Patents Assigned to VTI Technologies Oy
  • Patent number: 7325451
    Abstract: The present invention relates to measuring devices used in measuring angular velocity and, more specifically, to oscillating micro-mechanical sensors of angular velocity. In the sensors of angular velocity according to the present invention, at least one pair of electrodes is provided in association with an edge of a seismic mass (1), (9), (10), (20), (30), (31), which pair of electrodes together with the surface of the mass (1), (9), (10), (20), (30), (31) form two capacitances such, that one of the capacitances of the pair of electrodes will increase and the other capacitance of the pair of electrodes will decrease as a function of the angle of rotation in the primary motion of the mass (1), (9), (10), (20), (30), (31). The structure of a sensor of angular velocity according to the present invention enables reliable and efficient measuring particularly in solutions for compact oscillating micro-mechanical sensors of angular velocity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2008
    Assignee: VTI Technologies Oy
    Inventor: Anssi Blomqvist
  • Patent number: 7302857
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a sensor including forming an insulating layer on top of a conductive substrate, and forming a conducting electrode on top of the insulating layer. Further, the insulating layer is formed to include support areas formed at edges of the conducting electrode and a partial area formed under the conducting electrode, and a thickness (d2) of the partial area of the insulating layer is less than a thickness (d1) of the support areas of the insulating area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2007
    Assignee: VTI Technologies Oy
    Inventors: Heikki Kuisma, Juha Lahdenperä, Risto Mutikainen
  • Patent number: 7252007
    Abstract: The invention relates to measuring devices for the measuring of pressure, and more specifically to capacitive pressure sensors. The silicon crystal planes {111} are located at the corners of a wet etched membrane well of a pressure sensor element according to the present invention. An object of the invention is to provide an improved method of manufacturing a capacitive pressure sensor, and a capacitive pressure sensor suitable for use, in particular, in small capacitive pressure sensor solutions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2007
    Assignee: VTI Technologies Oy
    Inventors: Jaakko Ruohio, Riikka Åström
  • Patent number: 6998059
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for manufacturing a silicon sensor structure and a silicon sensor. According to the method, into a single-crystal silicon wafer (10) is formed by etched opening at least one spring element configuration (7) and at least one seismic mass (8) connected to said spring element configuration (7). According to the invention, the openings and trenches (8) extending through the depth of the silicon wafer are fabricated by dry etch methods, and the etch process used for controlling the spring constant of the spring element configuration (7) is based on wet etch methods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2006
    Assignee: VTI Technologies Oy
    Inventors: Heikki Kuisma, Juha Lahdenperä, Risto Mutikainen
  • Patent number: 6938485
    Abstract: The invention relates to measuring devices used for the measuring of acceleration, and specifically to capacitive acceleration sensors. The capacitive acceleration sensor according to the present invention comprises a pair of electrodes composed of a movable electrode (4) and a stationary electrode (5), and, related to the pair of electrodes, an isolator protrusion having a special coating. The invention provides an improved, more durable sensor structure, which withstands wear caused by overload situations better than earlier structures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2005
    Assignee: VTI Technologies Oy
    Inventors: Heikki Kuisma, Juha Lahdenperä, Risto Mutikainen
  • Publication number: 20050105245
    Abstract: This publication discloses a method for creating a sensor construction. According to the method, on top of a conducting substrate (2), an insulating layer (5) is formed and connected to the micromechanical construction. According to the invention, the insulating layer (5) is formed to be thicker (14) in the support area (16) than in the other areas, or thinner (13) in the area of the electrode (8) than in the support area (16) of the sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2003
    Publication date: May 19, 2005
    Applicant: VTI Technologies Oy
    Inventors: Heikki Kuisma, Juha Lahdenpera, Risto Mutikainen