Patent ID: 6923061

Claim:
A physical quantity sensor for detecting physical quantity, the sensor comprising: a substrate having an opening; a beam protruding in the opening of the substrate and supported on the substrate; and a fixed electrode supported on the substrate, wherein the beam is movable in a vertical direction of the substrate so that the physical quantity in the vertical direction is detectable, wherein the fixed electrode includes a first fixed electrode and a second fixed electrode, the first and second fixed electrodes protruding in the opening of the substrate, wherein the beam includes a moveable electrode, the moveable electrode facing both of the first and second fixed electrodes to provide first and second capacitors, respectively, and wherein the moveable electrode is parallel to the first and the second fixed electrodes in a predetermined direction so that the moveable electrode is moveable in the vertical direction perpendicular to the predetermined direction in accordance with the physical quantity applied to the sensor.