Abstract: A filter housing assembly for fluid filtration which may be attached to, and removed from, a filter base by a push-actuated release. The filter housing assembly has a top portion with an ingress port and egress port extending therefrom, and a protrusion extending from the filter housing longitudinally axial center. The ingress and egress port are formed in an hourglass shape. A filter key having a base with a groove for mating with said projection, at least one finger extending from said base, and an electronic circuit component housing attached thereto for receiving a printed circuit board, is connected to the filter housing top portion by mating said top portion protrusion with the filter key groove. Both of said ingress and egress port have at least one cavity for the passage of fluid therethrough, where each cavity is exposed in a direction facing away from the printed circuit board.

Abstract: Methods and systems for combining ablation therapy with navigation of the ablation device. An ablation system may be configured for use with one of two methods to prevent loss of navigation signals during ablation energy delivery. In the first method, ablation energy signals are filtered from the navigation signal. In the second method, the delivery of ablation energy is sequenced with the delivery of navigation energy such that ablation energy and navigation energy are not delivered at the same time and navigation signals received by the system are time-division multiplexed to reconstruct the navigation signals and determine a location of the device within the patient.

Abstract: A capacitive sensing circuit coupled to a variable capacitor. The circuit comprises a sense pulse generator providing a first polarity sense pulse and a second polarity sense pulse; a sense capacitor coupled to the sense pulse generator; a charge detector coupled to the sense capacitor; and a storage device coupled to the charge detector. The storage device may be a sample and hold circuit, a capacitor or a buffer. Multiple capacitors may be provided to enable a position detection scheme which is suitable for use in an optical mirror switching array. An analog to digital converter may be coupled to the storage device and a digital demodulator device coupled to the output of the analog to digital converter.

Abstract: A monolithic capacitance-type microstructure includes a semiconductor substrate, a plurality of posts extending from the surface of the substrate, a bridge suspended from the posts, and an electrically-conductive, substantially stationary element anchored to the substrate. The bridge includes an element that is laterally movable with respect to the surface of the substrate. The substantially stationary element is positioned relative to the laterally movable element such that the laterally movable element and the substantially stationary element form a capacitor. Circuitry is disposed on the substrate and operationally coupled to the movable element and the substantially stationary element for processing a signal based on a relative positioning of the movable element and the substantially stationary element. A method for fabricating the microstructure and the circuitry is disclosed.

Abstract: A monolithic capacitance-type microstructure includes a semiconductor substrate, a plurality of posts extending from the surface of the substrate, a bridge suspended from the posts, and an electrically-conductive, substantially stationary element anchored to the substrate. The bridge includes an element that is laterally movable with respect to the surface of the substrate. The substantially stationary element is positioned relative to the laterally movable element such that the laterally movable element and the substantially stationary element form a capacitor. Circuitry may be disposed on the substrate and operationally coupled to the movable element and the substantially stationary element for processing a signal based on a relative positioning of the movable element and the substantially stationary element. A method for fabricating the microstructure and the circuitry is disclosed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing a conductive plane beneath a suspended microstructure. A conductive region is diffused into a substrate. A dielectric layer is added, covering the substrate, and then removed from a portion of the conductive region. A spacer layer is deposited over the dielectric and exposed conductive region. A polysilicon layer is deposited over the spacer layer, and formed into the shape of the suspended microstructure. After removal of the spacer layer, the suspended microstructure is left free to move above an exposed conductive plane. The conductive plane is driven to the same potential as the microstructure.

Abstract: A monolithic capacitance-type microstructure includes a semiconductor substrate, a plurality of posts extending from the surface of the substrate, a bridge suspended from the posts, and an electrically-conductive, substantially stationary element anchored to the substrate. The bridge includes an element that is laterally movable with respect to the surface of the substrate. The substantially stationary element is positioned relative to the laterally movable element such that the laterally movable element and the substantially stationary element form a capacitor. Circuitry may be disposed on the substrate and operationally coupled to the movable element and the substantially stationary element for processing a signal based on a relative positioning of the movable element and the substantially stationary element. A method for fabricating the microstructure and the circuitry is disclosed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing a conductive plane beneath a suspended microstructure. A conductive region is diffused into a substrate. A dielectric layer is added, covering the substrate, and then removed from a portion of the conductive region. A spacer layer is deposited over the dielectric and exposed conductive region. A polysilicon layer is deposited over the spacer layer, and formed into the shape of the suspended microstructure. After removal of the spacer layer, the suspended microstructure is left free to move above an exposed conductive plane. The conductive plane is driven to the same potential as the microstructure.

Abstract: An accelerometer comprising a microfabricated acceleration sensor and monolithically fabricated signal conditioning circuitry. The sensor comprises a differential capacitor arrangement formed by a pair of capacitors. Each capacitor has two electrodes, one of which it shares electrically in common with the other capacitor. One of the electrodes (e.g., the common electrode) is movable and one of the electrodes is stationary in response to applied acceleration. The electrodes are all formed of polysilicon members suspended above a silicon substrate. Each of the capacitors is formed of a plurality of pairs of electrode segments electrically connected in parallel and, in the case of the movable electrodes, mechanically connected to move in unison. When the substrate is accelerated, the movable electrodes move such that the capacitance of one of the capacitors increases, while that of the other capacitor decreases.

Abstract: An accelerometer comprising a microfabricated acceleration sensor and monolithically fabricated signal conditioning circuitry. The sensor comprises a differential capacitor arrangement formed by a pair of capacitors. Each capacitor has two electrodes, one of which it shares electrically in common with the other capacitor. One of the electrodes (e.g., the common electrode) is movable and one of the electrodes is stationary in response to applied acceleration. The electrodes are all formed of polysilicon members suspended above a silicon substrate. Each of the capacitors is formed of a plurality of pairs of electrode segments electrically connected in parallel and, in the case of the movable electrodes, mechanically connected to move in unison. When the substrate is accelerated, the movable electrodes move such that the capacitance of one of the capacitors increases, while that of the other capacitor decreases.

Abstract: The invention is a monolithic sensor comprising a silicon substrate, a suspended polysilicon microstructure for sensing a condition disposed above and suspended from the substrate, and circuitry for resolving a signal based on said sensed condition, the circuitry including bipolar circuit elements and MOS circuit elements. One disclosed embodiment is particularly adapted for sensing acceleration by means of a differential capacitor arrangement in which one capacitor plate in the arrangement is moveable responsive to an acceleration.

Abstract: An accelerometer comprising a microfabricated acceleration sensor and monolithically fabricated signal conditioning circuitry. The sensor comprises a differential capacitor arrangement formed by a pair of capacitors. Each capacitor has two electrodes, one of which it shares electrically in common with the other capacitor. One of the electrodes (e.g., the common electrode) is movable and one of the electrodes is stationary in response to applied acceleration. The electrodes are all formed of polysilicon members suspended above a silicon substrate. Each of the capacitors is formed of a plurality of pairs of electrode segments electrically connected in parallel and, in the case of the movable electrodes, mechanically connected to move in unison. When the substrate is accelerated, the movable electrodes move such that the capacitance of one of the capacitors increases, while that of the other capacitor decreases.