IP Library Granted Patent US 9,869,692
Granted Patent B2
US 9,869,692 · App. 14/536,034 · Granted Jan 16, 2018

Micromechanical Z-sensor

Inventor: Guenther-Nino-Carlo Ullrich (Reutlingen, DE)
Assignee: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
G01P15/125B81B3/0051B81B2201/0235B81B2203/053G01P2015/0831G01P2015/0871Y10T29/49002
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,869,692
App. No.
14/536,034
Granted
Jan 16, 2018
Kind
B2
Abstract

A micromechanical Z-sensor, including a rocker having trough structures which is twistably supported with the aid of a spring device, the rocker having a mass distribution which is asymmetric with respect to the spring device, first electrodes situated above the trough structure, and second electrodes situated below the rocker, and a catch device including at least one spring element against which a stop element which is anchored to a substrate is able to strike, at least two catch devices which are spatially separated from each other being provided per rocker arm of the rocker.

Claims (39)

1. A micromechanical Z-sensor, comprising:

a rocker having trough structures which is twistably supported with the aid of a spring device, the rocker having a mass distribution which is asymmetric with respect to the spring device;

first electrodes situated above the trough structure;

second electrodes situated below the rocker; and

at least two catch devices, each catch device including at least one spring element against which a stop element which is anchored to a substrate is able to strike;

wherein the at least two catch devices are spatially separated from each other and are provided per rocker arm of the rocker;

wherein the stop element includes a strike surface, the stop element strike surface having a first region and a second region;

wherein the first region of the stop element strike surface is coplanar with the second region of the stop element strike surface;

wherein the at least one spring element includes a strike surface; and

wherein the strike surface of the stop element overhangs the strike surface of the at least one spring element so that the first region of the stop element strike surface contacts the strike surface of the at least one spring element when the rocker deflects, and the second region of the stop element strike surface does not contact the strike surface of the at least one spring element when the rocker deflects.

2. The Z-sensor of claim 1 , wherein the spring element is formed as a recess in the rocker having a bottom surface formed in a functional layer.

3. The Z-sensor of claim 1 , wherein a surface of the stop element for striking the spring element is formed narrowly or broadly in relation to a width on the spring element.

4. The Z-sensor of claim 1 , wherein at least two stop elements are situated opposite each other outside of an outline of the rocker, with respect to a base of the rocker.

5. The Z-sensor of claim 1 , wherein the spring element has perforations.

6. The Z-sensor of claim 5 , wherein a size of the perforations corresponds to elastic properties of the spring element.

7. The Z-sensor of claim 1 , further comprising:

at least one release device which is formed in the shape of a slot which penetrates all layers of the rocker.

8. The Z-sensor of claim 7 , wherein the slot is formed around the catch device.

9. A method for manufacturing a micromechanical Z-sensor, the method comprising:

providing an asymmetrically formed rocker made up of at least two functional layers;

forming at least two catch devices which are spatially separated from each other per rocker arm, a formation of spring elements being carried out in the lowest functional layer of the rocker; and

forming stop elements so that the stop elements are anchored to the substrate, a stop area of the stop elements protruding onto a stop surface of the spring elements

wherein the stop element includes a strike surface, the stop element strike surface having a first region and a second region;

wherein the first region of the stop element strike surface is coplanar with the second region of the stop element strike surface;

wherein the at least one spring element includes a strike surface; and

wherein the strike surface of the stop element overhangs the strike surface of the at least one spring element so that the first region of the stop element strike surface contacts the strike surface of the at least one spring element when the rocker deflects, and the second region of the stop element strike surface does not contact the strike surface of the at least one spring element when the rocker deflects.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein at least one relief structure is formed in the area of the catch device, and wherein the catch device is formed as a slot penetrating all functional layers of the rocker.

11. The Z-sensor of claim 1 , wherein:

the rocker is made up of at least an upper functional layer and a lower functional layer,

the upper functional layer has a lower surface,

the lower functional layer has an upper surface,

the at least one spring element is formed in the lower functional layer of the rocker, and

the stop element is formed in the upper functional layer of the rocker.

12. The method of claim 9 , wherein:

the rocker is made up of at least an upper functional layer and a lower functional layer,

the upper functional layer has an upper surface,

the lower functional layer has an upper surface,

the at least one spring element is formed in the lower functional layer of the rocker, and

the stop element is formed in the upper functional layer of the rocker.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 22, 2015
From: ULLRICH, GUENTHER-NINO-CARLO
To: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
Reel/Frame 034793/0085 →
Priority Claims (1)
DE 10 2013 222 747 · Nov 8, 2013 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20150143907A1 · May 28, 2015