Abstract: A sensor device includes at least two transducers, a sensor signal processing circuit, and a transducer to sensor signal processing circuit electrical connections, each connecting a respective one of the transducers to the sensor signal processing circuit. The device also includes a differential amplifier connected with two bond wires, the bond wires connected to the differential inputs of the differential amplifier and the amplifier output connected to the sensor signal processing circuit.

Abstract: A sensor device comprising at least two transducers; a sensor signal processing circuit; transducer to sensor signal processing circuit electrical connections, each connecting a respective one of the transducers to the sensor signal processing circuit; a differential amplifier connected with two bond wires, the bond wires connected to the differential inputs of the differential amplifier and the amplifier output connected to the sensor signal processing circuit.

Abstract: An electronic circuit and method for carrying out built in test of a capacitor connected to, and arranged to suppress noise at, an input of an electrical circuit is disclosed. The electronic circuit causes current pulses at the input, and monitors the voltage at the input by comparing the voltage at the input with high and/or low reference voltages, outputting a fault signal if the voltage at the input is greater than a high reference voltage or lower than a low reference voltage.

Abstract: An inertial sensor is described that has means for improving quadrature rejection The sensor is of a ring type, driven by a driver circuit, the sensor further comprising primary and secondary portions having corresponding signal pickoffs. The primary pickoff signal amplitude is controlled via an automatic gain control, the primary phase lock loop and VCO locks to the resonant frequency to provide the clocks for the synchronous detectors, the primary pickoff signals via the primary phase shift circuit is provided to the primary driver, the secondary pickoff signal being input into a detector circuit capable of detecting motion in the sensor. The secondary channel comprises a series of circuits that when operable in series significantly improve the quadrature rejection ability of the sensor. The circuits include a synchronous detector, passive and active filters and a decimator.

Abstract: An angular velocity sensor is described with improved ageing and hysteresis properties. The sensor may be of a ring type driven by a driver circuit, the sensor further comprising primary and secondary portions having corresponding signal pickoffs. The gain of the primary pickoff signal and the capacitance of the primary portions of the sensor are controlled relative to the gain of the secondary pickoff and the capacitance of the secondary portions of the sensor. Control electronics is provided that enables matching of the relative signals from the respective channels. In this way, temperature hysteresis and ageing effects of materials used in forming the sensor are overcome.

Abstract: An inertial sensor is described that has a commanded test function. The sensor is of a ring type driven by a driver circuit, the sensor further includes primary and secondary portions having corresponding signal pickoffs. The primary pickoff signal amplitude is controlled via an automatic gain control, the primary phase lock loop and VCO locks to the resonant frequency to provide the clocks for the synchronous detectors, the primary pickoff signals via the primary phase shift circuit is provided to the primary driver, the secondary pickoff signal being input into a detector circuit capable of detecting motion in the sensor. The commanded test function includes a signal derived from the primary portion of the circuit and input into the two inputs of a differential amplifier in the secondary pickoff detector circuit.

Abstract: An inertial sensor is described in which a resonant element is driven by control electronics into resonance. The control electronics includes an oscillator. A circuit is provided for matching the frequency of the oscillator with the frequency of the output of the resonant element such that the time to operation from start up of the sensor is minimized and the requirement of frequency matching a given sensor to the control electronics is removed.

Abstract: An electronic circuit and method for carrying out built in test of a capacitor connected to, and arranged to suppress noise at, an input of an electrical circuit is disclosed. The electronic circuit causes current pulses at the input, and monitors the voltage at the input by comparing the voltage at the input with high and/or low reference voltages, outputting a fault signal if the voltage at the input is greater than a high reference voltage or lower than a low reference voltage.

Abstract: An angular velocity sensor is described with improved ageing and hysteresis properties. The sensor may be of a ring type driven by a driver circuit, the sensor further comprising primary and secondary portions having corresponding signal pickoffs. The gain of the primary pickoff signal and the capacitance of the primary portions of the sensor are controlled relative to the gain of the secondary pickoff and the capacitance of the secondary portions of the sensor. Control electronics is provided that enables matching of the relative signals from the respective channels. In this way, temperature hysteresis and ageing effects of materials used in forming the sensor are overcome.

Abstract: An inertial sensor is described that has means for improving quadrature rejection The sensor is of a ring type, driven by a driver circuit, the sensor further comprising primary and secondary portions having corresponding signal pickoffs. The primary pickoff signal amplitude is controlled via an automatic gain control, the primary phase lock loop and VCO locks to the resonant frequency to provide the clocks for the synchronous detectors, the primary pickoff signals via the primary phase shift circuit is provided to the primary driver, the secondary pickoff signal being input into a detector circuit capable of detecting motion in the sensor. The secondary channel comprises a series of circuits that when operable in series significantly improve the quadrature rejection ability of the sensor. The circuits include a synchronous detector, passive and active filters and a decimator.

Abstract: An inertial sensor is described in which a resonant element is driven by control electronics into resonance. The control electronics includes an oscillator. A circuit is provided for matching the frequency of the oscillator with the frequency of the output of the resonant element such that the time to operation from start up of the sensor is minimized and the requirement of frequency matching a given sensor to the control electronics is removed.

Abstract: An inertial sensor is described that has a commanded test function. The sensor is of a ring type driven by a driver circuit, the sensor further comprising primary and secondary portions having corresponding signal pickoffs. The primary pickoff signal amplitude is controlled via an automatic gain control, the primary phase lock loop and VCO locks to the resonant frequency to provide the clocks for the synchronous detectors, the primary pickoff signals via the primary phase shift circuit is provided to the primary driver, the secondary pickoff signal being input into a detector circuit capable of detecting motion in the sensor. The commanded test function comprises signal derived from the primary portion of the circuit and input into the two inputs of a differential amplifier in the secondary pickoff detector circuit.