Patent ID: 6988412

Claim:
A device for sensing mechanical input and converting mechanical movement of at least two relatively movable parts into electrical output, comprising: a silicon substrate; a gap extending across a portion of the substrate defining the relative moveable parts and a flexible cross-section extending there between, the cross-section derived from the same material as the substrate; at least one strain sensitive element provided on the surface of the silicon substrate, the strain sensitive element having two end portions interconnected by an intermediate neck portion, the neck portion being supported on a structure that concentrates strain, the structure extending across the gap and having vertical walls extending to the cross-section in the gap and the structure derived from the same material as the substrate; and electrode means electrically connected to the end portions for detecting changes in electrical resistance between the end portions, when the neck portion is subjected to stress in the direction of a current through the strain sensitive element that results from the relative movement of the substrate parts.