Patent ID: 8237521

Claim:
A MEMS contact acceleration switch, comprising: a first layer made of a non-conductive material; a second layer next to the first layer, the second layer being a spacer layer made of a conductive material; a third layer next to the second layer, the third layer being made of a conductive material, the third layer including a generally circular, annular mass; a center anchor post disposed interior of the annular mass; at least one spiral spring having one end connected to the annular mass and another end connected to the center anchor post, the at least one spiral spring being wound around the center anchor post; at least one x-y plane detection electrode separated from the annular mass by a gap; and a perimeter area separated from the at least one x-y plane detection electrode by a gap, wherein the second layer supports the center anchor post, the at least one x-y plane detection electrode, and the perimeter area; a fourth layer next to the third layer, the fourth layer being another spacer layer made of a conductive material; a fifth layer next to the fourth layer, the fifth layer being a z-axis electrode made of a conductive material, the fifth layer being separated from the annular mass by a second gap; a second z-axis electrode disposed on the first layer, facing the annular mass, and separated from the annular mass by a third gap; and a plurality of conductive vias that extend completely through the first layer, the plurality of vias including a first via in electrical communication with the anchor post, a second via in electrical communication with the z-axis electrode, a third via in electrical communication with the second z-axis electrode, and a fourth via in electrical communication with the at least one x-y plane detection electrode.