Force transducer flexure with conductors on surfaces in the neutral bending plane

Claim 2

A force measuring transducer comprising: a mounting base; a force sensitive member including an electrical element; a flexible member having one end secured to said mounting base and other end secured to said force sensitive member; and an electrically conductive material disposed on said flexible member and extending between said electrical element and said mounting base wherein at least a planar portion of said electrically conductive material is disposed on a portion of said flexible member and the portion of said flexible member is in substantial alignment with the neutral bending axis of said flexible member.

Claim 3

A force measuring transducer comprising: a mounting base; a force sensitive element including an electrical element; a flexible member having one end secured to said mounting base and other end secured to said force sensitive member; and an electrically conductive material disposed on said flexible member and extending between said electrical element and said mounting base wherein at a portion of said electrically conductive material disposed on said flexible member is in substantial alignment with the neutral bending axis of said flexible member wherein said portion of said electrically conductive material disposed on said flexible member in alignment with the neutral bending axis extends substantially the entire length of said flexible member.

Claim 4

A force measuring transducer comprising: a mounting base; a force sensitive element including an electrical element; a flexible member having one end secured to said mounting base and other end secured to said force sensitive member; and an electrically conductive material disposed on said flexible member and extending between said electrical element and said mounting base wherein at a portion of said electrically conductive material disposed on said flexible member is in substantial alignment with the neutral bending axis of said flexible member wherein said portion of said electrically conductive material disposed on said flexible member in alignment with the neutral bending axis extends substantially the entire length of said flexible member.

Claim 5

The transducer of claim 1 or 2 wherein approximately one-half of said electrically conductive material disposed in alignment with said neutral bending axis is located above said neutral bending axis and the remaining electrically conductive material is located below said neutral bending axis.

Claim 6

In a transducer having a mounting base and a force sensitive member having an electrical element, a flexure for securing the member to the mounting base, comprising: a flexure section having one end secured to the force sensitive member and the other end secured to the mounting base; a channel configured in said flexure section with a recessed surface extending at least a portion of the distance between the force sensitive member and the mounting base wherein at least a planar portion of said recessed surface is substantially aligned with the neutral bending axis of said flexure section; and an electrically conductive material disposed on said recessed surface and extending between the electrical element on the force sensitive member and said mounting base.

Claim 7

In a transducer having a mounting base and a force sensitive member having an electrical element, a flexure for securing the member to the mounting base, comprising: a flexure section having one end secured to the force sensitive member and the other end secured to the mounting base; a channel configured in said flexure section with a recessed surface extending at least a portion of the distance between the force sensitive member and the mounting base wherein at least a planar portion of said recessed surface is substantially aligned with the neutral bending axis of said flexure section; and an electrically conductive material disposed on said recessed surface and extending between the electrical element on the force sensitive member and said mounting base.

Claim 8

The flexure of claim 4 wherein said recessed surface extends substantially the entire length of the flexure from the force sensitive member to the mounting base.

Claim 9

In a transducer having a mounting base and a force sensitive member having an electrical element, a flexure for securing the member to the mounting base, comprising: a flexure section having one end secured to the force sensitive member and the other end secured to the mounting base; a channel configured in said flexure section with a recessed surface extending at least a portion of the distance between the force sensitive member and the mounting base wherein at least a portion of said recessed surface is substantially aligned with the neutral bending axis of said flexure section; and an electrically conductive material disposed on said recessed surface and extending between the electrical element on the force sensitive member and said mounting base, wherein said electrically conductive material is disposed on said recessed surface such that said electrically conductive material is aligned substantially along said neutral bending axis.

Claim 10

In a transducer having a mounting base and a force sensitive member having an electrical element, a flexure for securing the member to the mounting base, comprising: a flexure section having one end secured to the force sensitive member and the other end secured to the mounting base; a channel configured in said flexure section with a recessed surface extending at least a portion of the distance between the force sensitive member and the mounting base wherein at least a portion of said recessed surface is substantially aligned with the neutral bending axis of said flexure section; and an electrically conductive material disposed on said recessed surface and extending between the electrical element on the force sensitive member and said mounting base, wherein said electrically conductive material is disposed on said recessed surface such that said electrically conductive material is aligned substantially along said neutral bending axis.

Claim 11

In a transducer having a mounting base and a force sensitive member having an electrical element, a flexure for securing the member to the mounting base, comprising: a flexure section having one end secured to the force sensitive member and the other end secured to the mounting base; a channel configured in said flexure section with a recessed surface extending substantially the entire length of the flexure from the force sensitive member to the mounting base wherein at least a portion of said recessed surface is substantially aligned with the neutral bending axis of said flexure section; and an electrically conductive material disposed on said recessed surface and extending between the electrical element on the force sensitive member and said mounting base and wherein said portion of the recessed surface substantially aligned with said neutral bending axis extends substantially the entire length of said recessed surface.

Claim 12

In a transducer having a mounting base and a force sensitive member having an electrical element, a flexure for securing the member to the mounting base, comprising: a flexure section having one end secured to the force sensitive member and the other end secured to the mounting base; a channel configured in said flexure section with a recessed surface extending substantially the entire length of the flexure from the force sensitive member to the mounting base wherein at least a portion of said recessed surface is substantially aligned with the neutral bending axis of said flexure section; and an electrically conductive material disposed on said recessed surface and extending between the electrical element on the force sensitive member and said mounting base and wherein said portion of the recessed surface substantially aligned with said neutral bending axis extends substantially the entire length of said recessed surface.

Claim 13

The flexure of claim 4, 6, 5 or 7 wherein approximately one-half of said electrically conductive material is located above said neutral bending axis and the remaining electrically conductive material is located below said neutral bending axis.

Claim 14

In a transducer having a mounting base and a force sensitive member having an electrical element, a flexure for securing the member to the mounting base, comprising: at least one flexure section having a pair of faces extending between said member and said mounting base; at least one channel having a recessed surface extending into said section from one of said faces, said recessed surface being substantially aligned with the neutral bending axis of said flexure section; and an electrically conductive material disposed on said recessed surface extending between said force sensitive member and said mounting base.

Claim 15

In a transducer having a mounting base and a force sensitive member having an electrical element, a flexure for securing the member to the mounting base, comprising: at least one flexure section having a pair of faces extending between said member and said mounting base; at least one channel having a recessed surface extending into said section from one of said faces, said recessed surface being substantially aligned with the neutral bending axis of said flexure section; and an electrically conductive material disposed on said recessed surface extending between said force sensitive member and said mounting base.

Claim 16

The flexure of claim 9, wherein a channel is disposed in each of said faces such that each of said recessed surfaces of the channels lie substantially along the neutral bending axis of said flexure section.

Claim 17

The flexure of claim 10, wherein said flexure section further includes a pair of edge surfaces extending between said force sensitive member and said mounting base, and wherein said channels are spaced away from said edge surfaces.

Claim 18

The flexure of claim 9, wherein a first channel is disposed in one face and second and third channels are disposed in the other face such that the recessed surfaces of at least two of the channels lie substantially in the plane of said neutral bending axis.

Claim 19

The flexure of claim 9, wherein the recessed surface of the first channel is located between the recessed surfaces of the second and third channels, said recessed surfaces all lying substantially in the plane of said neutral bending axis.

Claim 20

The flexure of claim 9 wherein two channels are disposed in each face such that two of said recessed surfaces of the channels lie substantially along the neutral bending axis of said flexure section.

Claim 21

The flexure of claim 14 wherein said channels having recessed surfaces along the neutral bending axis are disposed in opposite faces of the flexure section.

Claim 22

The flexure of claim 15 wherein each of said channels having recessed surfaces along the neutral bending axis are substantially aligned with one of the channels in the other face of the flexure section.

Claim 23

The flexure of claim 14 wherein said channels having recessed surfaces along the neutral bending axis are disposed in the same face of the flexure section.

Claim 24

The flexure of claim 17 wherein said channels having recessed surfaces along the neutral bending axis are disposed in substantial alignment with said channels in the other face of the flexure section.

Claim 25

The flexure of claim 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17 or 18 additionally including a second flexure section configured in an antisymmetric configuration with respect to the first flexure section.

Claim 26

The flexure of claim 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17 or 18 additionally including a second flexure section configured in a symmetric configuration with respect to the first flexure section.

Claim 27

In an accelerometer having a mounting base and a paddle having an electrical component, a flexure for securing the paddle to the base, comprising: a flexure section having a pair of faces extending between said paddle and said mounting base; first and second channels each having a recessed surface extending into said section from each of said faces, said recessed surfaces being substantially coplanar but laterally spaced and located substantially on the neutral bending axis of said flexure section; and an electrically conductive coating on the recessed surfaces extending between the paddle and the mounting base.

Claim 28

In an accelerometer having a mounting base and a paddle having an electrical component, a flexure for securing the paddle to the base, comprising: a flexure section having a pair of faces extending between said paddle and said mounting base; first and second channels each having a recessed surface extending into said section from each of said faces, said recessed surfaces being substantially coplanar but laterally spaced and located substantially on the neutral bending axis of said flexure section; and an electrically conductive coating on the recessed surfaces extending between the paddle and the mounting base.

Claim 29

The flexure of claim 21, wherein the flexure further includes a second section extending between the paddle and the mounting base which is separated from the first section by an intervening aperture wherein said second flexure section is substantially identical to the first flexure section but has an anti-symmetric relationship therewith.

Claim 30

The flexure of claim 22, wherein the second flexure section is a mirror image of the first section such that the second section is symmetric to the first section with respect to a plane bisecting said aperture and normal to said faces.

Claim 31

The flexure of claims 21, 22 or 23, wherein said electrically conductive coating on said recessed surface is located in substantial alignment with the neutral bending axis of said flexure section.

Claim 32

In an accelerometer having a mounting base and a paddle which carries a first restoring coil, a flexure for securing the paddle to the mounting base, comprising: first and second flexure sections separated by an intervening aperture, said sections extending between said paddle and said mounting base; said flexure sections having upper and lower faces terminating in first and second edge surfaces; a first channel having a first recessed surface extending into said first section from said upper face, said first recessed surface being disposed closer to said first edge surface than said second edge surface; a second channel having a second recessed surface extending into said first section from said lower face, said second recessed surface being disposed closer to said second edge surface than said first edge surface; said first and second recessed surfaces being substantially coplanar and coincident with the neutral bending plane of the flexure section; and an electrically conductive coating on the recessed surfaces extending between the mounting base and the paddle.

Claim 33

In an accelerometer having a mounting base and a paddle which carries a first restoring coil, a flexure for securing the paddle to the mounting base, comprising: first and second flexure sections separated by an intervening aperture, said sections extending between said paddle and said mounting base; said flexure sections having upper and lower faces terminating in first and second edge surfaces; a first channel having a first recessed surface extending into said first section from said upper face, said first recessed surface being disposed closer to said first edge surface than said second edge surface; a second channel having a second recessed surface extending into said first section from said lower face, said second recessed surface being disposed closer to said second edge surface than said first edge surface; said first and second recessed surfaces being substantially coplanar and coincident with the neutral bending plane of the flexure section; and an electrically conductive coating on the recessed surfaces extending between the mounting base and the paddle.

Claim 34

The flexure of claim 25, wherein the second flexure section is substantially identical to the first flexure section but has an anti-symmetric relationship therewith.

Claim 35

The flexure of claim 25, wherein the second flexure section is substantially a mirror image of the first section such that the second section is symmetric to said first section with respect to a plane bisecting said aperture and normal to said faces.

Claim 36

The flexure of claim 26, wherein the width of each flexure section is approximately one and one-half times the length thereof.

Claim 37

The flexure of claim 26, wherein the depth of the channels is substantially one-half the distance between the faces of the sections.

Claim 38

The flexure of claim 26, wherein the distance between the faces of each section is on the order of one one-hundredth the length of each section.

Claim 39

The flexure of claim 26, wherein the distances between the faces of each section is approximately 0.0012 inch.

Claim 40

The flexure of claim 31, wherein the recessed surface is located approximately 0.0006 inch from each face.

Claim 41

The flexure of claim 32, wherein the length of each flexure section is approximately 0.100 inch and the width thereof is approximately 0.150 inch.

Claim 42

The flexure of claim 33, wherein the width of each recessed surface is approximately 0.035 inch.

Claim 43

The flexure of claim 34, wherein the distance between adjacent edge surfaces of the first and second flexure sections is approximately 0.06 inch.

Claim 44

In a transducer having a mounting base and a force sensitive member having an electrical element, a flexure for securing the member to the mounting base, comprising: at least one flexure section having a pair of faces extending between said member and said mounting base; at least one channel having a recessed surface extending into said section from one of said faces, said recessed surface being spaced substantially equidistance from said faces; and an electrically conductive material disposed on said recessed surface extending between said force sensitive member and said mounting base.

Claim 45

In a transducer having a mounting base and a force sensitive member having an electrical element, a flexure for securing the member to the mounting base, comprising: at least one flexure section having a pair of faces extending between said member and said mounting base; at least one channel having a recessed surface extending into said section from one of said faces, said recessed surface being spaced substantially equidistance from said faces; and an electrically conductive material disposed on said recessed surface extending between said force sensitive member and said mounting base.

Claim 46

The flexure of claim 36, wherein a channel is disposed in each of said faces such that the recessed surfaces of the channels lie substantially in a single plane.

Claim 47

The flexure of claim 37, wherein said flexure section further includes a pair of edge surfaces extending between said force sensitive member and said mounting base, and wherein said channels are spaced away from said edge surfaces.

Claim 48

The flexure of claim 36, wherein a first channel is disposed in one face and second and third channels are disposed in the other face such that the recessed surfaces of at least two of the channels lie substantially in a single plane.

Claim 49

The flexure of claim 39, wherein the recessed surface of the first channel is located between the recessed surfaces of the second and third channels, said recessed surfaces all lying substantially in a single plane.

Claim 50

The flexure of claim 39, further including a fourth channel disposed in the one face such that the recessed surface of one of the channel in the one face lies in a common plane with the recessed surface of one of the channels in the other face, said common plane being spaced substantially equidistant from the faces of said main body.

Claim 51

In an accelerometer having a mounting base and a paddle having an electrical component, a flexure for securing the paddle to the base, comprising: a flexure section having a pair of faces extending between said paddle and said mounting base; first and second channels each having a recessed surface extending into said section from each of said faces, said recessed surfaces being substantially coplanar but laterally spaced and substantially equidistant from the faces; and an electrically conductive coating on the recessed surfaces extending between the paddle and the mounting base.

Claim 52

In an accelerometer having a mounting base and a paddle having an electrical component, a flexure for securing the paddle to the base, comprising: a flexure section having a pair of faces extending between said paddle and said mounting base; first and second channels each having a recessed surface extending into said section from each of said faces, said recessed surfaces being substantially coplanar but laterally spaced and substantially equidistant from the faces; and an electrically conductive coating on the recessed surfaces extending between the paddle and the mounting base.

Claim 53

The flexure of claim 42, wherein the flexure section further includes a pair of edge surfaces extending between said paddle and said mounting base, and wherein said channels are spaced away from said edge surfaces.

Claim 54

The flexure of claim 43, wherein the flexure further includes a second section extending between the paddle and the mounting base which is separated from the first section by an intervening aperture.

Claim 55

The flexure of claim 44, wherein the second flexure section is substantially identical to the first flexure section but has an anti-symmetric relationship therewith.

Claim 56

The flexure of claim 44, wherein the second flexure section is substantially a mirror image of the first section such that the second section is symmetric to the first section with respect to a plane bisecting said aperture and normal to said faces.

Claim 57

The flexure of claim 42, further including a third recessed surface defining a third channel extending into said section from one of the faces, all of said recessed surfaces being substantially coplanar but laterally spaced from the faces.

Claim 58

The flexure of claim 47, wherein the first recessed surface of the channel in one of the faces is between the recessed surfaces of the channels in the other face.

Claim 59

The flexure of claim 42, further including: a pair of additional channels each having an additional surface in each of said faces, one of said additional surfaces being aligned substantially opposite said first recessed surface and the other of said additional surfaces being aligned opposite said second recessed surfaces.