Patent ID: 7690254

Claim:
A microelectromechanical system (MEMS) comprising: a housing formed from a double layer silicon on insulator (SOI) material having an insulating layer separating a first section from a second section, the housing defining an enclosed cavity; one or more stator tines extending from the housing into the cavity such that the insulating layer from the housing SOI material runs along a length of each stator tine and is disposed between a first section of each stator tine extending a first distance from the insulating layer and a second section of each stator tine extending a second distance from the insulating layer in an opposite direction from the first section, the first section of each stator tine being electrically connected to the first section of the housing and the second section of each stator tine being electrically connected to the second section of the housing; and a MEMS device located within the cavity, the MEMS device comprising: a proof mass formed from a double layer SOI material having an insulating layer separating a first section from a second section, the proof mass coupled to the housing; one or more rotor tines extending from the proof mass such that the insulating layer from the proof mass SOI material runs along a length of each rotor tine and is disposed between a first section of each rotor tine extending a first distance from the insulating layer and a second section of each rotor tine extending a second distance from the insulating layer in an opposite direction from the first section, each rotor tine being positioned at a capacitive distance from a corresponding stator tine, the first section of each rotor tine being electrically connected to the first section of the proof mass and the second section of each rotor tine being electrically connected to the second section of the proof mass; wherein the proof mass is configured to deflect in a direction approximately orthogonal to a vector normal between the corresponding tines; wherein the stator tine first distance is greater than the rotor tine first distance; and wherein the stator tine second distance is approximately equal to the rotor tine second distance.