IP Library Granted Patent US 9,963,339
Granted Patent B2
US 9,963,339 · App. 15/452,405 · Granted May 8, 2018

Sensor device

Inventors: Eiji Umetsu (Niigata-ken, JP); Hisanobu Okawa (Niigata-ken, JP)
Assignee: Alps Electric Co., Ltd.
B81B3/0021B81B3/00B81B3/0018B81B3/0067B81B7/007B81B7/0016B81B7/0058B81B2201/0264B81B2203/0127G01D5/16G01D5/24
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,963,339
App. No.
15/452,405
Granted
May 8, 2018
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 spring portion provided between the frame portion and the sensor portion; and a circuit board including a circuit configured to process the signal output from the detection element, in which the frame portion is laminated on the circuit board, and the sensor portion is cantilevered from the frame portion by the spring portion such that a gap is formed between the sensor portion and the circuit board.

Claims (22)

1. A sensor device comprising:

a sensor portion including:

a movable thin film having a rectangular outer shape in a plan view; and

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

a frame portion surrounding the sensor portion;

a spring portion provided between the frame portion and the sensor portion, the spring portion being a single cantilever extending from the frame portion so as to support the sensor portion; and

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

wherein the frame portion and the sensor portion are provided on the circuit board such that a first gap is formed between the sensor portion and the circuit board, the spring portion extends along an extension of a diagonal line of the movable thin film, and the movable thin film is disposed within the sensor portion such that an outer periphery of the movable thin film is inside of an outer shape of the sensor portion in the plan view.

2. The sensor device according to claim 1 ,

wherein an outer shape of the sensor portion in a plan view has at least two sides, a connection portion being provided between two adjacent sides of the at least two sides, and

wherein one end of the spring portion is connected to the connection portion.

3. The sensor device according to claim 1 ,

wherein the detection element is disposed at a center portion of a side of the movable thin film.

4. The sensor device according to claim 1 ,

wherein the detection element is a piezoresistive element or a capacitive element.

5. The sensor device according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a metal sealing portion provided between the circuit board and the frame portion so as to laminate the frame portion onto the circuit board; and

a pad provided between the circuit board and the frame portion, the pad being disposed in an area inside of the metal sealing portion to provide electrical connection between the detection element and the circuit board.

6. The sensor device according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a lid portion provided over the frame portion and the sensor portion on an opposite side of the circuit board,

wherein a second gap is formed between the sensor portion and the lid portion.

7. The sensor device according to claim 1 , wherein the frame portion has a cavity within which the sensor portion is disposed such that a corner of the sensor portion corresponding to a corner of the movable thin film is cantilevered by the spring portion, thereby suppressing transmission of stress from the frame portion to the sensor portion.

Assignments (2)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Feb 5, 2019
From: ALPS ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
To: ALPS ALPINE CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 048260/0950 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 7, 2017
From: UMETSU, EIJI; OKAWA, HISANOBU
To: ALPS ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 041488/0723 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2016-078142 · Apr 8, 2016 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20170291812A1 · Oct 12, 2017