IP Library Granted Patent US 7,461,559
Granted Patent B2
US 7,461,559 · App. 11/376,435 · Granted Dec 9, 2008

Electromechanical transducer and method of fabricating the same

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,461,559
App. No.
11/376,435
Granted
Dec 9, 2008
Kind
B2
Abstract

A weight part ( 12 ) is supported by a beam part ( 26 ) in a slim piece shape supported by a frame-shaped support part ( 10 ), and the beam part ( 26 ) is provided with a piezoresistance element ( 20 ) as a transducing element that transduces a mechanical variation to an electrical variation, so that a mechanical variation of the weight part ( 12 ) is transmitted to the piezoresistance element ( 20 ) via the beam part ( 26 ). Then, the beam part ( 26 ) is constructed by stacking the silicon nitride film ( 16 ) and a resin film ( 18 ) such as a polyimide film.

Claims (16)

1. An electromechanical transducer comprising:

a transducing element transducing a mechanical variation into an electrical variation;

a weight part for applying a mechanical variation to the transducing element;

a beam part in a slim piece shape that supports the weight part and is provided with the transducing element; and

a frame-shaped support part supporting the beam part,

wherein

the weight part and the support part area formed of a silicon semiconductor substrate, the beam part is constructed by stacking a silicon nitride film and a resin film without the silicon semiconductor substrate, and the transducing element extends from a region above the frame-shaped support part into a portion between the silicon nitride film and the resin film of the beam part.

2. The electromechanical transducer according to claim 1 , wherein

the resin film constructing the beam part is provided to extend to an upper portion of the support part, and also serves as a protection film that protects the beam part and the support part.

3. The electromechanical transducer according to claim 2 , wherein the resin film constructing the beam part also serves as bonding means of an upper lid that covers top surfaces of the beam part and the support part.

4. The electromechanical transducer according to claim 3 , wherein the resin film is a polyimide film.

5. The electromechanical transducer according to claim 2 , wherein the resin film is a polyimide film.

6. The electromechanical transducer according to claim 1 , wherein the resin film is a polyimide film.

7. The electromechanical transducer according to claim 1 , wherein the transducing element is a piezoresistance element.

8. The electromechanical transducer according to claim 7 , wherein the piezoresistance element is composed of a polycrystalline silicon film in which an impurity is implanted.

9. The electromechanical transducer according to claim 8 , wherein the piezoresistance element is formed into a turn-back shape in which it extends from two spots on a region of the support part, which supports the beam part, to the beam part in parallel and connected at tip end portions.

Assignments (2)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jul 20, 2007
From: CITIZEN WATCH CO., LTD.
To: CITIZEN HOLDINGS CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 019580/0654 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 16, 2006
From: TAKIZAWA, TORU
To: CITIZEN WATCH CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 017694/0908 →