Patent ID: 7578162
Filing Date: 2009-08-25
Classification: G01L,G01P

Abstract:
1. A method of testing an acceleration sensor, said acceleration sensor comprising: a substrate arranged along an XY-plane of an XYZ three-dimensional coordinate system; a working body receiving a force and located adjacent to said substrate with a predetermined distance; a flexible member supporting said working body so that said working body is suspended and spatial deviation of said working body is produced by applying said force thereto; a fixing member fixing said flexible member to said substrate; and a transducer for transforming said spatial deviation into an electric signal that indicates said force; said method comprising the steps of: providing a deviation electrode extending along a first plane perpendicular to said XY-plane and a fixed electrode extending along a second plane perpendicular to said XY-plane, said deviation electrode being located on the working body at a position which deviates in a X-axis direction and said fixed electrode being fixed to a member which is fixed to said substrate so as to face said deviation electrode; applying a voltage between said deviation electrode and said fixed electrode so that Coulomb force is produced which causes spatial deviation of said working body in an X-axis direction of said XYZ three-dimensional coordinate system; detecting an electric signal transformed by said transducer while said spatial deviation is caused by applying said voltage; and testing an operation of said acceleration sensor with respect to said X-axis direction based on a relationship between said applied voltage and said detected electric signal.