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US5220835A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Torsion beam accelerometer

Assignee: SAMUEL V ALBIMINO
•
Filing: 1991-09-12
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Granted: 1993-06-22
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Expires: 2011-09-12
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Abstract

Abstract A semiconductor accelerometer having a sensor element supported by a pedestal coupled to a substrate. Coupling between the pedestal and the sensor element includes opposing torsion beams along the axis of flexure coupled through a spring to the pedestal. The spring includes a pair of beams extending in a direction perpendicular to the torsion beams so that thermal expansion applies a tensile force to the torsion beams.

Inventors

  • 👤 Craig H. Stephan

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-09 04:36
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01P; G01P15/00; G01P15/02; G01P15/08; G01P15/125; G01P1/00; G01P1/006; G01P2015/0805; G01P2015/0822; G01P2015/0825; G01P2015/0831

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim 137 words
An accelerometer comprising: a substrate; a sensing element having at least a first internal opening; mounting means positioned within said first internal opening for mounting the sensing element on the substrate so that the sensing element is portioned above the substrate and can rotate about a flexure axis that is above and substantially parallel tot he substrate, the mounting means including a pedestal mounting to the substrate and a spring means for providing an elastic coupling connected to a the pedestal, and a pair of torsion members extending in opposite directions from the spring means to the sensing element; means for sensing rotation of the sensing element about the flexure axis; said spring means including a pair of members connecting said torsion members to said pedestal around a second and third internal opening to the spring means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 137 words
An accelerometer comprising: a substrate; a sensing element having at least a first internal opening; mounting means positioned within said first internal opening for mounting the sensing element on the substrate so that the sensing element is portioned above the substrate and can rotate about a flexure axis that is above and substantially parallel tot he substrate, the mounting means including a pedestal mounting to the substrate and a spring means for providing an elastic coupling connected to a the pedestal, and a pair of torsion members extending in opposite directions from the spring means to the sensing element; means for sensing rotation of the sensing element about the flexure axis; said spring means including a pair of members connecting said torsion members to said pedestal around a second and third internal opening to the spring means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 48 words
An accelerometer as recited in claim 1 wherein said spring means includes a pair of support beams extending in the direction away from the pedestal and perpendicular to said torsion beams and said pair of members includes flex members extending between the support beams and the torsion members.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 19 words
An accelerometer as recited in claim 2 wherein said spring means has flex members with a generally circular shape.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 19 words
An accelerometer as recite din claim 2 wherein said spring means has flex members with a generally rectangular shape.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 19 words
An accelerometer as recited in claim 2 wherein said spring means has flex members with a generally diamond shape.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US3498138A Cited
US3478604A Cited
US4483194A Cited
US4598585A Cited
US4736629A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1996-06-21 1996-12-21 1997-06-22 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2000-06-21 2000-12-21 2001-06-22 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2004-06-21 2004-12-21 2005-06-22 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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