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US5495761A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Integrated accelerometer with a sensitive axis parallel to the substrate

Assignee: Commissariat à l'Énergie Atomique et Aux Énergies Alternatives
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Filing: 1993-12-22
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Granted: 1996-03-05
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Expires: 2013-12-22
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Abstract

Abstract An accelerometer with a mobile mass mechanically connected, via an insulator, to a conductive substrate by flexible beams. Mobile conductive teeth are integrally formed with the mobile mass. Fixed conductive teeth are joined to an insulator from the substrate and arranged in an alternating manner with the mobile conductive teeth. Fixed electrodes serving as an electrostatic screen are placed between the fixed teeth and the mobile teeth in such a way that each mobile tooth is intercalated between a fixed electrode and a fixed tooth so as to constitute a series of variable capacitance capacitors.

Inventors

  • 👤 Bernard Diem
  • 👤 France Michel

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-04 06:56
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01P; G01P15/00; G01P15/02; G01P15/08; G01P15/125; G01R; G01R33/00; G01R33/02; G01R33/028; G01R33/0286; G01P2015/0805; G01P2015/0808; G01P2015/0811; G01P2015/0814

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim 192 words
Integrated accelerometer comprising: a conductive substrate, a mobile mass mechanically connected to the substrate by at least one flexible beam and an insulator, said mobile mass being movable in a first direction (Y) parallel to the substrate, the mobile mass having on at least one side conductive mobile teeth which are electrically interconnected and oriented in a second direction (X) parallel to the substrate and perpendicular to the first direction (Y), fixed conductive teeth which are electrically interconnected, integral and insulated with respect to the substrate, said fixed teeth being parallel to the second direction (X) and alternating with the mobile teeth in order to form variable capacitance capacitors for measuring displacements of the mass in the first direction or servocontrolling said displacements of the mass, at least one electrostatic screen formed from finger-like fixed electrodes parallel to the second direction (X), said fixed electrodes being electrically interconnected, each of said fixed electrodes being placed between one of said fixed teeth and one of said mobile teeth in such a way that each of said mobile tooth is intercalated between one of said finger-like fixed electrodes and one of said fixed teeth.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 192 words
Integrated accelerometer comprising: a conductive substrate, a mobile mass mechanically connected to the substrate by at least one flexible beam and an insulator, said mobile mass being movable in a first direction (Y) parallel to the substrate, the mobile mass having on at least one side conductive mobile teeth which are electrically interconnected and oriented in a second direction (X) parallel to the substrate and perpendicular to the first direction (Y), fixed conductive teeth which are electrically interconnected, integral and insulated with respect to the substrate, said fixed teeth being parallel to the second direction (X) and alternating with the mobile teeth in order to form variable capacitance capacitors for measuring displacements of the mass in the first direction or servocontrolling said displacements of the mass, at least one electrostatic screen formed from finger-like fixed electrodes parallel to the second direction (X), said fixed electrodes being electrically interconnected, each of said fixed electrodes being placed between one of said fixed teeth and one of said mobile teeth in such a way that each of said mobile tooth is intercalated between one of said finger-like fixed electrodes and one of said fixed teeth.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 191 words
Integrated accelerometer comprising: a conductive substrate, a mobile mass mechanically connected to the substrate by at least one flexible beam and an insulator, said mobile mass being movable in a first direction (Y) parallel to the substrate, the mobile mass having on at least one side conductive mobile teeth which are electrically interconnected and oriented in a second direction (X) parallel to the substrate and perpendicular to the first direction (Y), fixed conductive teeth which are electrically interconnected, integral and insulated with respect to the substrate, said fixed teeth being parallel to the second direction (X) and alternating with the mobile teeth in order to form variable capacitance capacitors for measuring displacements of the mass in the first direction and servocontrolling said displacements of the mass, at least one electrostatic screen formed from finger-like fixed electrodes parallel to the second direction (X), said fixed electrodes being electrically interconnected, each of said fixed electrodes being placed between one of said fixed teeth and one of said mobile in such a way that each of said mobile tooth is intercalated between one of said finger-like fixed electrodes and one of said fixed teeth.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 191 words
Integrated accelerometer comprising: a conductive substrate, a mobile mass mechanically connected to the substrate by at least one flexible beam and an insulator, said mobile mass being movable in a first direction (Y) parallel to the substrate, the mobile mass having on at least one side conductive mobile teeth which are electrically interconnected and oriented in a second direction (X) parallel to the substrate and perpendicular to the first direction (Y), fixed conductive teeth which are electrically interconnected, integral and insulated with respect to the substrate, said fixed teeth being parallel to the second direction (X) and alternating with the mobile teeth in order to form variable capacitance capacitors for measuring displacements of the mass in the first direction and servocontrolling said displacements of the mass, at least one electrostatic screen formed from finger-like fixed electrodes parallel to the second direction (X), said fixed electrodes being electrically interconnected, each of said fixed electrodes being placed between one of said fixed teeth and one of said mobile in such a way that each of said mobile tooth is intercalated between one of said finger-like fixed electrodes and one of said fixed teeth.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 53 words
Accelerometer according to claim 1 or 2, the mobile mass having two series of conductive mobile teeth arranged along two opposite sides of the mobile mass, both sides being parallel to the first direction and each series of mobile teeth being associated with a series of fixed conductive teeth and an electrostatic screen.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 18 words
Accelerometer according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said at least one flexible beam includes two flexible beams.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 32 words
Accelerometer according to claim 1 or 2, said mobile mass said conductive mobile teeth, said conductive fixed teeth, and said at least one electrostatic screen being made from electrically conductive monocrystalline silicon.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 23 words
Accelerometer according to claim 4, wherein said beams are conductive and wherein an electrical insulator is placed between said beams and the substrate.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 16 words
Accelerometer according to claim 6, wherein both electrostatic screens are in direct contact with the substrate.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 14 words
Accelerometer according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the substrate comprises doped monocrystalline silicon.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 14 words
Accelerometer according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said mobile mass comprises through holes.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

FR2541775A1 Cited
US4653326A Cited
EP0198724A1 Cited
US4999735A Cited
WO1992003740A1 Cited
US5337606A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1999-03-05 1999-09-04 2000-03-05 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2003-03-05 2003-09-04 2004-03-05 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2007-03-05 2007-09-04 2008-03-05 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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