Patents Assigned to Custom Sensors & Technologies, Inc.
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Publication number: 20090183570Abstract: Micromachined accelerometer having one or more proof masses (16, 36, 37, 71, 72) mounted on one or more decoupling frames (17, 38, 39) or on a shuttle (73) such that the proof mass(es) can move along a first (y) axis in response to acceleration along the first axis while being constrained against movement along a second (x) axis and for torsional movement about a third (z) axis perpendicular to the first and second axes in response to acceleration along the second axis. Electrodes (26, 53, 54, 78, 79) that move with the proof mass(es) are interleaved with stationary electrodes (27, 56, 57, 81, 82) to form capacitors (A-D) that change in capacitance both in response to movement of the proof mass(es) along the first axis and in response to torsional movement of the proof mass(es) about the third axis, and circuitry (31-34) connected to the electrodes for providing output signals corresponding to acceleration along the first and second axes.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 18, 2008Publication date: July 23, 2009Applicant: CUSTOM SENSORS & TECHNOLOGIES, INC.Inventors: Cenk Acar, Minyao Mao
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Publication number: 20090178477Abstract: 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.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 14, 2008Publication date: July 16, 2009Applicant: CUSTOM SENSORS & TECHNOLOGIES, INC.Inventor: Gary L. Casey
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Publication number: 20090152933Abstract: 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.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 14, 2007Publication date: June 18, 2009Applicant: CUSTOM SENSORS & TECHNOLOGIES, INC.Inventor: Gary L. Casey
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Patent number: 7548318Abstract: 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.Type: GrantFiled: April 13, 2007Date of Patent: June 16, 2009Assignee: Custom Sensors & Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Igor Leonidovich Tchertkov, Salisbury Edward Henry Aston, Richard John August, Randall Jaffe
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Patent number: 7523537Abstract: Tuning fork and method in which a pair of elongated tines having front and rear surfaces are disposed symmetrically about an axis, and balancing masses on the front surface of one tine and on the rear surface of the other tine are trimmed to reduce quadrature error and also to maintain mass balance between the tines.Type: GrantFiled: July 13, 2000Date of Patent: April 28, 2009Assignee: Custom Sensors & Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Stuart J. Knowles, Robert H. Moore
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Patent number: 7509857Abstract: Inertial measurement system and method in which a gyroscope is periodically dithered about an axis perpendicular to its input axis, a signal from the gyroscope is delayed to provide a delayed signal which lags the gyroscope signal by one-half of the dithering period, and the delayed signal and the signal from the gyroscope are combined to provide an output signal from which the bias has been cancelled.Type: GrantFiled: March 20, 2007Date of Patent: March 31, 2009Assignee: Custom Sensors & Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Ichiro Shirasaka, Randall Jaffe
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Patent number: 7505140Abstract: 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.Type: GrantFiled: April 13, 2007Date of Patent: March 17, 2009Assignee: Custom Sensors & Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Igor Leonidovich Tchertkov, Randall Jaffe
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Patent number: 7501834Abstract: A voice coil actuator having a capacitive sensor. A magnetic housing contains at least one magnet, and has a wall that defines a first cavity. A magnetic core is coupled to the magnetic housing and extend from an interior surface of the magnetic housing in a direction of a center axis of the wall of the magnetic housing. A coil assembly has a wall defining a second cavity that at least partly envelops the magnetic core, disposed at least partly inside the first cavity, and adapted to move linearly with respect to the magnetic housing. The coil assembly forms a capacitive sensor with the magnetic core, the capacitive sensor adapted to measure at least one of position, velocity and acceleration of the coil assembly with respect to the magnetic housing.Type: GrantFiled: June 21, 2005Date of Patent: March 10, 2009Assignee: Custom Sensors & Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Asad M. Madni, Jim B. Vuong, Robert K. Hansen
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Patent number: 7481109Abstract: System having one or more inertial sensors in which one or more of the sensor input axes are modulated in orientation about an axis substantially perpendicular to the input, or sensitive, axis of the sensor and, in some embodiments, by also enhancing the accuracy of such a system to provide improved signal to noise ratio and reduced sensitivity to errors in alignment of the sensor axes to the dither axes.Type: GrantFiled: March 20, 2007Date of Patent: January 27, 2009Assignee: Custom Sensors & Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Robert H. Moore, Ichiro Shirasaka, Randall Jaffe
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Patent number: 7461552Abstract: Angular rate sensor for detecting rotation about first and second mutually perpendicular axes which has first and second masses coupled together for torsional drive mode oscillation of equal amplitude and opposite phase about third axes which are perpendicular to the first and second axes. The first mass is mounted for oscillation about the second axis in response to Coriolis forces produced by rotation about the first axis, and the second mass is mounted for oscillation about the first axis in response to Coriolis forces produced by rotation about the second axis. In some disclosed embodiments, the rate sensor also includes a pair of accelerometer masses which are connected together for torsional movement of equal amplitude and opposite phase about axes parallel to the third axes in response to acceleration along the second axis and for torsional movement of equal amplitude and opposite phase about axes parallel to the second axis in response to acceleration along the third axes.Type: GrantFiled: October 23, 2006Date of Patent: December 9, 2008Assignee: Custom Sensors & Technologies, Inc.Inventor: Cenk Acar
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Publication number: 20080252177Abstract: 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.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 13, 2007Publication date: October 16, 2008Applicant: CUSTOM SENSORS & TECHNOLOGIES, INC.Inventors: Igor Leonidovich Tchertkov, Randall Jaffe
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Publication number: 20080252175Abstract: 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.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 13, 2007Publication date: October 16, 2008Applicant: CUSTOM SENSORS & TECHNOLOGIES, INC.Inventors: Igor Leonidovich Tchertkov, Salisbury Edward Henry Aston, Richard John August, Randall Jaffe
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Patent number: 7395719Abstract: A preformed sensor housing including a conduit having an inside; a plug disposed within the conduit; and a deposit covering a portion of the plug and a portion of the conduit. A method is also disclosed for creating a thin film diaphragm on a housing including the step of inserting a sacrificial element into the housing; depositing a diaphragm material onto the sacrificial element and the housing; and removing the sacrificial element.Type: GrantFiled: October 23, 2006Date of Patent: July 8, 2008Assignee: Custom Sensors & Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Marcos Nassar, Scott McDaniel
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Patent number: 7395718Abstract: A pressure sensor system for measuring the pressure of a corrosive media includes a silicon plate forming a diaphragm and a glass plate or ring bonded to said silicon plate with an opening over the diaphragm. The diaphragm has resistive areas of different orientations to provide first resistive areas which have increased resistance with diaphragm deflection, and other areas which have decreased or little change in resistance with diaphragm deflection. The resistive areas may be formed by doping the silicon plate. The resistive areas have broad doped connectors extending outward to areas beyond the seal between the glass plate or ring, to wire bond areas on the silicon plate. Accordingly, the wire bond pads are not exposed to the corrosive media.Type: GrantFiled: April 17, 2006Date of Patent: July 8, 2008Assignee: Custom Sensors & Technologies, Inc.Inventor: Horst Obermeier
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Patent number: 7353608Abstract: An angular displacement sensor. The input shaft is supported by a housing and fixed to a main gear. A plurality of secondary gears are arranged around and meshed with the primary gear. A plurality of displacement sensors are integrally coupled with the secondary gears. Advantageously, the main shaft is formed with a shear notch. Further, each of the secondary gears are coupled to the displacement sensors so as to break free in case of a jam.Type: GrantFiled: January 25, 2006Date of Patent: April 8, 2008Assignee: Custom Sensors & Technologies, Inc.Inventor: Saeed Yazdani
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Patent number: 7334489Abstract: A dual rate force transducer is disclosed. A spring is machined to have a first spring portion with a first spring rate, a second spring portion with a second spring rate, and a platen between the spring portions. A pair of flanges are affixed to the distal ends of the spring portions. At least one sensor is affixed to one of the flanges, and at least one other sensor is affixed to another one of the flanges. Mounting hardware is used to couple the springs, flanges and platen together, including at least one mechanical stop to limit displacement of the spring.Type: GrantFiled: February 27, 2006Date of Patent: February 26, 2008Assignee: Custom Sensors & Technologies, Inc.Inventor: Joel Seth Browning