Acceleration sensor having a capacitor array located in the center of an inertial mass

An acceleration sensor comprising:

• a substrate;
• an inertial mass that is spaced from the substrate and moveable along a detection direction which lies in an x-y plane, the inertial mass having a periphery and a center of gravity as viewed along the x-y plane;
• and
• an electrostatic capacitor array located within the periphery of the inertial mass and surrounding the center of gravity of the inertial mass as viewed along the x-y plane, the electrostatic capacitor array including a plurality of capacitor elements each having a respective fixed electrode and a respective movable electrode, the movable electrodes moving along the detection direction in response to an acceleration of the inertial mass in the detection direction, the distance between each of the fixed electrodes on the one hand and its associated movable electrode on the other varying, and therefore the electrostatic capacity of the capacitor elements varying, according to the acceleration of the inertial mass in the detection direction.