Patent ID: 8322216

Claim:
A micromachined sensor assembly, for use in a capacitive accelerometer, comprising: (a) a spring-mass-support structure, said spring-mass-support structure having a top side and a bottom side, (b) a top cap bonded on the top side of said spring-mass-support structure, and (c) a bottom cap bonded on the bottom side of said spring-mass-support structure, (d) a bonding means for bonding said top cap on the top side of said spring-mass-support structure and bonding said bottom cap on the bottom side of said spring-mass-support structure; wherein said spring-mass-support structure comprises a frame, a pair of branched torsional beams, and a proof mass plate, said proof mass plate having a center of mass and a torsional axis; wherein each one of said pair of branched torsional beams comprises a stem beam coupled to said frame and two branch beams coupled to said proof mass plate such that said proof mass plate is suspended by said pair of torsional beams, said torsional axis is offset from said center of mass in a direction perpendicular to said proof mass plate; wherein said proof mass plate comprises cutout spaces to receive each one of said pair of torsional beams such that said torsional beams are substantially located within said cutout spaces of said proof mass plate.