Patent · US Expired

Differential in-plane tunneling current sensor

US6901800B2 · kind B2 · utility

3Cited by
6References
2Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateSep 20, 2004
Grant dateJun 7, 2005
Priority date
Expiry dateSep 20, 2024

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG01P15/18
  • WIPO fieldMeasurement
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A sensor arrangement for measuring a displacement of a proof mass using a tunneling current includes a proof mass body suspended by micro-mechanical beams to permit a mass body movement, at least one integrated electrode tip arranged to be integrated with the proof mass body, and at least one external electrode tip arranged externally to the proof mass body and suspended by micro-mechanical beams to permit an external electrode movement, the at least one external electrode tip further arranged to be in a close proximity to the at least one integrated electrode tip to permit a flow of the tunneling current between the at least one external electrode tip and the at least one integrated electrode tip, in which the displacement of the proof mass causes a change in the tunneling current.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.