive. The comb drive having stator plates and rotor plates and the coupler configured to displace the rotor plates relative to the stator plates providing a variable capacitance dependent on the displacement of the rotor plate.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. A microfabricated variable capacitor, comprising:
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a stationary stator portion including a plurality of electrically conductive plates each spaced apart from one another, each said pair of adjacent plates forming a channel therebetween, each of said plates being in a first common electrical communication; a movable rotor portion including a plurality of electrically conductive blades each of said plurality of blades being in a second common electrical communication; a stub in contact with the movable rotor portion; and wherein said movable rotor portion is suspended relative to said stationary stator portion by flexible support portions that bias each of said blades vertically within a corresponding one of said channels, the stub displaces the movable rotor portion relative to the stationary stator portion against the bias of the flexible support portion, a portion of each said blade coacts with an adjacent said plate to store electrical charge, and the capacitance between the first electrical communication and the second electrical communication varies as said blades are displaced in a vertical direction. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A micro electro mechanical system sensor, comprising:
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a comb drive having a stator portion with a plurality of stator plates each spaced apart from one another and a rotor portion including a plurality of rotor plates spaced apart from one another, the rotor portion being elastically suspended from said stator portion, the plurality of stator plates and the plurality of rotor plates forming a capacitor having a capacitance that varies with the vertical position of the rotor portion relative to the stator portion; a membrane suspended proximate the comb drive, the membrane having a stub in physical contact with the rotor portion of the comb drive, the stub biasing the rotor portion to a first position having a first comb drive capacitance; and wherein a movement of the membrane causes the stub to bias the rotor portion to a second position having a second comb capacitance. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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Specification