IP Library › Granted Patent US 10,737,935
Granted Patent B2
US 10,737,935 · App. 16/050,795 · Granted Aug 11, 2020

MEMS sensors, methods for providing same and method for operating a MEMS sensor

Inventors: Alfons Dehe (Villingen-Schwenning, DE); Marc Fueldner (Neubiberg, DE); Andreas Wiesbauer (Poertschach, AT)
Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
B81B7/02B81B3/0027B81B3/0086G01L9/0041G01L9/12G01L19/02G01L19/06H04R3/06H04R19/005H04R19/04B81B2201/0257B81B2201/0264B81B2203/0127B81B2203/04B81B2207/03H04R2201/003
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,737,935
App. No.
16/050,795
Granted
Aug 11, 2020
Kind
B2
Abstract

In accordance with an embodiment, a MEMS sensor includes a MEMS arrangement having a movable electrode and a stator electrode arranged opposite the movable electrode. The MEMS sensor includes a first bias voltage source, which is connected to the stator electrode and which is configured to apply a first bias voltage to the stator electrode. The MEMS sensor further includes a common-mode read-out circuit connected to the stator electrode by a capacitive coupling and comprising a second bias voltage source, which is configured to apply a second bias voltage to a side of the capacitive coupling that faces away from the stator electrode.

Claims (39)

1. A micro-electro-mechanical (MEMS) sensor comprising:

a MEMS arrangement comprising:

a movable electrode;

a stator electrode, arranged opposite the movable electrode;

a first bias voltage source, which is connected to the stator electrode and which is configured to apply a first bias voltage to the stator electrode; and

a common-mode read-out circuit connected to the stator electrode by a capacitive coupling and comprising a second bias voltage source, which is configured to apply a second bias voltage to a side of the capacitive coupling that faces away from the stator electrode.

2. The MEMS sensor as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the movable electrode is a first movable electrode, the MEMS arrangement further comprises a second movable electrode arranged opposite the first movable electrode, and the stator electrode is arranged between the first and second movable electrodes.

3. The MEMS sensor as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the first movable electrode and the second movable electrodes are configured to be connected to a common first potential, and the stator electrode is configured to be connected to a second potential different from the common first potential.

4. The MEMS sensor as claimed in claim 3 , wherein the common first potential is a reference potential of the MEMS sensor.

5. The MEMS sensor as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the first movable electrode and the second movable electrode are movable along the same direction.

6. The MEMS sensor as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the first movable electrode and the second movable electrode are mechanically connected to one another through a plane of the stator electrode, and configured to carry out a simultaneous movement.

7. The MEMS sensor as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the common-mode read-out circuit is configured to detect a first capacitance value between the first movable electrode and the stator electrode and detect a second capacitance value between the second movable electrode and the stator electrode.

8. The MEMS sensor as claimed in claim 1 , wherein at least one of the movable electrode and the stator electrode are held by a substrate configured to be connected to a reference potential of the MEMS sensor.

9. The MEMS sensor as claimed in claim 1 , wherein at least one of the movable electrode and the stator electrode are held by a substrate, wherein the substrate is electrically insulated from the movable electrode and an environment of the substrate.

10. The MEMS sensor as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the first bias voltage source is configured to apply the first bias voltage with a potential of at least 3 V, and wherein the second bias voltage source is configured to apply the second bias voltage with at most 2.5 V.

11. The MEMS sensor as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the first bias voltage and the second bias voltage are DC voltages.

12. The MEMS sensor as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the movable electrode is a first movable electrode, the MEMS arrangement further comprises a second movable electrode arranged opposite the first movable electrode, and the stator electrode is arranged between the first and second movable electrodes; and

wherein the first movable electrode in a rest state is arranged at a first distance from the stator electrode and the second movable electrode in the rest state is arranged at a second distance from the stator electrode, said second distance being different than the first distance.

13. The MEMS sensor as claimed in claim 12 , wherein a quotient of the first distance and the second distance has a value of at least 1.1.

14. The MEMS sensor as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the movable electrode is a first movable electrode, the MEMS arrangement further comprises a second movable electrode arranged opposite the first movable electrode, and wherein the stator electrode is arranged between the first movable electrode and the second movable electrode;

wherein the stator electrode has a first stator electrode element which is arranged in a manner facing the first movable electrode and an opposite second stator electrode element which is arranged in a manner facing the second movable electrode, wherein the MEMS sensor is configured to apply a mutually different potential to the first stator electrode element and the second stator electrode element.

15. The MEMS sensor as claimed in claim 14 , wherein the MEMS sensor is configured to detect a first movement of the first movable electrode relative to the first stator electrode element and a second movement of the second movable electrode relative to the second stator electrode element.

16. The MEMS sensor as claimed in claim 14 , wherein a first potential of the first stator electrode element and a second potential of the second stator electrode element have mutually different signs relative to a reference potential.

17. The MEMS sensor as claimed in claim 14 , wherein a first potential of the first stator electrode element and a second potential of the second stator electrode element are DC voltage potentials and are identical in terms of absolute value within a tolerance range of 50%.

18. The MEMS sensor as claimed in claim 14 , wherein a ratio of a first distance between the first stator electrode element and the first movable electrode and a second distance between the second stator electrode element and the second movable electrode corresponds to a ratio in terms of absolute value between a first potential of the first stator electrode element and a second potential of the second stator electrode element within a tolerance range of 33%.

19. A method for providing a micro-electro-mechanical (MEMS) sensor comprising the following steps:

providing a MEMS arrangement comprising:

a movable electrode,

a stator electrode arranged opposite the movable electrode,

connecting a first bias voltage source to the stator electrode, such that the first bias voltage source is configured to apply a first bias voltage to the stator electrode, and

connecting a common-mode read-out circuit comprising a second bias voltage source by a capacitive coupling to the stator electrode, such that the second bias voltage source is configured to apply a second bias voltage to a side of the capacitive coupling that faces away from the stator electrode.

20. A method of operating a micro-electro-mechanical (MEMS) sensor having a MEMS arrangement comprising a movable electrode, a stator electrode, arranged opposite the movable electrode; a first bias voltage source; and a common-mode read-out circuit connected to the stator electrode by a capacitive coupling and comprising a second bias voltage source, the method comprising:

applying, by the first bias voltage source, a first bias voltage to the stator electrode; and

applying, by the second bias voltage source, a second bias voltage to a side of the capacitive coupling that faces away from the stator electrode.

21. A method of forming a micro-electro-mechanical (MEMS) sensor comprising a MEMS arrangement, the method comprising

forming a movable electrode;

forming a stator electrode, arranged opposite the movable electrode;

forming a first bias voltage source, which is connected to the stator electrode and which is configured to apply a first bias voltage to the stator electrode; and

forming a common-mode read-out circuit connected to the stator electrode by a capacitive coupling and comprising a second bias voltage source, which is configured to apply a second bias voltage to a side of the capacitive coupling that faces away from the stator electrode.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 31, 2018
From: DEHE, ALFONS; FUELDNER, MARC; WIESBAUER, ANDREAS
To: INFINEON TECHNOLOGIES AG
Reel/Frame 046515/0433 →
Priority Claims (1)
DE 10 2017 213 277 · Aug 1, 2017 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20190039884A1 · Feb 7, 2019