Abstract: The manufacturing of an element structure including two or more sensor element is to be facilitated. An element structure includes a first substrate including a first support layer and a first sensor element disposed on the first support layer and a second substrate including a second support layer and a second sensor element disposed on the second support layer, wherein the second substrate is disposed on the first substrate via a spacer member in a state in which the first sensor element and the second sensor element are disposed to face each other.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an angular velocity sensor. The angular velocity sensor according to an embodiment of the present invention is configured to include a mass body, a first frame disposed at an outer side of the mass body so as to be spaced apart from the mass body, a first flexible part connecting the mass body to the first frame in an X-axis direction, a second flexible part connecting the mass body with the first frame in a Y-axis direction, a second frame disposed at an outer side of the first frame so as to be spaced apart from the first frame, a third flexible part connecting the first frame with the second frame in an X-axis direction, and a fourth flexible part connecting the first frame with the second frame in a Y-axis direction.

Abstract: A mechanism by which a MEMS gyroscope sensor can be calibrated using data gathered from other sensors in a system incorporating the MEMS gyroscope sensor is provided. Data gathered from an accelerometer and a magnetometer in fixed orientation relative to the gyroscope is used to calculate changes in orientation of a system. A constant acceleration vector measured by the accelerometer and a constant magnetic vector measured by the magnetometer are used as reference vectors in a solution to Wahba's problem to calculate a rotation matrix providing the system's orientation with respect to those two constant vectors. By comparing changes in orientation from one time to a next time, measured rates of angular change can be calculated. The measured rates of angular change can be used along with observed gyroscope rates of angular change as input to a linear regression algorithm, which can be used to compute gyroscope trim parameters.

Abstract: A method for measuring positional changes of an object, including rotation about any or all of three axes, using linear accelerometers. There is disclosed a method of using a linear accelerometer to integrate two 3D linear accelerometers in order to measure and supply for further use six-dimensional information, that is, translation in three dimensions and rotation about three axes. Two linear accelerometer sensors are used to determine all but rotation about an imaginary axis between the accelerometers. Output from a third accelerometer may be used to generate the data needed to determine rotation about the imaginary axis. The need for a gyroscope for detecting changes in heading (i.e., yaw or azimuth) may therefore be avoided.

Abstract: A device for measuring forces generated by an unbalance of a rotor, said device comprising a stationary frame, a first bearing, measuring shaft mounted rotatably about its shaft axis in the first bearing, a mounting means provided on the measuring shaft designed for attachment of the rotor, wherein the rotor is designed to be balanced in at least one compensating plane, a second bearing pivotally supporting the first bearing about a pivot axis which intersects the shaft axis and being supported on the stationary frame, a first force sensor for measuring forces generated by the unbalance of the rotating rotor and acting about the pivot axis, and a second force sensor for measuring forces generated by the unbalance of the rotating rotor and acting on the measuring shaft and on the second bearing in a direction intersecting the shaft axis.

Abstract: A gyro sensor includes: a driving mass; a detection mass connected with the driving mass; a driving connection one end and the other end of which are connected with the driving mass and an anchor, respectively; an island connected with the anchor, and disposed with a clearance left between the island and the driving mass in such a manner as to be electrically connected with the driving mass; and a projection provided at least either on the surface of the driving mass opposed to the island, or on the surface of the island opposed to the driving mass. The driving unit includes a movable electrode unit connected with the driving mass, and a fixed electrode unit. The minimum distance between the driving mass and the island is longer than the driving amplitude of the driving mass and shorter than the maximum amplitude of the movable electrode unit.

Abstract: A method for predicting initial unbalance in a component comprising one or more elements, the method comprising: defining a statistical distribution of a mass moment weight of each of the one or more elements; restricting the statistical distribution to a selected range; and calculating an initial unbalance of the component for the restricted distribution of the one or more elements.

Abstract: A method of controlling an inertial rotation sensor has a vibrating resonator having control channels and detection channels. During an operating stage each control channel (C1, C2) is activated for a control duration and each detection channel (D1, D2) is activated for a detection duration, in which the control and detection durations are applied at an operating ratio. Duyring a starting stage the control and detection durations are applied at a ratio that is modified in comparison with the operating ratio, so as to increase the control duration.

Abstract: A monitoring system includes a calibrated micro-electro-mechanical structure (MEMS) matrix in communication with a controller. The MEMS matrix includes MEMS elements of various sizes which create a continuum of vibration-stress-resistant elements. The MEMS elements will flex in response to flexing of a printed circuit board due to mechanical vibration until failure occurs. The controller monitors the continuity of the MEMS matrix to determine which elements of the MEMS matrix have failed to accurately determine the accumulated vibration stress experienced by the printed circuit board.

Abstract: An inertial force sensor includes a detector element, a supporting body supporting the detector element, and a case holding the detector element via the first supporting body. The supporting body has flexibility and has a plate shape. The detector element includes a weight, a flexible coupling portion extending along a plane and supporting the weight, a fixing portion holding the weight via the coupling portion, and a detector detecting angular velocities about at least two axes non-parallel to each other. The supporting body extends in parallel with the plane from the detector element, and bends at a bending portion in a direction away from the plane. This inertial force sensor can detect the angular velocities while preventing erroneous detection caused by external impacts and vibrations.

Abstract: A sampling system that contains filter components for collecting and concentrating vapor and particles in high-volume flows. The sample is then vaporized and delivered to a detector at a low-volume flow. The invention also has a sampling probe that contains an air-jet to help dislodge particles from surfaces and a heating lamp to help vaporize compounds on surfaces or objects. The sampling system is especially useful for screening for explosives and other illicit chemicals and toxins on people, baggage, cargo, and other objects.

Abstract: A device and a method for ultrasonic testing by means of a local immersion technique of a stringer component section of a flat component are provided. The device includes a test head assembly mounted as moving floatingly by a holding device in the Y-direction longitudinally. The test head assembly includes: a test head that can be connected to an automatically actuated handling device and that can be moved by the handling device along the stringer; a test head holder; and a counter-holder coupled with the test head holder by an actuation element, wherein the actuation element is configured to steer the test head holder and the counter-holder from a closed position to an open position, the test head holder and the counter-holder being mounted floatingly along a guiding rail running in the X-direction transversely to the stringer, and fit, in a force-loaded manner, to each side surface of the stringer.

Abstract: A sensor system for sensing liquid level in a bilge, for use in automatic bilge pump actuation. First and second field effect sensors are potted or sealed within a container or the bilge wall and are aligned in a vertical array and each comprise a substantially planar pattern of “electrodes” or conductive traces disposed on a printed circuit board (PCB) along with integrated circuits used to create a loop or arc-shaped electric field. As bilge liquid rises to the proximity or level of the field effect sensors, a change in the arc-shaped electric field is sensed and, in response, a bilge pump is automatically actuated to pump liquid out of the bilge. Optionally, the pump control can be programmed by use of a microprocessor to permit control of on-off timing and prevent undesirable effects of “sloshing.

Abstract: A load receiver device that serves to receive at least one solid body and to hold the solid body in place in a surrounding fluid during a density determination. Embodiments of the load receiver device include a hanger module that is adapted to establish a hanging connection to a part that is, in turn, connected to the weighing cell of a balance. Embodiments of the load receiver device further include a receiver module that is connected to the hanger module and serves to receive a solid body. The receiver module has a concavity that is designed to receive the solid body, and the orientation of the concavity can be selectively reversed to maintain the position of the solid body in the surrounding fluid during a density determination, regardless of whether the solid body will otherwise sink or float in the fluid.

Abstract: A gyroscope is disclosed. The gyroscope comprises a substrate; and a guided mass system. The guided mass system comprises proof-mass and guiding arm. The proof-mass and the guiding arm are disposed in a plane parallel to the substrate. The proof-mass is coupled to the guiding arm. The guiding arm is also coupled to the substrate through a spring. The guiding arm allows motion of the proof-mass to a first direction in the plane. The guiding arm and the proof-mass rotate about a first sense axis. The first sense axis is in the plane and parallel to the first direction. The gyroscope includes an actuator for vibrating the proof-mass in the first direction. The gyroscope also includes a transducer for sensing motion of the proof-mass-normal to the plane in response to angular velocity about a first input axis that is in the plane and orthogonal to the first direction.

Abstract: The miniaturized piezoelectric accelerometer includes a support frame (102) having a cavity (104) and a seismic mass (108) supported by a plurality of suspension beams (110) extending from the support frame (102). Each of the suspension beams (110) has a piezoelectric thin film coated on a top surface thereof, with a pair of inter-digital electrodes (114) deposited on an upper surface of each piezoelectric thin film. The presence of acceleration excites bending and thus strain in the piezoelectric thin film, which in turn causes electrical signals to be generated over terminals of the electrodes (114). To collect constructively the output of the electrodes (114), one terminal of each of the electrodes (114) is routed to and electrically connected at a top surface (308) of the seismic mass (108).

Abstract: An ultrasonic wave propagation time measurement system comprises: a transmitting section that transmits an electromagnetic wave signal indicating transmission timing and an ultrasonic wave signal, and a receiving section that detects the transmitted electromagnetic wave signal and the ultrasonic wave signal and calculates an ultrasonic wave propagation time based on reception times of the electromagnetic wave signal and the ultrasonic wave signal; and an initial mode setting mechanism that constitutes an optimum ultrasonic wave transmission/reception system by selecting the set values of one or more setting parameters is provided in a controlling unit that controls the transmission of the signals in the transmitting section and in a data processing unit that controls the detection and calculation in receiving section.

Abstract: A micromechanical component for detecting an acceleration. The component includes a conductive layer having a first and a second electrode and a rotatable flywheel mass in the form of a rocker having a first and a second lever arm. The first lever arm is situated opposite the first electrode, and the second lever arm is situated opposite the second electrode. The first lever arm has a first hole structure having a number of first cut-outs, and the second lever arm has a second hole structure having a number of second cut-outs. The first and the second lever arm have different masses. The component is characterized by the fact that the outer dimensions of the first and second lever arms correspond, and the first hole structure of the first lever arm differs from the second hole structure of the second lever arm. Furthermore, a method for manufacturing such a micromechanical component is provided.

Abstract: A transducer assembly includes an acoustic sensor element and an acoustic waveguide. The acoustic waveguide includes a rotatable acoustic coupler, a tube, and a foot. The foot has a mounting surface that is mountable on a fluid conduit. A circuit assembly couples to acoustic sensor element and provides a diagnostic output.

Abstract: A portable monitoring device includes a hand-held housing, a processing circuit disposed within the housing, and a primary sensor extending outwardly from the housing, coupled with the processing circuit, and configured to transmit input to the processing circuit. A rechargeable battery is disposed within the housing and is configured to provide electric power to at least the processing circuit. A connector is coupled with the processing circuit and configured to operatively couple the battery with a battery charger and to alternatively couple the processing circuit with at least one of a secondary sensor and a calibration device. Preferably, a temperature sensor is disposed proximal to the primary sensor and configured to transmit temperature input to the processing circuit, and a switch disposed within the housing is electrically connected with the processing circuit, the connector and the primary sensor and couples the connector with the battery charger or the processing circuit.