{
  "patent_number": "US 10655963",
  "country": "US",
  "title": "How Tiny Sensors Stay Steady When Their Mounts Shake",
  "original_title": "Anchoring structure for a sensor insensitive to anchor movement",
  "summary": "This patent describes a microelectromechanical system (MEMS) sensor design that uses special springs and a stable internal mass to keep its measuring parts steady, even when the sensor's attachment points are vibrating or moving.",
  "what_it_does": "The patent details a microelectromechanical (MEMS) sensor designed to isolate its sensitive measuring components from unwanted external movements. It achieves this by suspending a \"spring-mass system\" from \"anchoring components\" within a MEMS layer (Claim 1). A crucial element is a \"rigid mass\" connected to the anchoring component by \"anchoring springs.\" The actual \"sense mass,\" which detects forces like acceleration, is then coupled to this rigid mass. The key innovation is that this rigid mass remains \"substantially stationary\" (Claim 1) even if the anchoring component moves, especially in an out-of-plane direction (Claim 2). This stability is maintained because the anchoring spring is \"torsionally compliant\" (Claim 3), meaning it can twist to absorb the unwanted movement without transmitting it to the rigid mass or the sense mass. For example, in a car's airbag system, this design would ensure the sensor accurately detects a crash impact without being confused by normal road vibrations.",
  "what_it_does_not_cover": [
    "Sensors where the rigid mass moves significantly in response to anchor movement, specifically if its movement is not at least an order of magnitude less than the anchor's movement (Claim 6).",
    "Sensors where the anchoring spring is not designed to be torsionally compliant to out-of-plane movements of the anchoring component (Claim 3).",
    "Sensors that achieve stability through external damping mechanisms rather than through an internal, isolated spring-mass system as described.",
    "Sensors where the sense mass is directly connected to the anchoring component without the intermediate rigid mass and anchoring spring system.",
    "Sensors where the rigid mass moves substantially in response to the sensed inertial force, if its movement is not at least an order of magnitude less than the sense mass's movement (Claim 7)."
  ],
  "filed": "2018-02-20",
  "granted": "2020-05-19",
  "expires": "2038-02-20",
  "status": "active",
  "holder": "InvenSense",
  "holder_url": "https://patentbrief.org/company/invensense",
  "inventors": [
    {
      "name": "Giacomo Gafforelli",
      "url": "https://patentbrief.org/inventor/giacomo-gafforelli"
    },
    {
      "name": "Jaakko Ruohio",
      "url": "https://patentbrief.org/inventor/jaakko-ruohio"
    },
    {
      "name": "Luca Coronato",
      "url": "https://patentbrief.org/inventor/luca-coronato"
    }
  ],
  "times_cited": 3,
  "tags": [
    "consumer_electronics",
    "telecommunications",
    "automotive",
    "aerospace",
    "mechanical",
    "semiconductors"
  ],
  "abstract": "A MEMS sensor includes a substrate and a MEMS layer. A plurality of anchoring points within the MEMS layer suspend a suspended spring-mass system that includes active micromechanical components that respond to a force of interest such as linear acceleration, angular velocity, pressure, or magnetic field. Springs and rigid masses couple the active components to the anchoring points, such that displacements of the anchoring points do not substantially cause the active components within the MEMS layer to move out-of-plane.",
  "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/10655963/anchoring-structure-for-a-sensor-insensitive-to-anchor-movement",
  "markdown_url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/10655963/anchoring-structure-for-a-sensor-insensitive-to-anchor-movement/md",
  "google_patents_url": "https://patents.google.com/patent/US10655963",
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}