IP Library Granted Patent US 10,267,660
Granted Patent B2
US 10,267,660 · App. 15/450,518 · Granted Apr 23, 2019

Sensor device

Inventor: Eiji Umetsu (Niigata-ken, JP)
Assignee: Alps Alpine Co., Ltd.
G01D11/245G01D11/26G01L9/08
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,267,660
App. No.
15/450,518
Granted
Apr 23, 2019
Kind
B2
Abstract

A sensor device includes: a sensor portion having a movable thin film and a detection element configured to output a signal corresponding to displacement of the movable thin film; a frame portion disposed to surround an outside of the sensor portion; a circuit board including a circuit configured to process the signal output from the detection element; and a lid portion which is attached onto the frame portion and has a through-hole, in which a functional film having higher hydrophobicity than a surface of the lid portion is provided on at least an inner surface of the through-hole in the lid portion.

Claims (16)

1. A sensor device comprising:

a sensor portion including:

a movable thin film; and

a detection element configured to output a detection signal corresponding to an amount of displacement of the movable thin film;

a frame portion surrounding and supporting the sensor portion;

a circuit board including a circuit configured to process the detection signal from the detection element;

a lid portion attached onto the frame portion, the lid portion made of silicon and having at least one through-hole formed by an etching; and

a functional film formed on at least an inner surface of the at least one through-hole, the functional film being formed from a portion of the silicon reacted with an etching gas of the etching, the functional film having higher hydrophobicity than that of a surface of the lid portion.

2. The sensor device according to claim 1 , wherein the functional film is provided over an upper surface of the lid portion to the inner surface of the at least one through-hole.

3. The sensor device according to claim 1 , wherein the functional film contains fluorocarbon.

4. The sensor device according to claim 1 , wherein the lid portion, the frame portion, and the circuit board are electrically connected to each other.

5. The sensor device according to claim 4 , wherein potentials of the lid portion and the frame portion are set to a reference potential of the circuit board.

6. The sensor device according to claim 1 , wherein the frame portion has a cavity in which the sensor portion is disposed.

7. The sensor device according to claim 6 , wherein the at least one through-hole opens to the cavity so as to provide the cavity with communication to outside atmosphere.

8. The sensor device according to claim 1 , wherein the frame portion and the sensor portion are disposed on the circuit board by bonding the frame portion to the circuit board such that a gap is formed between the sensor portion and the circuit board.

9. The sensor device according to claim 1 , wherein the higher hydrophobicity of the functional film prevents water or moisture from entering the sensor portion through the at least one through-hole.

Assignments (3)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Feb 1, 2019
From: ALPS ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
To: ALPS ALPINE CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 048229/0876 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE INCORRECT PATENT APPLICATION NUMBER 14/450,518 AND REPLACE WITH CORRECT ASSIGNMENT DOCUMENT. PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 041475 FRAME 0358. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT. Recorded Mar 21, 2017
From: UMETSU, EIJI
To: ALPS ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 042051/0433 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 6, 2017
From: UMETSU, EIJI
To: ALPS ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 041475/0358 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2016-078141 · Apr 8, 2016 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20170292863A1 · Oct 12, 2017