Class / Patent application number | Description | Number of patent applications / Date published |
073100380 | Acceleration utilizing an inertial element | 74 |
20080223107 | Self-calibration of scale factor for dual resonator class II coriolis vibratory gyros - The method and apparatus in one embodiment may have: operating one of two resonators of a class II coriolis vibratory gyro in a closed loop mode and another of the two resonators in an open loop whole angle mode; sensing an angular rate by each of the two resonators; calibrating the scale factor of the closed loop resonator to yield the same integrated whole angle as measured by the open loop resonator; reversing operation of the two resonators such that the one of two resonators is operated in an open loop mode and the another of the two resonators in a closed loop whole angle mode; and alternately proceeding between open and closed loop operation of the two resonators, thereby self-calibrating scale factors respectively of the two resonators. | 09-18-2008 |
20080236242 | Self-calibrating accelerometer - The method and apparatus in one embodiment may have: a sensing element for an accelerometer having a bias, the sensing element having a rectangular plate supported by flexures which allow rotation about a transverse center line thereof; a center of mass (CG) of the sensing element having two stable positions, one on each side of an axis of rotation defined by a centerline of suspension; a secondary mass within a proofmass translates in-plane to move the center of mass to thereby effect a self-calibration mechanization that continuously measures and nulls the accelerometer's bias under dynamic operating conditions. | 10-02-2008 |
20090013754 | OUTPUT CORRECTION CIRCUIT FOR THREE-AXIS ACCELEROMETER - A sensor unit for a three-axis accelerometer enabling reduction in chip size. The sensor unit is connected to an accelerometer that detects a plurality of acceleration values for a plurality of axis directions. The sensor unit includes a correction value generation circuit that sequentially generates a plurality of correction values for correcting the plurality of acceleration values. A correction circuit is connected to the correction value generation circuit to sequentially correct the plurality of acceleration values with a plurality of correction values and generate a plurality of corrected acceleration values. | 01-15-2009 |
20090013755 | Calibration jig and algorithms for accelerometer - The present invention provides a calibration system for accelerometer and the method of using the same. The calibration system includes a hexahedral calibration jig placed on a calibrated platform and a calibration module. The calibration jig includes at least four planes that are arranged in parallel or vertical with each other. The calibration module may be performing three algorithms for calibrating an accelerometer and calculating parameters for coordinate transfer. | 01-15-2009 |
20090158811 | Apparatus and method for inspecting sensor module - The present invention provides, as one aspect, an apparatus for inspecting a sensor module including at least one held sensor in a housing having a plurality of outer surfaces. The held sensor detects acceleration or angular velocity. The apparatus includes a holding unit that has an apparatus-side surface and holds the housing in a state where one of the outer surfaces of the housing serving as a housing-side surface contacts the apparatus-side surface, a driving unit that moves the holding unit, a first obtaining unit that, in a state where the housing-side surface contacts the apparatus-side surface, obtains an output from the held sensor, at least one reference sensor that has a detection axis and is provided such that a direction of the detection axis matches a direction of a reference axis of the held sensor, and a second obtaining unit that obtains an output from the reference sensor. | 06-25-2009 |
20090293583 | Self-calibrating laser semiconductor accelerometer - A self-calibrating laser accelerometer system that continuously removes bias errors from acceleration measurements under dynamic operating conditions has a frame with a pair of essentially identical mass modulated accelerometers positioned within the frame. Each accelerometer includes a proof mass mounted to the sensing element frame by a flexure suspension. The proof mass is arranged to rotate about an output axis in response to acceleration of the sensing element frame along an input axis. The first proof mass includes a secondary mass that is movable between a first stable position on a first side of the output axis and a second stable position on a second side of the output axis to provide mass modulation of the first proof mass and to provide a selectively reversible polarity to the input axis and to provide self-calibration of bias. | 12-03-2009 |
20100011835 | ERROR-CORRECTION METHOD AND ERROR-CORRECTION DEVICE FOR AN ACCELERATION SENSOR - An error-correction method for an acceleration sensor having a plurality of electrodes and a seismic mass. The error-correction method which makes it possible to correct systematic errors at low expense includes the following steps: applying a voltage in order to deflect the seismic mass; measuring a first current caused by the deflection of the seismic mass; measuring a second current caused by the deflection of the seismic mass; and determining a correction variable on the basis of the first current and the second current. | 01-21-2010 |
20100071439 | Method of Aligning an Axisymmetric Vibrating Sensor Inertial Navigation System and Corresponding Inertial Navigation System. - The method of aligning an inertial unit having an axially symmetrical vibrating sensor that generates vibration comprises the step of establishing the vibration in a position for which the sensor presents variation in drift error that is the smallest relative to variation in drift error for other positions of the vibration. | 03-25-2010 |
20100116020 | WIDE-BAND ACCELEROMETER SELF-RECOGNISING ITS CALIBRATION - A wide-band, single-axis or multiple-axis accelerometer or acceleration-measuring sensor, self-recognising its calibration is described, comprising at least one accelerometric detecting unit, such group being composed of at least two accelerometric transducers adapted to read, in a parallel way, different frequency bands, at least one electronic circuit for conditioning and digitising signals coming from the accelerometric detecting unit and at least one microprocessor adapted to read the signals through the conditioning and digitising electronic circuit and to recombine them for every measuring axis into at least one global output signal. | 05-13-2010 |
20100192662 | METHOD FOR CALIBRATING AN ACCELEROMETER OF AN ELECTRONIC DEVICE, AN ACCELEROMETER, AND AN ELECTRONIC DEVICE HAVING AN ACCELEROMETER WITH IMPROVED CALIBRATION FEATURES - An accelerometer with improved calibration features, an electronic device having an accelerometer with improved calibration features, and a method of calibrating an accelerometer of an electronic device are provided. In accordance with one embodiment, there is method of calibrating an accelerometer of an electronic device, the accelerometer having at least a primary sensing axis and a secondary sensing axis, the second sensing axis being oriented parallel to the primary sensing axis and in the opposite direction of the primary sensing axis, the method comprising: measuring acceleration calibration data using the primary sensing axis and the secondary sensing axis of the accelerometer; determining calibration parameters in accordance with measured calibration data from the accelerometer; and storing the calibration parameters in a memory of the electronic device. | 08-05-2010 |
20100199744 | Method and Apparatus Of Improving Accuracy Of Accelerometer - A method and apparatus for calibrating or adjusting an accelerometer, wherein the accelerometer is held stationary to obtain the signal outputs from the accelerometer, representing component vectors making up the composite vector of 1 | 08-12-2010 |
20100251800 | Robust Self Testing of a Motion Sensor System - A method for self-testing a dual-mass linear accelerometer in which a self-test voltage is applied to urge the two masses to move in opposite directions. Self-test signals are then applied to obtain a differential mode signal to detect masses repositioned in opposing directions. During testing, common disturbances to the two masses are rejected as common mode signals. | 10-07-2010 |
20100326166 | METHOD OF CORRECTING THE GAIN OF A CAPACITIVE MEMBER, AND A DEVICE FOR IMPLEMENTING THE METHOD - A method of correcting the gain of a capacitive member having electrodes that are movable relative to each other including the steps of successively applying to one of the electrodes, reduced bias voltages having opposite signs and a common value below a threshold for which a remanent field generated by said reduced bias voltages can be measured, making corresponding measurements of the output signals from the capacitive member; taking an average, and correcting the gain of the capacitive member as a function of the measured output signal. | 12-30-2010 |
20110000275 | System and Method for Testing of Transducers - A transducer test system for testing accelerometers or velocity transducers includes a signal conditioner and a shaker that can be used in a field environment, for example by an avionics technician at an aircraft. A test transducer and a reference transducer, which is a known-good version of the test transducer, are mounted onto the shaker and electrically connected to the signal conditioner. The technician shakes the two transducers simultaneously by manually shaking the shaker. The signal conditioner receives and compares the signals output from the test and reference transducer in order to determine the operating condition of the test transducer. | 01-06-2011 |
20110120208 | Method for adjusting an acceleration sensor, and acceleration sensor - A method for adjusting an acceleration sensor which includes a substrate and a seismic mass, the acceleration sensor having first and further first electrodes attached to the substrate on a first side, counter-electrodes of the seismic mass being situated between the first and further first electrodes, the acceleration sensor having further second electrodes on a second side and further fourth electrodes on a fourth side opposite the second side, an essentially equal first excitation voltage being applied to the first and further first electrodes in a first step for exciting a first deflection of the seismic mass along a first direction, the first deflection being compensated in a second step by applying a first compensation voltage to the further second and further fourth electrodes. | 05-26-2011 |
20110146369 | Fail Safe Self Test for Motion Sensor Modules - A short duration test activation signal is applied to the test activation port of a motion sensor module and the test activation status port observed with an error flag being set if a corresponding signal does not appear at the test activation status port within a predetermined time period. | 06-23-2011 |
20110167891 | Apparatus and Method for Calibrating MEMS Inertial Sensors - The transduction scale factor for a MEMS gyroscope is calibrated without moving the MEMS device based on measurements of the resonator resonance frequency and the accelerometer resonance frequency as well as a distance value that may be a fixed distance value or a measured distance value. The measured distance value may be obtained by measuring the quality factor of the resonator or accelerometer and deriving the measured distance value from the quality factor measurement. | 07-14-2011 |
20110277532 | Method for calibrating an acceleration sensor and electronic device - A method for calibrating an acceleration sensor includes the following sequential steps: ascertaining acceleration values as a function of three spatial directions; for each of the three spatial directions, generating a comparison value from the acceleration values; comparing each of the comparison values to a first threshold value; calculating a cumulative value as a function of at least one acceleration value for each of the three spatial directions; comparing the cumulative value to a second threshold value; and calibrating the acceleration sensor when, in the third method step, for each of the three spatial directions, the comparison value is less than the threshold value, and when, in the fifth method step, the cumulative value is greater than the further threshold value. | 11-17-2011 |
20120036915 | SENSOR SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CALIBRATING A SENSOR SYSTEM - A sensor system having a substrate and a mass which is movably suspended relative to the substrate is described, the sensor system including detection arrangement for detecting a deflection of the seismic mass relative to the substrate along a deflection direction, the detection arrangement including a first measuring electrode affixed to the substrate and a second measuring electrode affixed to the substrate, and a first overlap, which is perpendicular to the deflection direction, between the first measuring electrode and the seismic mass along the deflection direction is greater than a second overlap, which is perpendicular to the deflection direction, between the second measuring electrode and the seismic mass. | 02-16-2012 |
20120167658 | INERTIAL SENSOR - An inertial sensor includes an oscillator, a drive unit for oscillating the oscillator, a sensor for sensing the amount of inertia applied to the oscillator, and a failure diagnosis unit disposed between the oscillator and the drive unit. The drive unit includes a reference potential supply unit for supplying a reference potential to the oscillator, and a drive signal supply unit for supplying a drive signal to the oscillator based on a monitor signal received from the oscillator. The failure diagnosis unit includes a diagnosis unit for diagnosing a failure based on the value of a current supplied by the reference potential supply unit to the oscillator. The inertial sensor having this structure can detect a failure in the drive unit or the oscillator. | 07-05-2012 |
20120272711 | ADJUSTING A MEMS GYROSCOPE TO REDUCE THERMALLY VARYING BIAS - A method for calibrating a micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS) vibrating structure gyroscope is provided. The method includes obtaining an indication of a position of at least one proof mass with respect to at least one drive electrode and applying an electrostatic force to the at least one proof mass as a function of the indication, the electrostatic force configured to position the at least one proof mass in a first position with respect to at least one drive electrode. | 11-01-2012 |
20130025346 | LONG-PERIOD VIBRATION SENSOR AND METHOD FOR CORRECTING OUTPUT VALUE OF THE LONG-PERIOD VIBRATION SENSOR - A long-period vibration sensor includes an overdamped accelerometer including a magnet fixed to the inside of a casing, a detection coil disposed between magnetic poles formed due to the magnet, a bobbin configured to hold the detection coil, and a support spring configured to support the bobbin in the casing so that the bobbin can vibrate in a predetermined direction, a voltage being outputted from the detection coil when the bobbin is damped, a plurality of digital filters having different frequency characteristics from one another, a selection module configured to select one digital filter from the plurality of digital filters based on an output value of the voltage outputted from the overdamped accelerometer, and a correction module configured to correct the output value of the voltage outputted from the overdamped accelerometer using the digital filter selected by the selection module. | 01-31-2013 |
20130031948 | GYROSCOPIC MEASUREMENT IN A NAVIGATION SYSTEM - A gyroscopic system provides measurements on the basis of a vibrating gyroscope and provides a measurement signal. A periodic control signal is applied to it; in order to rotate the position of vibration, during a half period, according to a first speed profile, from a first up to a second position; and in order to rotate the position of vibration in an opposite direction during the other part of the period, according to a second speed profile, up to a third position. The measurements are based on corrected signals, each of said corrected signals, respectively for each of the vibrating gyroscopes, being obtained by; deducting the control signal from the measurement signal of the vibrating gyroscope; and taking account of errors identified on the basis of a comparison, of the measurements provided by the gyroscopic system as a function of the position of vibration with reference measurements. | 02-07-2013 |
20130042664 | Method for the functional checking of an inertial sensor and inertial sensor - A method for providing functional checking of an inertial sensor, a first test signal having a first frequency being fed in at a test electrode of the inertial sensor for exciting a vibration of a vibration mass and a first response signal corresponding to the vibration mass is recorded, a second test signal having a second frequency different from the first frequency being fed in at the test electrode, a second response signal corresponding to the vibration mass being recorded, and the two response signals being evaluated. Also described is an inertial sensor. | 02-21-2013 |
20130055787 | CORIOLIS GYROSCOPE HAVING CORRECTION UNITS AND METHOD FOR REDUCING THE QUADRATURE BIAS - A Coriolis gyroscope comprises a mass system that can be excited to perform vibrations parallel to a first axis, whereby a deflection of the mass system due to a Coriolis force along a second axis perpendicular to the first axis is detectable. At least one first correction unit and at least one second correction unit, which each comprise a plurality of stationary correction electrodes and moving correction electrodes whereby the stationary correction electrodes extend in the direction of the first axis and are firmly connected to the substrate by corresponding anchor structures, and the moving correction electrodes are provided as a part of the mass system. A method for reducing the quadrature bias of a Coriolis gyroscope of this type comprises applying at least temporarily constant corrective voltages to the correction units. | 03-07-2013 |
20130067984 | LINEARITY ENHANCEMENT OF CAPACITIVE TRANSDUCERS BY AUTO-CALIBRATION USING ON-CHIP NEUTRALIZATION CAPACITORS AND LINEAR ACTUATION - A system and method are disclosed for automatically calibrating capacitive transducers to neutralize feed-through capacitance using linear actuation. The method includes starting with an initial neutralization capacitance, applying no electrostatic force and two known electrostatic forces to a proof mass of the transducer, recording the transducer output changes due to the applied forces; and determining how to revise neutralization capacitance based on the changes. The method can use a binary search to find a final neutralization capacitance providing the best linearity. The method can include comparing the final linearity to a threshold linearity. The electrostatic forces can be applied using a charge control method where the electrostatic force is a linear function of the actuation duration. The linear actuation can be used for continuous self-test of capacitive sensors. | 03-21-2013 |
20130081442 | Method of Correcting the Orientation of a Freely Installed Accelerometer in a Vehicle - A vehicle monitoring system includes an accelerometer installed in the vehicle in an unknown orientation. The system infers the orientation of the accelerometer in the vehicle from the acceleration signals. The proposed method detects and corrects the orientation in two steps. In the first step, the gravity vector is used to estimate the orientation in the vertical plane. Then, based on the acceleration data collected during the vehicle movement, the heading of the vehicle is estimated and the orientation within the horizontal plane is corrected. | 04-04-2013 |
20130104622 | Auto-Ranging for Time Domain Inertial Sensor | 05-02-2013 |
20130133396 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR QUADRATURE ERROR COMPENSATION - The present invention concerns an MEMS sensor and a method for compensation of a quadrature error on an MEMS sensor, which is intended for detection of movements of a substrate, especially accelerations and/or rotation rates. At least one mass arranged on the substrate and mounted to move relative to it is driven by means of drive electrodes. The mass/es execute a movement deviating from the prescribed movement due to a quadrature error. A deflection of the mass/es occurring due to Coriolis force and quadrature error is detected with detection electrodes. It is proposed according to the invention that a capacitance change be detected as a function of drive movement of the mass/es by means of compensation electrodes. A compensation charge dependent on the quadrature error of the MEMS sensor is generated on the compensation electrodes. For compensation, the distorted or incorrect charge generated by the quadrature error in the detection electrodes is compensated with the compensation charge. | 05-30-2013 |
20130152663 | LINEARITY ENHANCEMENT OF CAPACITIVE TRANSDUCERS BY AUTO-CALIBRATION USING ON-CHIP NEUTRALIZATION CAPACITORS AND LINEAR ACTUATION - A system and method are disclosed for automatically calibrating capacitive transducers to neutralize feed-through capacitance using linear actuation. The method includes starting with an initial neutralization capacitance, applying no electrostatic force and two known electrostatic forces to a proof mass of the transducer, recording the transducer output changes due to the applied forces; and determining how to revise neutralization capacitance based on the changes. The method can use a binary search to find a final neutralization capacitance providing the best linearity. The method can include comparing the final linearity to a threshold linearity. The electrostatic forces can be applied using a charge control method where the electrostatic force is a linear function of the actuation duration. The linear actuation can be used for continuous self-test of capacitive sensors. | 06-20-2013 |
20130152664 | CIRCUIT FOR CORRECTING PHASE ERROR OF GYRO SENSOR, GYRO SENSOR SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CORRECTING PHASE ERROR OF GYRO SENSOR - The present invention relates to a circuit for correcting a phase error of a gyro sensor, a gyro sensor system and a method for correcting a phase error of a gyro sensor. In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, the circuit for correcting a phase error of a gyro sensor includes: an offset detecting unit for detecting an offset due to the phase error included in a gyro output signal outputted by being demodulated from an output of the gyro sensor; a variable frequency generating unit for generating a switching frequency varied according to the result detected in the offset detecting unit; and a switched capacitor switched according to the switching frequency generated in the variable frequency generating unit. And also, a gyro sensor system including the circuit and a method for correcting a phase error of a gyro sensor are proposed. | 06-20-2013 |
20130186171 | SUBSTRATE CURVATURE COMPENSATION METHODS AND APPARATUS - A method for providing acceleration data with reduced substrate-displacement bias includes receiving in an accelerometer an external acceleration, determining the acceleration data with reduced substrate displacement bias in a compensation portion in response to a first and a second displacement indicators from a MEMS transducer, and, in response to substrate compensation factors from a MEMS compensation portion, outputting the acceleration data with reduced substrate displacement bias, wherein the first displacement indicator and the second displacement indicator are determined by the MEMS transducer relative to a substrate in response to the external acceleration and to a substrate displacement, and wherein the substrate compensation factors are determined by the MEMS compensation portion relative to the substrate in response to the substrate displacement. | 07-25-2013 |
20130199263 | METHOD FOR THE DECOUPLED CONTROL OF THE QUADRATURE AND THE RESONANCE FREQUENCY OF A MICRO-MECHANICAL GYROSCOPE - A method for the precise measuring operation of a micro-mechanical rotation rate sensor, including at least one seismic mass, at least one drive device for driving the seismic mass in the primary mode (qi) and at least three trimming electrode elements which are jointly associated directly or indirectly with the seismic mass. An electric trimming voltage (u | 08-08-2013 |
20130239650 | ADVANCED DEVICE FOR INGROUND APPLICATIONS AND ASSOCIATED METHODS - A device is described for use in performing an inground operation. An accelerometer is supported by the device for generating accelerometer readings that characterize the inground operation subject to a native temperature drift of the accelerometer. A set of compensation data is developed and stored for use in compensating for the native temperature drift. The compensation data is applied to the accelerometer readings to produce compensated accelerometer readings that externally compensate for the native temperature drift to yield an enhanced thermal performance which is improved as compared to a native thermal performance of the accelerometer. A seven position calibration method for a triaxial accelerometer is described. An air module is described which isolates the accelerometer of the device at least from a potting compound that at least fills otherwise unoccupied volumes of the device interior. | 09-19-2013 |
20130239651 | MICROELECTROMECHANICAL GYROSCOPE WITH CONTINUOUS SELF-TEST FUNCTION - A microelectromechanical gyroscope includes a body and a sensing mass, which is movable with a degree of freedom in response to rotations of the body about an axis. A self-test actuator is capacitively coupled to the sensing mass for supplying a self-test signal. The capacitive coupling causes, in response to the self-test signal, electrostatic forces that are able to move the sensing mass in accordance with the degree of freedom at an actuation frequency. A sensing device detects transduction signals indicating displacements of the sensing mass in accordance with the degree of freedom. The sensing device is configured for discriminating, in the transduction signals, spectral components that are correlated to the actuation frequency and indicate the movement of the sensing mass as a result of the self-test signal. | 09-19-2013 |
20130263641 | SELF TEST OF MEMS GYROSCOPE WITH ASICS INTEGRATED CAPACITORS - An apparatus includes a MEMS gyroscope sensor including a first sensing capacitor and a second sensing capacitor and an IC. The IC includes a switch circuit configured to electrically decouple the first sensing capacitor from a first input of the IC and electrically couple the second sensing capacitor to a second input of the IC, and a capacitance measurement circuit configured to measure capacitance of the second sensing capacitor of the MEMS gyroscope sensor during application of a first electrical signal to the decoupled first capacitive element. | 10-10-2013 |
20130263642 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR TESTING AND CALIBRATING AN ACCELEROMETER OF AN ELECTRONIC DEVICE - A method and system for testing and calibrating an accelerometer of an electronic device are provided. In accordance with one embodiment, there is a test system for an electronic device having an accelerometer with three mutually orthogonal sensing axes, the test system comprising: a test fixture having: a nest defining a cavity for receiving an electronic device; wherein the nest is configured so that, when the test fixture is substantially horizontal, a two-dimensional sensing plane defined by two of the sensing axes of the accelerometer is substantially horizontal and the third sensing axis is perpendicular to the two-dimensional sensing plane and substantially parallel to the force of gravity. | 10-10-2013 |
20130269413 | MEMS QUADRATURE CANCELLATION AND SIGNAL DEMODULATION - In certain examples, a quadrature cancellation apparatus can include a drive charge amplifier configured to couple to a proof mass of a MEMS device and to provide oscillation motion information, a first sense charge amplifier configured to couple to the proof mass and to provide first sense information of a first movement of the MEMS device, a first programmable amplifier configured to receive the oscillation motion information and provide amplified oscillation motion information, a first summer configured to cancel quadrature error of the first sense information using the first sense information and the amplified oscillation motion information to provide quadrature-corrected first sense information, a phase shifter configured to receive the oscillation motion information and to provide carrier information, and a first multiplier configured to provide demodulated first sense information using the quadrature-corrected first sense information and the carrier information. | 10-17-2013 |
20130298636 | POSTURE SENSOR AUTOMATIC CALIBRATION - A system and method automatically calibrate a posture sensor, such as by detecting a walking state or a posture change. For example, a three-axis accelerometer can be used to detect a patient's activity or posture. This information can be used to automatically calibrate subsequent posture or acceleration data. | 11-14-2013 |
20130312483 | HYBRID TERRAIN-ADAPTIVE LOWER-EXTREMITY SYSTEMS - Hybrid terrain-adaptive lower-extremity apparatus and methods that perform in a variety of different situations by detecting the terrain that is being traversed, and adapting to the detected terrain. In some embodiments, the ability to control the apparatus for each of these situations builds upon five basic capabilities: (1) determining the activity being performed; (2) dynamically controlling the characteristics of the apparatus based on the activity that is being performed; (3) dynamically driving the apparatus based on the activity that is being performed; (4) determining terrain texture irregularities (e.g., how sticky is the terrain, how slippery is the terrain, is the terrain coarse or smooth, does the terrain have any obstructions, such as rocks) and (5) a mechanical design of the apparatus that can respond to the dynamic control and dynamic drive. | 11-28-2013 |
20130312484 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SUPPORTING ACCELEROMETER BASED CONTROLS IN A MOBILE ENVIRONMENT - A method of processing signals from an accelerometer/gyroscopic-based input device includes providing the input device within a vehicle. An accelerometer/gyroscopic-based second device is also provided within the vehicle. The input device is manually actuated while the vehicle is in motion. First signals are transmitted from the input device in response to the manually actuating step. Second signals are transmitted from the second device in response to the motion of the vehicle. The first signals are adjusted dependent upon the second signals. | 11-28-2013 |
20130319076 | ANTI-STICTION METHOD IN AN INERTIAL MEMS, CORRESPONDING COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCT, STORAGE MEANS AND DEVICE - An anti-stiction method is proposed in an inertial micro-electro-mechanical device. The device includes: a mobile mass, suspended to an armature via a spring, and having at least one mobile electrode; and at least one fixed electrode rigidly attached to the armature, each fixed electrode cooperating with one of the at least one mobile electrode to form a pair of electrodes. The anti-stiction method carries out a step of detecting, for at least one stuck pair of electrodes, a stiction associated to a stiction force and a step of applying, during a predetermined time period, a predetermined voltage between the electrodes of at least one of the pair or pairs of electrodes, so as to create an electrostatic force which generates a displacement of the mobile mass according to the direction of the stiction force. | 12-05-2013 |
20140000340 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING AUTOMATIC GAIN OF INERTIAL SENSOR | 01-02-2014 |
20140083160 | CALIBRATING ROTATIONAL ACCELEROMETERS - A method and system for calibrating a rotational accelerometer. The method includes attaching a rotational accelerometer to be tested to a plate fitted with and second linear accelerometers and vibrating the plate. Angular acceleration measurements from the rotational accelerometer and linear acceleration measurements from the first and second linear accelerometers are obtained during the vibrating. The linear acceleration measurements are converted into angular acceleration values, and data representing, or usable for, a comparison of the angular acceleration measurements from the rotational accelerometer and the converted angular acceleration values is generated. | 03-27-2014 |
20140096587 | DYNAMIC SELF-CALIBRATION OF AN ACCELEROMETER SYSTEM - One embodiment includes a method for dynamic self-calibration of an accelerometer system. The method includes forcing a proof-mass associated with a sensor of the accelerometer system in a first direction to a first predetermined position and obtaining a first measurement associated with the sensor in the first predetermined position via at least one force/detection element of the sensor. The method also includes forcing the proof-mass to a second predetermined position and obtaining a second measurement associated with the sensor in the second predetermined position via the at least one force/detection element of the sensor. The method further includes calibrating the accelerometer system based on the first and second measurements. | 04-10-2014 |
20140150521 | System and Method for Calibrating Inertial Measurement Units - Inertial measurement units attached to a non-rigid body may measure a common motion event when the body changes direction of travel. Acceleration measurements made by the inertial measurement units of the event are used to determine a common reference direction which in turn can be used to derive, individually for each inertial measurement unit, a new orientation intended to be a better representation of the actual orientation of the inertial measurement unit. | 06-05-2014 |
20140165691 | BIAS REDUCTION IN FORCE REBALANCED ACCELEROMETERS - A system is provided for the continuous reduction, in real time, of bias in a force rebalanced accelerometers having a proof mass coupled to an accelerometer housing by a flexure suspension. The system comprises a closed loop, force rebalance servo that provides control voltage to the proof mass to null an electrical pickoff signal that indicates the motion of the proof mass with respect to the accelerometer housing, wherein a time varying disturbance signal is injected into the force rebalance servo that results in the generation of a time varying voltage in the output of the force rebalance servo that corresponds to a magnitude of the net positive spring of the combined flexure suspension and electrostatic springs acting on the proofmass. The system also comprises a negative electrostatic spring servo that applies a negative electrostatic spring DC voltage to each of a pair of negative electrostatic forcer electrodes. | 06-19-2014 |
20140208823 | Multi-Axis Chip-Scale MEMS Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) Based on Frequency Modulation - A multi-axis microelectromechanical-systems (MEMS) inertial measurement unit (IMU) is fabricated in a vacuum sealed single packaged device. An FM vibratory gyroscope and an FM resonant accelerometer both for generating FM output signals is fabricated in the silicon chip using MEMS. A signal processor is coupled to the an FM vibratory gyroscope and to the FM resonant accelerometer for receiving the FM gyroscopic output signals and the FM accelerometer output signals. The signal processor generates simultaneous and decoupled measurement of input acceleration, in put rotation rate, and temperature and/or temperature distribution within the IMU, self-calibration of the biases and scale factors of the IMU and its support electronics against temperature variations and other common mode errors, and reduction of the cross axis sensitivity by reducing acceleration errors in the gyroscope and rotation errors in the accelerometer. | 07-31-2014 |
20140230520 | RANGE-DEPENDENT BIAS CALIBRATION OF AN ACCELEROMETER SENSOR SYSTEM - One embodiment of the invention includes an accelerometer sensor system. The system includes a sensor comprising a proofmass and electrodes and being configured to generate acceleration feedback signals based on control signals applied to the electrodes in response to an input acceleration. The system also includes an acceleration component configured to measure the input acceleration based on the acceleration feedback signals. The system further includes an acceleration controller configured to generate the control signals to define a first scale-factor range associated with the sensor and to define a second scale-factor range associated with the sensor. The control system includes a calibration component configured to calibrate the accelerometer sensor system with respect to range-dependent bias error based on a difference between the measured input acceleration at each of the first scale-factor range and the second scale-factor range. | 08-21-2014 |
20140260515 | System and Method for Run-Time Hermeticity Detection of a Capped MEMS Device - Determining if a hermetically sealed MEMs device loses hermeticity during operation. In one embodiment, the MEMs device is an accelerometer. A test signal having an associated frequency above an operational frequency range for the accelerometer is provided to the accelerometer at an input during operation of the accelerometer for sensing an acceleration. The output signal of the accelerometer is filtered at least above the operational frequency range of the accelerometer producing a test output signal. The test output signal is then compared to a predetermined threshold to determine if the amplitude of the test output signal differs from the threshold. If the amplitude of the test output signal differs from the predetermined threshold, an error signal is produced indicating that hermeticity of the accelerometer has been lost. | 09-18-2014 |
20140260516 | Electronic Tilt Compensation for Diaphragm Based Pressure Sensors - System, apparatus and method for providing corrective sensor outputs, particularly when a sensor is subject to gravitational or acceleration effects. A sensor and accelerometer may be operatively coupled to a processor, wherein the processor receives inputs from both. The processor receives the sensor signals and determines the gravitational or acceleration effects on the sensor from the accelerometer signals. Based on these, the processor determines a correction factor that is applied to the sensor signals to provide improved and more accurate sensor outputs. | 09-18-2014 |
20140260517 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR INERTIAL SENSOR OFFSET COMPENSATION - The present invention provides an improved method and system for compensation of inertial sensors. In one implementation a modified moving average is applied to provide dynamic offset compensation for an inertial sensor output that is calculated when a vehicle is in motion. | 09-18-2014 |
20140298883 | Method of Calibrating an Inertial Assembly Comprising a Dynamic Phase Between Two Static Phases - A method of calibrating an inertial unit is provided. During a first static stage, in which the inertial unit is in a first orientation, measurements are taken by means of the accelerometers and the inertial rotation sensors. During a dynamic stage, the orientation of the inertial unit is changed, at least in part in azimuth, from the first orientation towards a second orientation, while taking measurements by means of the inertial rotation sensors. During a second static stage, in which the inertial unit is in the second position, measurements are taken by means of the accelerometers and of the inertial rotation sensors. For each static stage, a direction, an amplitude, and a mean speed of rotation for apparent gravity in an inertial frame of reference is estimated, variation is calculated in orientation between the static stages, and the accelerometer biases is deduced therefrom. | 10-09-2014 |
20140352400 | TRANSDUCER-INCLUDING DEVICES, AND METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR THEIR CALIBRATION - Embodiments of packaged transducer-including devices and methods for their calibration are disclosed. Each device includes one or more transducers, an interface configured to facilitate communications with an external calibration controller, a memory, and a processing component. The external calibration controller sends calibration commands to the transducer-including devices through a communication structure. The processing component of each device executes code in response to receiving the calibration commands. Execution of the code includes generating transducer data from the one or more transducers, calculating calibration coefficients using the transducer data, and storing the calibration coefficients within the memory of the device. | 12-04-2014 |
20140373595 | METHOD AND INERTIAL SENSOR UNIT FOR SELF-CALIBRATION OF A YAW RATE SENSOR - A method is provided for self-calibration of a yaw rate sensor of an inertial sensor unit, in particular of a micromechanical yaw rate sensor of a micromechanical inertial sensor unit, the inertial sensor unit including an acceleration sensor and the yaw rate sensor, the yaw rate sensor including a calibration arrangement and an evaluation arrangement, a yaw rate signal of the yaw rate sensor being supplied to the evaluation arrangement in a first method step, an output signal being generated as a function of the yaw rate signal, the output signal being supplied to the calibration arrangement, an acceleration signal of the acceleration sensor being supplied to the calibration arrangement of the yaw rate sensor in a second method step, a correction signal being generated by the calibration arrangement as a function of the acceleration signal and of the output signal in a third method step, the output signal being calibrated as a function of the correction signal. | 12-25-2014 |
20150020571 | FALL DETECTION USING MACHINE LEARNING - A method and system for fall detection using machine learning are disclosed. The method comprises detecting at least one signal by a wireless sensor device and calculating a plurality of features from the at least one detected signal. The method includes training a machine learning unit of the wireless sensor device using the features to create a fall classification and a non-fall classification for the fall detection. The system includes a sensor to detect at least one signal, a processor coupled to the sensor, and a memory device coupled to the processor, wherein the memory device includes an application that, when executed by the processor, causes the processor to calculate a plurality of features from the at least one detected signal and to train a machine learning unit of the wireless sensor device using the features to create a fall classification and a non-fall classification for the fall detection. | 01-22-2015 |
20150059430 | INERTIAL FORCE SENSOR - An inertial force sensor includes a fixed part, a beam connected to the fixed part, a plummet connected to another end of the beam and being displaceable due to inertial force to cause the beam to deform, a conductive part provided at the plummet, a strain-sensitive resistor provided at the beam for detecting a deformation of the first beam, first and second fault diagnostic electrodes provided at the fixed part, a first fault diagnostic wiring for connecting the first fault diagnostic electrode to the conductive part through the beam, and a second fault diagnostic wiring for connecting the second fault diagnostic electrode to the conductive part through the beam. The inertial force sensor does not continue to output an erroneous output signal when a crack occurs in the plummet, thus having high reliability. | 03-05-2015 |
20150114079 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR TESTING A SENSOR - There is a testing device for testing a sensor. The testing device includes a rotating mechanism; a first rotating plate connected to the rotating mechanism so that the first rotating plate rotates around an orbital axis (Z1); a second plate rotatably attached to the first rotating plate at a rotating point, the second plate having a rotational axis (Z2) offset from the orbital axis (Z1) by a predetermined distance R; and a gripping mechanism attached to the second plate and configured to receive and fix the sensor relative to the second plate. The second plate follows a circular trajectory with constant attitude around the orbital axis (Z1). | 04-30-2015 |
20150121989 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CALIBRATING AN INERTIAL MEASUREMENT UNIT - An apparatus and method is presented for calibrating an output(s) of an inertial measurement unit (IMU) using rotational rate as a reference. Calibrating the IMU output(s) is performed by comparing the IMU output(s) to expected output(s), where the expected output(s) are determined based on the known rate of rotation of the IMU and the centripetal force acting on the IMU due to known rate of rotation. By analyzing the differences between the expected IMU output(s) and the IMU output(s), it is possible to determine a correction factor that, when applied to the IMU output(s), calibrates the IMU output(s) by correcting for measurement errors. | 05-07-2015 |
20150301075 | Inertial Sensor - A technique of preventing the function stop caused by false operation and false output of an inertial sensor by canceling a signal caused by applying of an acceleration other than a measurement signal before input to an LSI circuit is provided. An electrostatic-capacitance MEMS acceleration sensor | 10-22-2015 |
20150308855 | METHOD FOR CALIBRATING AN INERTIAL NAVIGATION SYSTEM WITH A LIMITED MECHANICAL TURNING RANGE - A method of calibrating an inertial unit having an inertial core with vibratory axisymmetric gyros, the method includes the steps of starting from a first position, causing the inertial core to pivot towards a second position about a pivot axis that is different from the sensing axes of the gyros and from a trisector thereof, while taking measurements of an angular orientation of the vibration of each gyro, the angular orientation being left free during pivoting; returning the inertial core to the first position; adjusting the angular orientation of the vibration of each gyro to a value corresponding to the second position; causing the inertial core to pivot towards the second position while once more taking measurements of the angular orientation of each gyro; and calibrating the inertial core as a function of the measurements taken. | 10-29-2015 |
20160054355 | COMPACT INERTIAL MEASUREMENT UNIT WITH INTERFACE ADAPTER - Systems and method for reducing the size of inertial measurement units are disclosed. In one embodiment, an inertial measurement unit assembly comprises: at least one inertial sensor configured to output uncompensated sensor data; an inertial isolator configured to isolate the at least one inertial sensor; an interface adapter, wherein the interface adapter includes at least one calibration alignment pin that is used as a reference point between the at least one inertial sensor, the inertial interface adapter and a vehicle to which the inertial interface adapter is attached. Furthermore, the inertial measurement unit is configured to output the uncompensated sensor data to a processing device located external to the inertial measurement unit. | 02-25-2016 |
20160077125 | HIGH FREQUENCY DISTURBANCE DETECTION AND COMPENSATION - A disturbance correction device comprises a disturbance detector configured to detect and output a high frequency component of a measurement signal from an inertial sensor and a level converter coupled to the output of the disturbance detector. The level converter is configured to convert the high frequency component to a direct current (DC) signal. The disturbance correction device also comprises a compensator coupled to an output of the level converter and configured to compare the DC signal with a plurality of thresholds. When the DC signal passes one of the plurality of thresholds, the compensator is further configured to output a respective process noise increment to a Kalman filter. The respective process noise increment corresponds to the passed threshold. | 03-17-2016 |
20160091529 | ACCELEROMETER CALIBRATION IN A ROTATING MEMBER - To calibrate an accelerometer, a rotating member is rotated over multiple periods, thereby causing the accelerometer attached to the rotating member to repeatedly turn over. A processor obtains acceleration measurements as the accelerometer turns and determines a set of local minima and maxima of the acceleration measurements. Based on these local minima and maxima, the processor determines a sensitivity of the accelerometer. The processor stores the sensitivity for use in adjusting subsequent accelerometer measurements, thus calibrating the accelerometer. | 03-31-2016 |
20160103149 | CAPACITIVE PHYSICAL QUANTITY SENSOR - A capacitive physical quantity sensor includes a first substrate a movable electrode, a fixed electrode, a second substrate, a signal applying unit a C-V conversion circuit, and an auxiliary electrode. The auxiliary electrode is disposed from a portion of the second substrate which faces the movable electrode to a portion of the second substrate which faces a displaceable region of the movable electrode. The signal applying unit applies a predetermined potential to the auxiliary electrode at the time of self-diagnosis, to thereby increase a density of electric force lines generated between the fixed electrode located in a direction of displacing the movable electrode and the movable electrode. | 04-14-2016 |
20160109260 | METHOD FOR THE AUTONOMOUS CALIBRATION OF AN INERTIAL RIG USED IN STATIC MODE - The invention relates to a method for the autocalibration of an inertial rig comprising an inertial core defining a sensor reference frame, implemented in the course of at least two missions (M | 04-21-2016 |
20160116302 | METHOD FOR COMPARING TWO INERTIAL UNITS INTEGRAL WITH A SAME CARRIER - A method for comparing two inertial guidance systems which are integral with a carrier in positions that are separated from one another and which each comprise three angular measurement sensors and three accelerometric sensors mounted along the axes of a measurement reference frame specific to each inertial guidance system, the method comprising the steps for:
| 04-28-2016 |
20160139176 | METHOD AND SYSTEM OF DUAL-MODE ACTUATION AND SENSING FOR REAL-TIME CALIBRATION OF AXISYMMETRIC RESONANT GYROSCOPES - A dual-mode actuation and sensing circuit actuates both modes of an axisymmetric gyroscope and senses both outputs thereof. The sum of the two outputs provides a self-sustaining closed-loop oscillation signal, while the difference of the two mode outputs is used for extracting differential rate information while rejecting the common-mode bias terms of the gyroscope to provide online bias calibration. The proposed system and method facilitates scale factor calibration of an axisymmetric gyroscope. Furthermore, the difference output of the dual-mode gyroscope can provide a mode-split indicator signal which can be used to automatically match the gyroscope modes. | 05-19-2016 |
20160169935 | Multi-Axis Chip-Scale MEMS Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) Based on Frequency Modulation | 06-16-2016 |
20160178657 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR SENSOR CALIBRATION | 06-23-2016 |
20160202286 | CONTINUOUS SELF-TEST IN CAPACITIVE SENSOR | 07-14-2016 |
20160202287 | ACCELERATION SENSOR | 07-14-2016 |
20160377647 | OPTICAL-MECHANICAL VIBRATING BEAM ACCELEROMETER - Systems, devices, techniques, and methods are disclosed for an opto-mechanical vibrating beam accelerometer. In one example, a system is configured to couple a laser into optical resonance with opto-mechanically active (OMA) anchors suspending a proof mass; lock frequencies of the laser to optical resonances of the OMA anchors, resulting in a modulated laser coupled with the OMA anchors; demodulate a photocurrent that detects the modulated laser coupled with the OMA anchors to detect at least an amplitude or a phase of the modulated laser; lock a frequency of the modulated laser to dynamically track instantaneous resonance frequencies of mechanical modes of the OMA anchors through changes to the amplitude or phase of the modulated laser induced by coupling of the modulated laser to the OMA anchors; and measure an acceleration based on instantaneous resonance frequencies of the OMA anchors through changes to the amplitude or phase of the modulated laser. | 12-29-2016 |
073100390 | Involving pendulum or impact | 1 |
20160091620 | TRIAXIAL ACCELEROMETER ASSEMBLY AND IN-SITU CALIBRATION METHOD FOR IMPROVED GEODETIC AND SEISMIC MEASUREMENTS - A device and method for improved geodetic and seismic measurements are disclosed. The device comprises a triaxial accelerometer assembly, mounted to a reference structure, having full scale ranges greater than +/−1 G on three orthogonal axes and a mechanism for rotating the triaxial accelerometer assembly on the reference structure. The triaxial acceleration assembly is calibrated with an internal alignment matrix such that measurements of Earth's gravity vector are rotationally invariant with respect to the direction of Earth's 1 G static gravity vector irrespective of the orientation of the triaxial assembly on the reference structure. In-situ calibrations are performed by rotating the axes of the triaxial acceleration assembly in the direction of Earth's static gravity vector. Drift of the triaxial accelerometer assembly is compensated for by measuring changes in the values of the invariant static gravity vector for each axis and correcting for the drift with new calibration coefficients. | 03-31-2016 |