Flexure coupling block for motion sensor
US6509620B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | May 31, 2001 |
| Grant date | Jan 21, 2003 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 31, 2021 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH02N1/006
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A microelectromechanical system (MEMS) device is disclosed for determining the position of a mover. The MEMS device has a bottom layer connected to a mover layer. The mover layer is connected to a mover by flexures. The mover moves relative to the mover layer and the bottom layer. The flexures urge the mover back to an initial position of mechanical equilibrium. The flexures include coupling blocks to control movement of the mover. The MEMS device determines the location of the mover by determining the capacitance between mover electrodes located on the coupling blocks of the flexures and counter electrodes located on an adjacent layer. The coupling block moves according to a determinable relationship with the mover. As the coupling block moves, the capacitance between the mover electrode and the counter electrode changes. A capacitance detector analyzes the capacitance between the electrodes and determines the position of the mover.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.