A capacitive transducer of multi-layer construction includes two rotor plates
supported
by flexible springs, the plates being spaced apart and rigidly connected by a stem.
One rotor plate my be used as either a pickup electrode or a grounded target electrode
for determining position, displacement, or load force. The second rotor plate may
be used for electrostatic actuation without interfering with or destroying circuitry
associated with the first rotor plate. A number of improvements are disclosed including
a hollow rotor plate structure for reduced moving mass, buckling resistant features
for the springs, improved spring anchor joint design for reduced creep and hysteresis,
and material selection and matching for reduced thermal sensitivity.