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US5569852A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Capacitive accelerometer sensor and method for its manufacture

Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
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Filing: 1994-12-14
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Granted: 1996-10-29
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Expires: 2014-12-14
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Abstract

Abstract A contacting of a capacitive accelerometer sensor of monocrystalline material is achieved by a capacitive accelerometer sensor having a structure etched out of a monocrystalline layer arranged on a substrate, including a seismic mass that is only joined to the substrate by suspension segments and executing a movement in its longitudinal direction in response to the occurrence of an acceleration of parallel, plate-like first fingers extending out from this mass at right angles to their longitudinal direction and of plate-like second fingers running parallel to the first fingers and anchored to the substrate. The first and second fingers form a capacitor arrangement. The suspension segments, which are anchored with their end region that is distant from the seismic mass to the substrate, and second fingers are electrically isolated, by an isolation strip, from the other remaining layer of monocrystalline material. A passivation layer extends over the isolation strip, and at least partially over the remaining layer. Conductors arranged on the passivation layer and serving as connecting leads for the capacitor arrangement extend across the isolation strip up to the connections of the capacitor arrangement, and are contacted there.

Inventors

  • 👤 Jiri Marek
  • 👤 Frank Bantien
  • 👤 Horst Muenzel
  • 👤 Michael Offenberg

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-27 22:20
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01P; G01P15/00; G01P15/02; G01P15/08; G01P15/125; G01P15/0802; G01P2015/0805; G01P2015/0808; G01P2015/0811; G01P2015/0814

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim 185 words
A capacitive accelerometer sensor having a structure etched out of a conductive monocrystalline layer arranged on a substrate, comprising: a seismic mass movable in a longitudinal direction in a plane of the seismic mass in response to an occurrence of an acceleration; suspension segments coupling the seismic mass to the substrate, the suspension segments being coupled at first ends to the seismic mass and at second ends to the substrate, the suspension segments being coupled such that the seismic mass is movable in the longitudinal direction; parallel, plate-like first fingers extending from the seismic mass at substantially right angles to the longitudinal direction; plate-like second fingers, running parallel and opposed to the first fingers, and being coupled at first ends to the substrate; an isolation strip electrically isolating the second fingers and the suspension segments from a surrounding layer of the conductive monocrystalline layer; a passivation layer extending over the isolation strip and at least partially over the surrounding layer; and conductors arranged on the passivation layer and running across the isolation strip, the conductors being coupled to the second fingers and the suspension segments.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 185 words
A capacitive accelerometer sensor having a structure etched out of a conductive monocrystalline layer arranged on a substrate, comprising: a seismic mass movable in a longitudinal direction in a plane of the seismic mass in response to an occurrence of an acceleration; suspension segments coupling the seismic mass to the substrate, the suspension segments being coupled at first ends to the seismic mass and at second ends to the substrate, the suspension segments being coupled such that the seismic mass is movable in the longitudinal direction; parallel, plate-like first fingers extending from the seismic mass at substantially right angles to the longitudinal direction; plate-like second fingers, running parallel and opposed to the first fingers, and being coupled at first ends to the substrate; an isolation strip electrically isolating the second fingers and the suspension segments from a surrounding layer of the conductive monocrystalline layer; a passivation layer extending over the isolation strip and at least partially over the surrounding layer; and conductors arranged on the passivation layer and running across the isolation strip, the conductors being coupled to the second fingers and the suspension segments.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 21 words
The sensor according to claim 1, wherein the isolation strip is formed from a p-diffusion in a layer including n-type silicon.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 30 words
The sensor according to claim 1, wherein the isolation strip is formed by an at least partially filled trench, the trench being at least one of isotropically and anisotropically etched.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 18 words
The sensor according to claim 3, wherein the trench is provided with an insulating layer prior to filling.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 14 words
The sensor according to claim 4, wherein the filling is composed of polycrystalline material.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 12 words
The sensor according to claim 5, wherein the polycrystalline material is polysilicon.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 38 words
The sensor according to claim 1, further comprising: at least one cross bar, for coupling the first ends of the second fingers, the at least one cross bar being formed as a first connection for the capacitor arrangement.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 48 words
The sensor according to claim 1, wherein the substrate is etched away on a rear side in a middle region, such that a remaining frame area of the substrate is provided for retaining the second ends of the suspension segments and the first ends of the second fingers.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 27 words
The sensor according to claim 1, wherein the substrate is composed of p-type silicon, and the surrounding layer and the sensor structure are composed of n-type silicon.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US4663972A Cited
US4711128A Cited
US4893509A Cited
US5025346A Cited
WO1992003740A1 Cited
US5345824A Cited
US5447067A Cited
US5447068A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1999-10-29 2000-04-29 2000-10-29 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2003-10-29 2004-04-29 2004-10-29 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2007-10-29 2008-04-29 2008-10-29 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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