MEMS Sensor Base Structure for Accurate Acceleration Under Thermal Stress

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing sensors using MEMS structures face challenges in achieving high detection accuracy due to thermal stress caused by temperature changes, which affect the detection signal and make it difficult to obtain precise acceleration measurements.

Innovation Solution

The sensor design includes a mounting member with a free end and a fixed region, where the fixed region is secured to the mounting member while the free end is not, allowing for thermal stress to be minimized, thereby improving detection accuracy by suppressing the influence of temperature changes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Stability of the object's composition

If the sensor base is fully fixed to the mounting member, then structural stability is improved, but thermal stress increases due to temperature changes

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural stabilityVSAvoidthermal stress
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The sensor base is divided into a fixed region (second region) and a free region (first region with free end). The fixing member only secures the second region to the mounting member, leaving the first region unfixed. This segmentation allows the fixed region to provide structural stability while the free region accommodates thermal expansion and contraction, reducing thermal stress on the sensor components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Manufacturing precision

If the sensor base is fully fixed, then manufacturing precision is improved, but detection accuracy deteriorates due to thermal stress influence

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveassembly precisionVSAvoiddetection accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The sensor base is segmented into fixed and free regions. The fixing member attaches only the second region (containing support portions and electrodes) to the mounting member with high precision, while the first region remains free to move with temperature changes. This ensures assembly precision where needed while eliminating thermal stress that would degrade detection accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The harmful thermal stress is extracted from the sensor base by leaving the first region unfixed. The free end of the first region allows thermal expansion and contraction without generating stress, thereby protecting the detection signal from thermal interference while maintaining precise assembly of the fixed components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Strength

If the entire sensor base is constrained, then structural integrity is improved, but sensitivity to acceleration deteriorates due to thermal effects

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural integrityVSAvoidacceleration detection sensitivity
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The sensor base is divided into a fixed second region and a free first region. The fixing member constrains only the second region to maintain structural integrity, while the free first region allows thermal movement without affecting the sensor components. This segmentation ensures that thermal effects do not interfere with acceleration detection sensitivity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different regions of the sensor base have different constraints: the second region is fixed to provide structural integrity, while the first region is free to move with temperature changes. This local differentiation in constraint quality allows the sensor to maintain both structural strength and detection sensitivity by isolating thermal effects from the sensitive acceleration measurement components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP4664114A1Sensor and electronic device
Publication Date: 2025.12.17 KK TOSHIBA
  • EP4664114A1 patent drawingFigure 1A~1B
  • EP4664114A1 patent drawingFigure 2A~2B
  • EP4664114A1 patent drawingFigure 3A~3C

AI summary

According to one embodiment, a sensor includes a mounting member, a sensor section, and a fixing member. The mounting member includes a first mounting portion. The sensor section includes a sensor base and a first sensor part. The sensor base includes a first region, a second region, and a first end. The first region is between the second region and the first end. The first sensor part includes a first support portion fixed to the first region, a first movable portion supported by the first support portion, and a first fixed electrode fixed to the first region. A first gap is provided between the first region and the first movable portion. The fixing member fixes the second region to the first mounting portion. The first end is a free end.