Abstract: A closed-loop microelectromechanical accelerometer includes a substrate of semiconductor material, an out-of-plane sensing mass and feedback electrodes. The out-of-plane sensing mass, of semiconductor material, has a first side facing the supporting body and a second side opposite to the first side. The out-of-plane sensing mass is also connected to the supporting body to oscillate around a non-barycentric fulcrum axis parallel to the first side and to the second side and perpendicular to an out-of-plane sensing axis. The feedback electrodes are capacitively coupled to the sensing mass and are configured to apply opposite electrostatic forces to the sensing mass.

Abstract: An inventive accelerometer includes a proof mass and a pair of vibrating sensors. An excitation-and-detection circuit drives one sensor at resonant frequencies f1 and F1, with f1?F1; a second excitation-and-detection circuit drives the other sensor at resonant frequencies f2 and F2, with f2?F2. The vibrational modes driven at the frequencies f1 and f2 are the same for each sensor; the vibrational modes driven at the frequencies F1 and F2 are the same for each sensor. Compressive or tensile loads oppositely applied by the proof mass to the vibrating sensors cause a difference frequency ?F=F1?F2 to vary monotonically with acceleration of the apparatus along a sensing axis, from which a measurement of acceleration can be generated.

Abstract: An inventive accelerometer includes a proof mass, vibrating sensors, and an excitation-and-detection circuit. The vibrating sensors are substantially identical, and each exhibits corresponding fundamental and higher-order vibrational modes characterized by corresponding fundamental and higher-order resonant mode frequencies. The excitation-and-detection circuit drives each corresponding vibrating sensor at one of its resonant mode frequencies f1 or f2; the vibrational modes driven at the frequencies f1 and f2 are the same for each sensor. Compressive or tensile loads oppositely applied by the proof mass to the vibrating sensors cause a difference frequency ?f=f1?f2 to vary monotonically with acceleration of the apparatus along the sensing axis. The excitation-and-detection circuit includes at least one low-pass filter with a low-pass cut-off frequency fLP that is less than ?f.

Abstract: An inventive accelerometer includes a proof mass and a pair of vibrating sensors. Excitation-and-detection circuits drive vibrational modes of one sensor at resonant frequencies f1, F1, and F?1, and drive those same vibrational modes of the other sensor at resonant frequencies f2, F2, and F?2. Compressive or tensile loads oppositely applied by the proof mass to the vibrating sensors cause difference frequencies ?f=f1?f2, ?F=F1?F2, and ?F?=F?1?F?2 to vary monotonically with acceleration of the apparatus along a sensing axis. A measurement of acceleration can be generated based at least in part on a linear or nonlinear function of one or more or all of f1, f2, F1, F2, F?1, or F?2, and can be generated using a trained neural network.

Abstract: A detection system includes a central manifold including a detection chamber, a pipe network including at least one pipe fluidly coupled to the central manifold, a plurality of inlets formed over a length of the at least one pipe and an aspirating mechanism operable to draw a fluid flow at each of the plurality of inlets through the pipe network to the central manifold. A plurality of independently operable flow control devices is associated with the plurality of inlets. At least one of the plurality of flow control devices includes a solid state flexible polymer deformable in response to application of a voltage.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a detection structure for a vertical-axis resonant accelerometer. The detection structure includes an inertial mass suspended above a substrate and having a window provided therewithin and traversing it throughout a thickness thereof. The inertial mass is coupled to a main anchorage, arranged in the window and integral with the substrate, through a first and a second anchoring elastic element of a torsional type. The detection structure also includes at least a first resonant element having longitudinal extension, coupled between the first elastic element and a first constraint element arranged in the window. The first constraint element is suspended above the substrate, to which it is fixedly coupled through a first auxiliary anchoring element which extends below the first resonant element with longitudinal extension and is integrally coupled between the first constraint element and the main anchorage.

Abstract: A method for putting into operation and/or checking an ultrasonic, flow measuring point using a service unit, wherein the service unit has a display unit and a camera, wherein the measuring point includes a pipeline for conveying a medium and at least one ultrasonic transducer, includes identifying the measuring point vis a vis the service unit; ascertaining settable parameters based on the identity of the measuring point; registering geometric data of at least one part of the measuring point by means of the camera; analyzing registered geometric data and deriving at least one parameter value for at least one of the parameters to be set based on the analytical result and the identity; ascertaining at least one optimum mounting position based at least on the derived parameter value; and mounting an ultrasonic transducer at one of the ascertained optimum mounting positions.

Abstract: In a case where a dispensing tip is imaged from below, liquid attached to the tip falls downward and contaminates an imaging mechanism. An automatic analyzer includes: a buffer that has a hole for holding a tip for dispensing, the hole passing through the tip; a probe for dispensing having a tip to which the tip is attached; an imaging unit that images the tip; and a controller that controls the tip such that the tip is mounted on the probe by pressing the probe against the tip that passes through the hole to be held by the buffer, in which the imaging unit is disposed to image the tip from an upper side to a lower side in a gravity direction.

Abstract: The present application discloses an inertial sensor comprising a proof mass, an anchor, a flexible member and several sensing electrodes. The anchor is positioned on one side of the sensing, mass block in a first axis. The flexible member is connected to the anchor point and extends along the first axis towards the proof mass to connect the proof mass, in which the several sensing electrodes are provided. In this way, the present application can effectively solve the problems of high difficulty in the production and assembly of inertial sensors and poor product reliability thereof.

Abstract: Provided is an accelerometer. The accelerometer includes a frame portion with an opening formed inside, a central portion disposed in the opening, a connecting portion disposed on an upper surface and a lower surface of the central portion and connecting the frame portion and the central portion, and a sensing portion that converts a sensed acceleration into an electrical signal, and the accelerometer senses an acceleration in a Z-axis direction penetrating an upper surface and a lower surface of the central portion, and reduces a sensing of an acceleration in an X-axis direction and a Y-axis direction crossing the Z-axis direction.

Abstract: Circuitry for an ultrasound device is described. The ultrasound device may include a symmetric switch positioned between a pulser and an ultrasound transducer. The pulser may produce bipolar pulses. The symmetric switch may selectively isolate a receiver from the pulser and the ultrasound transducer during a transmit mode of the device, when the bipolar pulses are provided by the pulser to the ultrasound transducer for transmission, and may selectively permit the receiver to receive signals from the ultrasound transducer during a receive mode. The symmetric switch may be provided with a well switch to remove well capacitances in a signal path of the device.

Abstract: A round robin sensor device for processing sensor data is provided herein. The sensor device includes a multiplexer stage configured to sequentially select sensor outputs from one or more sensors continuously. Continuously and sequentially selecting sensor outputs results in a stream of selected sensor outputs. The sensor device also includes a charge-to-voltage converter operatively coupled to the multiplexer stage and configured to convert a charge from a first sensor of the one or more sensors to a voltage. Further, the sensor device includes a resettable integrator operatively coupled to the charge-to-voltage converter and configured to demodulate and integrate the voltage, resulting in an integrated voltage. Also included in the sensor device is an analog-to-digital converter operatively coupled to the resettable integrator and configured to digitize the integrated voltage to a digital code.

Abstract: A method for identifying head-shaking gestures and nodding gestures by using an accelerometer arrangement of a device that is worn on the head, the accelerometer arrangement providing acceleration signals for three linearly independent directions in space. The method includes the following steps: calculation of a norm of total acceleration with the aid of the acceleration signals provided by the accelerometer arrangement; and identification of head-shaking gestures and nodding gestures using the calculated norm of total acceleration; identification of a head-shaking gesture being performed as a function of a comparison between the calculated norm of total acceleration and a predetermined threshold value; and identification of a nodding gesture being performed as a function of identifying an oscillation of the calculated norm of total acceleration about a predetermined acceleration value.

Abstract: A 1D ultrasonic transducer unit for material detection, comprising a housing having securing device for securing to a surface and having at least three discrete ultrasonic transducers designed to decouple sound waves with a consistent operating frequency between 20 kHz and 400 kHz in a gaseous medium, and a control unit designed to control each ultrasonic transducer individually, wherein two ultrasonic transducers, directly adjacent to one another, are spaced apart by a distance, the 1D ultrasonic transducer unit has a sound channel per ultrasonic transducer with an input opening, associated with exactly one respective ultrasonic transducer, and an output opening, the output openings are arranged along a straight line, a distance from the directly adjacent output opening corresponds at most to the full or half the wavelength in the gaseous medium and is smaller than the corresponding distance.

Abstract: A mixer vehicle includes a mixer drum, a first acceleration sensor, a second acceleration sensor, and a controller. The first acceleration sensor is configured to produce first acceleration signals and the second acceleration sensor is configured to measure accelerations within the mixer drum to produce second acceleration signals. The controller is configured to receive the first acceleration signals from the first acceleration sensor and second acceleration signals from the second acceleration sensor. The controller is further configured to determine a presence of material within the mixer drum based on the first acceleration signals and the second acceleration signals. The controller is further configured to determine one or more properties of the material within the mixer drum based on the first acceleration signals and the second acceleration signals.

Abstract: An acceleration sensor is provided in which a sensitive color plate is provided between two polarizing plates that are in a crossed Nicol disposition, and a silver nanowire dispersion is disposed between the sensitive color plate and one of the polarizing plates.

Abstract: A sensor device that senses proper acceleration. The sensor device includes a substrate, a spacer layer supported over a first surface of the substrate, at least a first tapered cantilever beam element having a base and a tip, the base attached to the spacer layer, and which is supported over and spaced from the substrate by the spacer layer. The at least first tapered cantilever beam element tapers in width from the base portion to the tip portion. The at least first cantilever beam element further including at least a first layer comprised of a piezoelectric material, a pair of electrically conductive layers disposed on opposing surfaces of the first layer, and a mass supported at the tip portion of the at least first tapered cantilever beam element.

Abstract: An electronic device includes a substrate, a functional element disposed on a principal plane of the substrate, a lid body, the functional element being housed in a space covered by the lid body and the substrate, the lid body including a recess at a side opposed to the functional element, an outer surface at the opposite side of the recess, a first hole section including an inclined surface and a bottom surface on the outer surface, and a second hole section piercing through the lid body between the recess and the bottom surface and having an inner wall surface, a joining section of the inclined surface and the bottom surface in the first hole section being a curved surface, the lid body containing silicon, and a sealing member that seals the first hole section communicating with the space.

Abstract: An ultrasonic sensor, which is installed on a test device, includes a shell, one end is open, the other end is closed surface; a cover sheet, bonded to the open end of the shell; a copper foil, a lower surface of the copper foil is bonded to an inner bottom surface of the closed surface of the shell; a piezoelectric chip, a lower surface of the piezoelectric chip is bonded to a upper surface of the copper foil, and when the test device vibrates, the piezoelectric chip converts a vibration signal into a voltage response signal; a cable, a positive electrode is welded on a upper surface of the piezoelectric chip, and a negative electrode is welded on the upper surface of the copper foil, configured to connect to an external detection device and transmit the voltage response signal to the external detection device.

Abstract: A sensor device that senses proper acceleration. The sensor device includes a substrate, a spacer layer supported over a first surface of the substrate, at least a first tapered cantilever beam element having a base and a tip, the base attached to the spacer layer, and which is supported over and spaced from the substrate by the spacer layer. The at least first tapered cantilever beam element tapers in width from the base portion to the tip portion. The at least first cantilever beam element further including at least a first layer comprised of a piezoelectric material, a pair of electrically conductive layers disposed on opposing surfaces of the first layer, and a mass supported at the tip portion of the at least first tapered cantilever beam element.