Patent ID: 7736931
Filing Date: 2010-06-15
Classification: G01P

Abstract:
1. A process for fabricating a pendulous accelerometer having a sensing plate with a symmetric plate area and an asymmetric plate mass, the process comprising the steps of: providing a first substrate having a top planar surface, a bottom planar surface substantially parallel to the top planar surface, and a total thickness extending from the top planar surface to the bottom planar surface; etching a portion of the first substrate to a first predetermined depth from the top planar surface to form a plurality of first protrusions each having a top planar surface; providing a second substrate having an upper planar surface; etching a portion of the second substrate to a second predetermined depth extending from the upper planar surface to form a plurality of second protrusions each having an upper planar surface; bonding the top planar surface of at least one of the first protrusions to the upper planar surface of at least one of the second protrusions to form an anchor portion; and etching a portion of the first substrate from the bottom planar surface to a third predetermined depth at least equal to the difference between the total thickness of the first substrate and the first predetermined depth to form a freely rotatable sensing plate having a solid proof mass on a first side of the anchor portion and a substantially hollow proof mass on a second side of the anchor portion.