A novel capacitive sensing structure for simultaneous detection of biaxial low-g acceleration in a commercial MEMS process

• Published in: Microsystem technologies : sensors, actuators, systems integration Vol. 25; no. 12; pp. 4475 - 4481
• Main Authors: Shan, Xiaowei, Angeles, Jorge, Forbes, James Richard
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Springer Berlin Heidelberg 01.12.2019
• Subjects: Electronics and Microelectronics; Engineering; Instrumentation; Mechanical Engineering; Nanotechnology; Technical Paper
• ISSN: 0946-7076; 1432-1858
• DOI: 10.1007/s00542-019-04432-0

The authors report a novel MEMS capacitive sensing structure that utilizes a single-layer electroplated gold to achieve simultaneous sensing of biaxial acceleration with low cross-axis sensitivity. The capacitive sensing structure is designed for the in-plane biaxial accelerometer with high frequency ratio and low- g acceleration range. The etching precision of the large proof-mass suspension is guaranteed by the design of detachable supporting islands. Then, different locations are explored in arranging the capacitors, for which the corresponding estimation algorithms are derived. Finally, the proposed structure was fabricated under the commercial MicraGEM-Si platform based on silicon-on-insulator (SOI) technologies. In summary, the structural and fabrication designs of the MEMS capacitive sensing structure solve the problems in biaxial independent sensing, while offering: 3D connectivity of electrodes using planar fabrication technologies; large proof-mass fabrication precision; identical mobility range in all in-plane directions; and sensing algorithms for any regular polygonal shape.