Patent ID: 6776043
Filing Date: 2004-08-17
Classification: G01P

Abstract:
An accelerometer comprising:a housing; a flexure plate section enclosed within said housing and comprising a first fixed plate, a second fixed plate spaced apart from and m parallel relation to said first plate, and a flexure plate disposed between and in substantially parallel relation to said first and second plates, said flexure plate coupled to said housing along at least an edge, said flexure plate and first plate defining a first distance and a first capacitor and said flexure plate and said second plate defining a second distance and a second capacitor, wherein said first and second distances vary in response to acceleration forces acting upon said flexure plate; and a rigid plate section enclosed within said housing and electrically isolated from said flexure plate section and comprising a third fixed plate, a fourth fixed plate spaced apart from and in parallel relation to said first plate, and a rigid plate disposed between and in substantially parallel relation to said first and second plates, said rigid plate electrically isolated from said housing, said rigid plate and said third plate dining a third distance and a third capacitor and said rigid plate and said fourth plate defining a fourth distance and a fourth capacitor, wherein a fifth distance is defiled between said rigid plate and said flexure plate such that said fifth distance is a function of said acceleration forces, said first capacitor, said second capacitor, said third capacitor and said fourth capacitor connect to form a bridge adapted to generate a bridge voltage signal.