Patent ID: 7267006
Filing Date: 2007-09-11
Classification: G01P

Abstract:
1. An accelerometer having a plate-like base made from an electrically non-conductive material, an outer substantially planar, ring-like, support frame fixedly bonded to the base, an inner substantially planar, ring-like, support frame flexibly suspended within the outer frame by mounts connecting the inner frame to the outer frame so that the inner frame is spaced from the base and co-planar with the outer support frame, a substantially planar plate-like proof mass moveably mounted in the inner support frame which is co-planar therewith, four or more flexible mounting legs each co-planar with the proof mass and the inner support frame, with each mounting leg being connected at one end to the proof mass and connected at another end to the inner support frame so that the proof mass is mounted for linear movement in a sensing direction in the plane containing the outer support frame, the inner support frame, the proof mass and the mounting legs, in response to acceleration change applied to the accelerometer, with the mounting legs extending substantially perpendicularly to the sensing direction, and with flexible suspension of the inner support frame reducing compressive and/or tensile forces on the mounting legs as a function of temperature on the accelerometer.