Title
A 4 mm² Double Differential Torsional MEMS Accelerometer Based on a Double-Beam Configuration.
Abstract
This paper reports the design and simulation of a 4 mm(2) double differential torsional MEMS accelerometer based on a double-beam configuration. Based on the structure of conventional torsional accelerometers, normally composed of one pair of proof masses and one torsional beam, this work explores the double differential configuration: a torsional accelerometer with two pairs of unbalanced proof masses rotating in reverse. Also, the torsional beam is designed as a double-beam structure, which is a symmetrical structure formed by two torsional beams separated by a certain distance. The device area of the novel accelerometer is more than 50 times smaller than that of a traditional double differential torsional MEMS accelerometer. The FEM simulation results demonstrate that the smaller device does not sacrifice other specifications, such as mechanical sensitivity, nonlinearity and temperature robustness. The mechanical sensitivity and nonlinearity of a +/- 15 g measuring range is 59.4 fF/g and 0.88%, respectively. Compared with traditional single-beam silicon structures, the novel structure can achieve lower maximum principle stress in critical regions and reduce the possibility of failure when high-g acceleration loading is applied along all three axes. The mechanical noise equivalent acceleration is about <mml:semantics>0.13mg in the theoretical calculations and the offset temperature coefficient is 0.25 mg/ in the full temperature range of -40 degrees C to 60 degrees C.
Year
DOI
Venue
2017
10.3390/s17102264
SENSORS
Keywords
Field
DocType
double differential,torsional,MEMS,accelerometer,double-beam,temperature robustness
Nonlinear system,Microelectromechanical systems,Torsion (mechanics),Accelerometer,Temperature coefficient,Electronic engineering,Finite element method,Beam (structure),Acceleration,Engineering
Journal
Volume
Issue
ISSN
17
10.0
1424-8220
Citations 
PageRank 
References 
0
0.34
3
Authors
5
Name
Order
Citations
PageRank
Tongqiao Miao100.34
Dingbang Xiao254.75
Qingsong Li300.34
Zhanqiang Hou400.68
Xuezhong Wu52712.46