Patent ID: 7956302

Claim:
A hermetically packaged MEMS G-switch, comprising: a MEMS structure comprising a bottom substrate layer, a top device layer and an intermediate oxide layer joining said bottom substrate and top device layers; at least one anchor portion being defined in said top device layer; a mass disposed in said top device layer, said mass is moveable cut of a plane of said top device layer where said mass includes a conductive pad on a top portion thereof; at least one spring arm comprising a first end connected to said mass and a second end connected to said anchor portion, a connection of said at least one spring arm to said anchor portion where the connection includes a T shaped arrangement having a torsional spring cross piece connected to said second end of said spring arm to provide for greater flexibility of said mass and said spring arm; and a cap hermetically sealed to said MEMS structure where the cap includes a conductive pad, wherein said conductive pad of said mass engages said conductive pad of said cap when a predetermined acceleration of a G-switch is attained, and wherein said mass includes a first contact arm and a second contact arm both extending from a back of said mass and parallel to sides of said mass, wherein said first contact arm includes a first contact point and said second contact arm includes a second contact point where each of said first contact point and said second contact point is situated at ends of respective said first contact arm and said second contact arm thereof that extend past an end of said mass, and wherein said first contact point and said second contact point engage said conductive pad of said cap prior to said mass, during closing of said G-switch.