Structural Design and Testing of a Micromechanical Resonant Accelerometer

Micromechanical resonant accelerometers based on electrostatic stiffness have the advantage of it being possible to adjust their sensitivity by changing the detection voltage. However, there is a high-order nonlinear relationship between the output frequency and the induced acceleration, so it is di...

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Main Authors: Heng Liu, Yu Zhang, Jiale Wu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2022-08-01
Series:Micromachines
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2072-666X/13/8/1271
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author Heng Liu
Yu Zhang
Jiale Wu
author_facet Heng Liu
Yu Zhang
Jiale Wu
author_sort Heng Liu
collection DOAJ
description Micromechanical resonant accelerometers based on electrostatic stiffness have the advantage of it being possible to adjust their sensitivity by changing the detection voltage. However, there is a high-order nonlinear relationship between the output frequency and the induced acceleration, so it is difficult to obtain the theoretical basis to guide the microstructure design. In this study, the dynamic equation for this type of accelerometer was established under the condition of the stiffness of the folded beams being much less than that of the resonant beams. The sensitivity was obtained first, and then silicon-based microstructures were fabricated, for which metal tube-shell vacuum packaging was adopted. The two static driving capacitances were about 0.88 pF, and the detection capacitances were about 0.38 pF in the experimental test. The sensitivity was 44.5 Hz/g when the detection voltage was 1 V, while it was greater than 300 Hz/g when the detection voltage was 3 V. With an increase in the detection and driving voltages, a coupling phenomenon occurred between the vibration amplitude and frequency of the resonant beam. The double-stage folded beam failed at a high detection voltage larger than 10 V. Through the experiment, a numerical simulation model for the accelerometer was established, providing the basis for a closed-loop control circuit design.
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spelling doaj.art-5feb2e2d2da840d18ea101dbff78d9c82023-11-30T22:00:33ZengMDPI AGMicromachines2072-666X2022-08-01138127110.3390/mi13081271Structural Design and Testing of a Micromechanical Resonant AccelerometerHeng Liu0Yu Zhang1Jiale Wu2School of Electronic & Information Engineering, Nanjing University of Information Science & Technology, Nanjing 210044, ChinaSchool of Electronic & Information Engineering, Nanjing University of Information Science & Technology, Nanjing 210044, ChinaSchool of Electronic & Information Engineering, Nanjing University of Information Science & Technology, Nanjing 210044, ChinaMicromechanical resonant accelerometers based on electrostatic stiffness have the advantage of it being possible to adjust their sensitivity by changing the detection voltage. However, there is a high-order nonlinear relationship between the output frequency and the induced acceleration, so it is difficult to obtain the theoretical basis to guide the microstructure design. In this study, the dynamic equation for this type of accelerometer was established under the condition of the stiffness of the folded beams being much less than that of the resonant beams. The sensitivity was obtained first, and then silicon-based microstructures were fabricated, for which metal tube-shell vacuum packaging was adopted. The two static driving capacitances were about 0.88 pF, and the detection capacitances were about 0.38 pF in the experimental test. The sensitivity was 44.5 Hz/g when the detection voltage was 1 V, while it was greater than 300 Hz/g when the detection voltage was 3 V. With an increase in the detection and driving voltages, a coupling phenomenon occurred between the vibration amplitude and frequency of the resonant beam. The double-stage folded beam failed at a high detection voltage larger than 10 V. Through the experiment, a numerical simulation model for the accelerometer was established, providing the basis for a closed-loop control circuit design.https://www.mdpi.com/2072-666X/13/8/1271accelerometerresonant frequencyelectrostatic stiffnesssensitivity
spellingShingle Heng Liu
Yu Zhang
Jiale Wu
Structural Design and Testing of a Micromechanical Resonant Accelerometer
Micromachines
accelerometer
resonant frequency
electrostatic stiffness
sensitivity
title Structural Design and Testing of a Micromechanical Resonant Accelerometer
title_full Structural Design and Testing of a Micromechanical Resonant Accelerometer
title_fullStr Structural Design and Testing of a Micromechanical Resonant Accelerometer
title_full_unstemmed Structural Design and Testing of a Micromechanical Resonant Accelerometer
title_short Structural Design and Testing of a Micromechanical Resonant Accelerometer
title_sort structural design and testing of a micromechanical resonant accelerometer
topic accelerometer
resonant frequency
electrostatic stiffness
sensitivity
url https://www.mdpi.com/2072-666X/13/8/1271
work_keys_str_mv AT hengliu structuraldesignandtestingofamicromechanicalresonantaccelerometer
AT yuzhang structuraldesignandtestingofamicromechanicalresonantaccelerometer
AT jialewu structuraldesignandtestingofamicromechanicalresonantaccelerometer