CUSTOM SENSORS & TECHNOLOGIES, INC. Patent applications |
Patent application number | Title | Published |
20120291551 | SENSOR MOUNT VIBRATION REDUCTION - Techniques are provided for reducing mount vibration in an inertial rate sensor (IRS). For example, if oscillation in an IRS's vibratory members, vibrating along a first axis, cause displacement in the IRS's mount along a second axis, the vibratory members can be aligned so that the vibratory members have some component of movement along the second axis during oscillation. This component of movement can help reduce the displacement of the IRS's mount along the second axis. It can further reduce sensitivity to changes in the boundary conditions of an IRS (e.g., vibrations and other movements at the mount from forces external to the IRS). Vibratory members further can have portions of increased mass at the vibratory members' tips, which can impact the alignment of the vibratory members. These examples, however, are not exhaustive. | 11-22-2012 |
20120166082 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR INITIAL QUATERNION AND ATTITUDE ESTIMATION - Techniques are provided to determine an initial quaternion transform that is used to transform measurements received from accelerometer, rate sensor and inertial reference subsystems from a vehicle coordinate frame to an inertial navigation frame. Methods disclosed determine corrective angular rates to use as a feedback signal to rotate the quaternion transform to counter errors that result when transforming a gravity vector and an inertial reference vector (e.g., a magnetic North reference vector) that are being measured by the accelerometer and an inertial reference subsystems, respectively. The initial quaternion determination is performed during a time period when the only substantial acceleration on the vehicle is due to gravity. The initial quaternion can be used for processing various guidance, navigation and control functions. | 06-28-2012 |
20120144917 | Distributed Mass Hemispherical Resonator Gyroscope - A micro-scale hemispherical resonator gyroscope includes a hemispherical resonator with a plurality of masses positioned around the periphery of the hemispherical resonator. At least some of the masses may be made of a heavy metal, such as tungsten, gold, platinum, or lead, and may be positioned at points of maximum deflection or velocity of the resonator. The hemispherical resonator may have a 2 mm diameter and a ring down time of at least 500 seconds. | 06-14-2012 |
20110010924 | Inertial sensor with dual cavity package and method of fabrication - Inertial sensor having a body with first and second cavities on opposite sides thereof, a sensing element in the first cavity, electronic circuitry in the second cavity, electrical conductors interconnecting the sensing element and the circuitry, and leads connected electrically to the circuitry and extending from the body for mounting the sensor and making connections with the circuitry. | 01-20-2011 |
20100095768 | Micromachined torsional gyroscope with anti-phase linear sense transduction - Micromachined gyroscope having a pair of masses disposed generally in a plane and driven for out-of-plane torsional oscillation about a pair of drive axes in the plane for sensing rotation about an input axis perpendicular to the drive axes. The masses are mounted for in-plane torsional movement about sense axes perpendicular to the drive axes and the input axis in response to Coriolis forces produced by rotation of the masses about the input axis. A link connects the two masses together for movement of equal amplitude and opposite phase both about the drive axes and about the sense axes. The masses are connected to transducers having input electrodes constrained for linear in-plane movement relative to stationary electrodes, with that torsional movement of the masses about the sense axes producing changes in capacitance between the input electrodes and the stationary electrodes. | 04-22-2010 |
20100072862 | Inertial sensor with dual cavity package and method of fabrication - Inertial sensor having a body with first and second cavities on opposite sides thereof, a sensing element in the first cavity, electronic circuitry in the second cavity, electrical conductors interconnecting the sensing element and the circuitry, and leads connected electrically to the circuitry and extending from the body for mounting the sensor and making connections with the circuitry. | 03-25-2010 |
20090293584 | SENSOR ASSEMBLY AND METHOD - Described herein is the sensor assembly and method for rapidly obtaining accurate readings of a variable. The sensor assembly comprises a plurality of sensors which are connected to a microcontroller that processes the signals of the individual transducers to the microcontroller. The microcontroller contains software that maximizes the refresh rate and/or minimizes the time it takes to process the outputs of each of the transducers. The microcontroller that is coupled to the sensor assembly selectively measures the outputs of each transducer so as to speed up the refresh rate of the sensor. | 12-03-2009 |
20090283846 | BACKSIDE CONTROLLED MEMS CAPACITIVE SENSOR AND INTERFACE AND METHOD - Described herein is the sense element assembly for a capacitive pressure sensor and method for creating same that has increased sensitivity despite the parasitic capacitance that is created. The capacitive sensor element assembly, comprises a first semiconductive layer, and a first conductive layer, a first dielectric layer into which a cavity has been formed, the dielectric layer lying between the first semiconductive layer and the first conductive layer, wherein an electrical connection is made to the second conductive layer. A preferred method for fabricating a capacitive sensor assembly of the present invention comprises the steps of forming a dielectric layer on top of a conductive handle wafer; creating at least one cavity in the dielectric layer, bonding a thin semiconductive layer to the dielectric layer and connecting an operational amplifier to the input of the capacitive sensor assembly to overcome the parasitic capacitance formed during fabrication. | 11-19-2009 |
20090266172 | SENSE ELEMENT ASSEMBLY AND METHOD - Described herein is the sense element assembly for a capacitive pressure sensor and method for creating same that has increased sensitivity without additional size. The sense element assembly and method includes fabricating an off-centered elliptically shaped center electrode, at least one elliptical annular-like electrode around the center electrode, a ground electrode and a method for fusing the layers together to optimize sensitivity. | 10-29-2009 |
20090194831 | INTEGRATED CAVITY IN PCB PRESSURE SENSOR - Described herein is an integrated pressure sensor assembly. The integrated pressure sensor assembly includes a printed circuit board assembly comprising a plurality of boards; a pressure die mounted on at least a portion of the printed circuit board assembly; and a housing engaged to the printed circuit board assembly. The printed circuit board assembly includes at least one pressure transmission channel and at least one electrical transmission channel. | 08-06-2009 |
20090183570 | Micromachined cross-differential dual-axis accelerometer - Micromachined accelerometer having one or more proof masses ( | 07-23-2009 |
20090178477 | DIFFERENTIAL PRESSURE SENSOR ASSEMBLY AND METHOD - The pressure at a pressure sensor is cycled between a higher (upstream) pressure and a lower (downstream) pressure. The pressure sensor senses the higher and lower pressures, and the difference therebetween is calculated and output. The pressure sensor can be a “single-pressure” pressure sensor (gage or absolute) where the pressure sensor is alternately connected between the two pressures. | 07-16-2009 |
20090152933 | SEAT BELT TENSION SENSOR ASSEMBLY - Described herein is a seat belt tension sensor assembly that includes an anchor plate adapted to be secured to an object, a housing associated with and movable with respect to the anchor plate, wherein the housing defines a cavity therein, and a sense element disposed in the cavity. The sense element is adapted to produce an output in response to a force placed thereon. The output provided by the sense element is a function of the force placed on the housing by a seat belt up to a predetermined maximum value. The housing does not move until the maximum value is reached, and, after the maximum value is reached, the output of the sense element does not substantially change from the maximum value. | 06-18-2009 |
20080252177 | Indexing dithering mechanism and method - Dithering mechanism and method for eliminating the effects of zero-rate bias in a rate sensor or gyroscope. Both continuously moving and indexing embodiments are disclosed. The mechanism includes a first part mounted in a fixed position centered about a dither axis perpendicular to the input axis of the gyroscope, a second part disposed coaxially of the first part and affixed to the sensing element of the gyroscope, and a plurality of piezoelectrically driven quartz flexure beams extending radially between the first and second parts for dithering the second part about the dither axis. In some embodiments, the dithering mechanism is formed separately from and affixed to the sensing element of the gyroscope, and in others it is formed integrally with the sensing element. In the indexing embodiments, radial arms and fixed stops limit movement of the mechanism between two fixed positions, and drive signals and holding potentials are applied alternately to dither the mechanism between the two positions and to hold it alternately in those positions during successive data acquisition periods. | 10-16-2008 |
20080252175 | Dithering mechanism for eliminating zero-rate bias in a gyroscope - Dithering mechanism and method for eliminating the effects of zero-rate bias in a rate sensor or gyroscope. Both continuously moving and indexing embodiments are disclosed. The mechanism includes a first part mounted in a fixed position centered about a dither axis perpendicular to the input axis of the gyroscope, a second part disposed coaxially of the first part and affixed to the sensing element of the gyroscope, and a plurality of piezoelectrically driven quartz flexure beams extending radially between the first and second parts for dithering the second part about the dither axis. In some embodiments, the dithering mechanism is formed separately from and affixed to the sensing element of the gyroscope, and in others it is formed integrally with the sensing element. In the indexing embodiments, radial arms and fixed stops limit movement of the mechanism between two fixed positions, and drive signals and holding potentials are applied alternately to dither the mechanism between the two positions and to hold it alternately in those positions during successive data acquisition periods. | 10-16-2008 |