Patent ID: 8776601

Claim:
A Micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS) sensor, comprising: a substrate; at least one proof mass having a first plurality of combs, wherein the proof mass is coupled to the substrate via one or more suspension beams such that the proof mass and the first plurality of combs are movable; at least one anchor having a second plurality of combs, wherein the anchor is coupled to the substrate such that the anchor and the second plurality of combs are fixed in position relative to the substrate; wherein the first plurality of combs is interleaved with the second plurality of combs; wherein each of the combs in the first plurality of combs and the second plurality of combs comprises a plurality of conductive layers electrically isolated from each other by one or more non-conductive layers; wherein each conductive layer is individually coupled to a respective electric potential such that fringing electric fields are screened to reduce motion of the first plurality of combs along a sense axis due to the fringing electric fields.