Patents by Inventor Craig Hamman Stephan

Craig Hamman Stephan has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Acceleration sensing module with a combined self-test and ground electrode
    Patent number: 5731520
    Abstract: A micro-machined accelerometer includes a moveable metal plate, mounted upon a semiconductor substrate. The moveable metal plate includes an aperture which contains a pedestal and at least one torsion bar for connecting the pedestal to the moveable metal plate. Measurement electrodes formed on the semiconductor substrate combine with the metal plate to form measurement capacitors A combined self-test/common electrode provides a dual function of a common electrode during operation of the accelerometer and a testing electrode during a self-test procedure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 24, 1998
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul Elwin Stevenson, Craig Hamman Stephan, Amer Mohammad Samman, Leland Joseph Spangler