Acceleration Sensor With Segmented Cavity To Reduce Zero-Point Drift

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing acceleration sensors face challenges with zero-point drift and temporal changes due to environmental conditions and the use of inexpensive thermosetting resin packaging, which affects reliability and accuracy, especially in harsh environments.

Innovation Solution

The acceleration sensor design incorporates a Silicon On Insulator (SOI) substrate with through electrodes acting as posts to connect the mass and detection electrodes, providing mechanical and electrical stability, and using differential detection to minimize the impact of thermosetting resin deformation and environmental changes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If thermosetting resin packaging is used to reduce cost, then manufacturing cost is reduced, but zero-point drift and temporal changes increase due to resin deformation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemanufacturing costVSAvoidzero-point drift
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The cavity is divided into multiple regions by forming partition walls that extend from the support substrate toward the cap layer. This segmentation creates isolated chambers that prevent uniform deformation of the entire cavity, thereby reducing the impact of thermosetting resin shrinkage on the mass and detection electrodes while maintaining cost-effective packaging.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The partition walls are strategically positioned to provide localized structural support in critical areas of the cavity. By concentrating reinforcement where deformation would most affect sensing accuracy, the design maintains reliability in key regions while allowing the overall structure to remain compatible with inexpensive thermosetting resin packaging.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Device complexity

If the cavity structure is simplified for cost reduction, then manufacturing complexity is reduced, but deformation resistance due to environmental changes deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecavity structureVSAvoiddeformation resistance
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The cavity is divided into multiple regions by forming partition walls that extend from the support substrate toward the cap layer. This segmentation creates isolated chambers that prevent uniform deformation of the entire cavity, thereby reducing the impact of thermosetting resin shrinkage on the mass and detection electrodes while maintaining cost-effective packaging.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The cavity structure combines the support substrate, cap layer, and partition walls to form a composite structure. This multi-component design provides enhanced deformation resistance compared to a simple single-layer cavity, while still being compatible with inexpensive thermosetting resin packaging methods.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

3Measurement precision

If the mass is allowed to move freely for accurate acceleration detection, then measurement precision is improved, but sensitivity to environmental distortion increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveacceleration detection accuracyVSAvoidenvironmental distortion sensitivity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The cavity is divided into multiple regions by forming partition walls that extend from the support substrate toward the cap layer. This segmentation creates isolated chambers that prevent uniform deformation of the entire cavity, thereby reducing the impact of thermosetting resin shrinkage on the mass and detection electrodes while maintaining cost-effective packaging.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This design results in a highly reliable acceleration sensor with reduced zero-point drift and temporal changes, maintaining accuracy even in poor installation environments and with inexpensive thermosetting resin packaging.

Implementation Method 1

measures acceleration by detecting a physical quantity associated with an inertial force generated in a vibrating object

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectInertial force: Inertia

Implementation Method 2

a detection electrode together with the mass forming electrostatic capacitance

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectrostatic capacitance: Capacitance

Data Source

PatentEP3139178B1Acceleration detection device
Publication Date: 2019.06.12 HITACHI AUTOMOTIVE SYST LTD
  • EP3139178B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3139178B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP3139178B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

Provided is a highly reliable acceleration sensor having little 0-point drift. For example, an acceleration sensor having a support substrate having a first direction and a second direction orthogonal thereto in a single surface, a device layer disposed on the support substrate with a space interposed therebetween and having a weight that deforms according to the application of acceleration, and a cap layer disposed on the device layer with a space interposed therebetween, wherein a fixed part fixed to the support substrate is provided in the center of the weight, a beam is provided that extends from the fixed part and makes the weight mobile by being connected thereto, a plurality of posts for coupling the support substrate and the cap layer are disposed on the fixed part, and electric signals are applied to and received from the weight via the posts.