Abstract: A MEMS accelerometer includes a suspended spring-mass system that has a frequency response to accelerations experienced over a range of frequencies. The components of the suspended spring-mass system such as the proof masses respond to acceleration in a substantially uniform manner at frequencies that fall within a designed bandwidth for the MEMS accelerometer. Digital compensation circuitry compensates for motion of the proof masses outside of the designed bandwidth, such that the functional bandwidth of the MEMS accelerometer is significantly greater than the designed bandwidth.

Abstract: An inertial measurement apparatus has mechanically bendable beams that have an isosceles trapezoid cross-section. The apparatus has a resonant member having a perimeter at least partially defined by a sidewall slanted at a first angular value and at least one electrode disposed adjacent, and parallel, to the sidewall and separated therefrom by a capacitive gap.

Abstract: An inertial measurement apparatus has mechanically bendable beams that have an isosceles trapezoid cross-section. The apparatus has a resonant member having a perimeter at least partially defined by a sidewall slanted at a first angular value and at least one electrode disposed adjacent, and parallel, to the sidewall and separated therefrom by a capacitive gap.

Abstract: The disclosure describes a z-axis gyroscope where a proof mass is suspended from a peripheral suspender and a central suspender. The peripheral suspender forms a truncated triangle around the proof mass, and the central suspender extends through the truncated corner of the triangle formed by the peripheral suspender. The proof mass is driven into a primary oscillation mode by one or more piezoelectric drive transducers located on the peripheral suspender. One or more piezoelectric sense transducers located on the base of the peripheral suspender are configured to detect the secondary oscillation mode of the proof mass.

Abstract: A resonant accelerometer includes a proof mass, one or more springs connecting the proof mass to an anchor, and one or more capacitive transduction gaps providing a void or space between the movable proof mass and a corresponding fixed electrode, wherein the static displacement of the proof mass in response to acceleration applied to the anchor modifies the electrostatic stiffness imparted by one or more of the capacitive transduction gaps on the proof mass, resulting in a corresponding change in the resonance frequency of the resonant accelerometer.

Abstract: A method for mounting an inertial sensor unit includes: mounting a substrate to a structure; and mounting, to the substrate, a case in which an inertial sensor is accommodated, wherein the case is provided with a first mounting portion, the substrate is provided with a second mounting portion, and in the mounting of the case, the first mounting portion and the second mounting portion fit together, whereby the case is mounted to the substrate.

Abstract: Apparatus and associated methods relate to measuring density of aircraft fuel. The aircraft fuel is circumferentially pumped about an impeller axis by a centrifugal pump. Differential pressure of the aircraft fuel is measured between two different points within the centrifugal pump, each a different radial distance from an impeller axis. Rotational frequency of the impeller of the centrifugal pump is measured. Density of the aircraft fuel is calculated based on the rotational frequency and the differential pressure.

Abstract: Method for testing a fiber composite component, in particular a body component for a vehicle, wherein the fiber composite component comprises a sensor device which is integrated in the fiber composite component, wherein the sensor device comprises a flexible circuit carrier having a sensor module, in particular having a micromechanical sensor module, for ascertaining an acceleration value, said method comprising the steps: setting the fiber composite component into a test vibration, in particular by applying a test pulse to a test site of the fiber composite component; capturing a response signal using the sensor device; and comparing the response signal with a reference signal.

Abstract: A MEMS accelerometer includes at least one proof mass and two or more drive electrodes associated with each proof mass. Self-test signals are applied to the drive electrodes. The self-test signals have a signal pattern that includes different duty cycles being applied to the drive electrodes simultaneously, which in turn imparts an electrostatic force on the proof mass. The response of the proof mass to the electrostatic force is measured to determine a sensitivity of the MEMS accelerometer.

Abstract: A MEMS sensor comprising preloaded suspension springs and a method for mechanically preloading suspension springs of a MEMS sensor are described. The MEMS sensor comprises a MEMS support structure; a plurality of suspension springs connected to said support structure; and, a proof mass flexibly suspended by said suspension springs; wherein at least one of said suspension springs is mechanically preloaded with a compressive force for reducing the natural frequency of said proof mass.

Abstract: A surface roughness analysis system and methods of analyzing surface roughness of a workpiece are presented. The surface roughness analysis system comprises a number of wave generators; a number of wave sensors; and an ultrasonic analysis system configured to receive material mechanical parameters for a workpiece, determine incident surface wave signal parameters for a source signal to be sent by the number of wave generators, and determine a cut-off wavelength using the material mechanical parameters, wherein the cut-off wavelength is a ratio of surface wavelength over incident wavelength.

Abstract: A MEMS device includes a first MEMS sensor associated with a first spatial plane and a second MEMS sensor is associated with a spatial second plane not co-planar with the first spatial plane, wherein the first MEMS sensor is configured to provide a first interrupt and a first data in response to a physical perturbation, wherein the second MEMS sensor is configured to provide a second interrupt and second data in response to the physical perturbation, and a controller configured to receive the first interrupt at a first time and the second interrupt at a second time different from the first time, wherein the controller is configured to determine a latency between the first time and the second time, and wherein the controller is configured to determine motion data in response to the first data, to the second data, and to the latency.

Abstract: A sensor includes a MEMS element responsive to acceleration, an analog-to-digital converter coupled to an output of the MEMS element, and a free fall detector coupled to an output of the analog-to-digital converter. The free fall detector is configured to determine whether the sensor is in free fall based on acceleration information received from the analog-to-digital converter. A digital interface is coupled to the analog-to-digital converter and to an output of the free fall detector and is configured to issue an output related to free fall information determined by the free fall detector.

Abstract: Aspects provide for in-situ monitoring of a structure, such as a portion of an in-operation vehicle, by a patch and controller by transmitting, at a first time, a first signal from a first transceiver of a plurality of transceivers in contact with the structure; receiving the first signal carried in the structure at a second transceiver of the plurality of transceivers at a known distance from the first transceiver; determining a baseline signal characteristic of the first signal as received at the second transceiver; transmitting, at a second time, a second signal from the first transceiver; receiving the second signal carried in the structure at the second transceiver; determining a diagnostic signal characteristic of the second signal as received at the second transceiver; and in response to determining that a difference between the baseline signal characteristic and the diagnostic signal characteristic exceeds a threshold, generating an alert.

Abstract: A method of demodulating a MEMS sensor pickoff signal from a vibrating resonator of said sensor, the method comprising: sampling the pickoff signal with an asynchronous ADC at a sampling rate of at least 50 times the resonant frequency of the resonator to generate a stream of samples; generating a first value by combining samples from said stream of samples according to a selected operation, said operation being selected in dependence on a synchronous clock signal that is synchronous to the resonant frequency of the resonator, said synchronous clock signal having a frequency at least twice the resonant frequency of the resonator; and counting the number of samples contributing to the first value. The increased sampling rate of the pickoff signal allows a much higher number of samples to be taken into account, thereby reducing noise. However, the ADC asynchronously from the resonator of the MEMS sensor.

Abstract: Impact indicators which include an impact registering structure are provided for a package. The impact registering structure registers a location and an elapsed time of an impact of excessive force on the package. The structure includes a first region, a second region, and a barrier film. The first region contains a first element, and the second region contains a second element. The first and second elements are selected to register the location and the elapsed time of the impact when coming in contact. The barrier film separates the first and second regions, and is calibrated to rupture with a specified impact force. Once ruptured, the first element and the second element contact, in part, to provide a location indication of the rupture in the barrier film and a time elapsed indication indicative of the elapsed time from the rupture in the barrier film.

Abstract: A vibrating structure gyroscope includes a permanent magnet, a structure arranged in a magnetic field of the permanent magnet and arranged to vibrate under stimulation from at least one primary drive electrode and a drive system that includes: one primary drive electrode arranged at least one primary sense electrode arranged to sense motion in the vibrating structure and a drive control loop controlling the primary drive electrode dependent on the primary sense electrode. The structure also includes a compensation unit arranged to receive a signal from the drive system representative of a gain in the drive control loop and arranged to output a scale factor correction based on that signal. As the magnet degrades (e.g. naturally over time as the material ages), the magnetic field weakens. To compensate for this, the primary drive control loop will automatically increase the gain.

Abstract: An inspection crawler, and systems and methods for inspecting underwater pipelines are provided. The system includes the inspection crawler having a housing with a first side, an opposing second side, a power source, and a controller. The crawler includes an inspection tool, at least two pairs of latching arms, each latching arm including a rolling element, and at least two pairs of driving wheels. The system also includes at least one communication unit configured to communicate with the inspection crawler and to communicate aerially with one or more remote devices and, and at one sea surface unit. The inspection crawler can further include a connecting structure connecting the front and back portions of the crawler, and configured to elongate and shorten the inspection crawler.

Abstract: A sensor device includes an angular velocity sensor element, an acceleration sensor element, an intermediate member, and an elastic body. Both the angular velocity sensor element and the acceleration sensor element are mounted on the intermediate member. The elastic body is connected to the intermediate member and a fixing part located apart from the intermediate member. The intermediate member is configured to vibrate by receiving a vibration applied to the fixing part.

Abstract: A micromechanical rotation rate sensor system and a corresponding manufacturing method are described. The micromechanical rotation rate sensor system includes a first rotation rate sensor unit drivable rotatorily about a first axis in an oscillating manner for detecting a first outside rotation rate about a second axis and a second outside rotation rate about a third axis, the first, second and third axes being situated perpendicularly to one another, and a second rotation rate sensor unit linearly drivable by a drive unit along the second axis in an oscillating manner for detecting a third outside rotation rate about the first axis. The second rotation rate sensor unit is connected to the first rotation rate sensor unit via a first coupling unit for driving the first rotation rate sensor unit by the drive unit.