Patent ID: 7231802
Filing Date: 2007-06-19
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 made of silicon supporting said working body at a periphery thereof 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 and two fixed electrodes, said deviation electrode being located on the working body at a position which deviates in an X-axis direction and said fixed electrodes being fixed to said substrate so as to face a part of said deviation electrode, respectively; applying voltages between said deviation electrode and said fixed electrodes 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 voltages; and testing an operation of said acceleration sensor with respect to said X-axis direction based on a relationship between said applied voltages and said detected electric signal.