Patent ID: 9599472
Date: 2017-03-21
CPC Classifications: G01C,G01P

Claim:
1. A proof-mass structure for an accelerometer, the proof mass structure configured to couple to an adjacent layer using a single anchor, the proof mass structure comprising: a first z-axis portion configured to rotate about a first axis using a first hinge, the first axis parallel to an x-y plane orthogonal to a z-axis; a second z-axis portion configured to rotate about a second axis using a second hinge, the second axis parallel to the x-y plane; wherein the first z-axis portion is configured to rotate independent of the second z-axis portion; a central portion coupled to the first z-axis portion and the second z-axis portion via the first hinge and the second hinge, respectively, the central portion configured to couple with the single anchor and to suspend the first z-axis portion and the second z-axis portion from an adjacent layer of the accelerometer, one or more moveable portions of an electrode coupled to a frame of the central portion; wherein movement of the one or more moveable portions of the electrode is associated with movement of the frame resulting from either x-axis motion of the proof mass structure or y-axis motion of the proof mass structure; wherein the first z-axis portion and the second z-axis portion are coupled to the single anchor via the frame.