Abstract: Inertial measurement system and method in which a gyroscope is periodically dithered about an axis perpendicular to its input axis, a signal from the gyroscope is delayed to provide a delayed signal which lags the gyroscope signal by one-half of the dithering period, and the delayed signal and the signal from the gyroscope are combined to provide an output signal from which the bias has been cancelled.

Abstract: Dithering mechanism and method for eliminating the effects of zero-rate bias in a rate sensor or gyroscope. Both continuously moving and indexing embodiments are disclosed. The mechanism includes a first part mounted in a fixed position centered about a dither axis perpendicular to the input axis of the gyroscope, a second part disposed coaxially of the first part and affixed to the sensing element of the gyroscope, and a plurality of piezoelectrically driven quartz flexure beams extending radially between the first and second parts for dithering the second part about the dither axis. In some embodiments, the dithering mechanism is formed separately from and affixed to the sensing element of the gyroscope, and in others it is formed integrally with the sensing element.

Abstract: A voice coil actuator having a capacitive sensor. A magnetic housing contains at least one magnet, and has a wall that defines a first cavity. A magnetic core is coupled to the magnetic housing and extend from an interior surface of the magnetic housing in a direction of a center axis of the wall of the magnetic housing. A coil assembly has a wall defining a second cavity that at least partly envelops the magnetic core, disposed at least partly inside the first cavity, and adapted to move linearly with respect to the magnetic housing. The coil assembly forms a capacitive sensor with the magnetic core, the capacitive sensor adapted to measure at least one of position, velocity and acceleration of the coil assembly with respect to the magnetic housing.

Abstract: A sensor for measuring the moisture and salinity of a material is disclosed herein. The sensor preferably includes a soil moisture circuit, a soil salinity circuit and a probe structure. The soil moisture circuit includes a high frequency oscillator, a voltage meter and a reference capacitor. The soil salinity circuit includes a low frequency oscillator, a voltage meter and a reference resistor. A third voltage meter allows for voltage outputs to be measured to calculate soil moisture and soil salinity values.

Abstract: System having one or more inertial sensors in which one or more of the sensor input axes are modulated in orientation about an axis substantially perpendicular to the input, or sensitive, axis of the sensor and, in some embodiments, by also enhancing the accuracy of such a system to provide improved signal to noise ratio and reduced sensitivity to errors in alignment of the sensor axes to the dither axes.

Abstract: Angular rate sensor for detecting rotation about first and second mutually perpendicular axes which has first and second masses coupled together for torsional drive mode oscillation of equal amplitude and opposite phase about third axes which are perpendicular to the first and second axes. The first mass is mounted for oscillation about the second axis in response to Coriolis forces produced by rotation about the first axis, and the second mass is mounted for oscillation about the first axis in response to Coriolis forces produced by rotation about the second axis. In some disclosed embodiments, the rate sensor also includes a pair of accelerometer masses which are connected together for torsional movement of equal amplitude and opposite phase about axes parallel to the third axes in response to acceleration along the second axis and for torsional movement of equal amplitude and opposite phase about axes parallel to the second axis in response to acceleration along the third axes.

Abstract: A sensor for measuring the moisture and salinity of a material is disclosed herein. The sensor preferably includes a soil moisture circuit, a soil salinity circuit and a probe structure. The soil moisture circuit includes a high frequency oscillator, a voltage meter and a reference capacitor. The soil salinity circuit includes a low frequency oscillator, a voltage meter and a reference resistor. A third voltage meter allows for voltage outputs to be measured to calculate soil moisture and soil salinity values.

Abstract: A preformed sensor housing including a conduit having an inside; a plug disposed within the conduit; and a deposit covering a portion of the plug and a portion of the conduit. A method is also disclosed for creating a thin film diaphragm on a housing including the step of inserting a sacrificial element into the housing; depositing a diaphragm material onto the sacrificial element and the housing; and removing the sacrificial element.

Abstract: A pressure sensor system for measuring the pressure of a corrosive media includes a silicon plate forming a diaphragm and a glass plate or ring bonded to said silicon plate with an opening over the diaphragm. The diaphragm has resistive areas of different orientations to provide first resistive areas which have increased resistance with diaphragm deflection, and other areas which have decreased or little change in resistance with diaphragm deflection. The resistive areas may be formed by doping the silicon plate. The resistive areas have broad doped connectors extending outward to areas beyond the seal between the glass plate or ring, to wire bond areas on the silicon plate. Accordingly, the wire bond pads are not exposed to the corrosive media.

Abstract: An angular displacement sensor. The input shaft is supported by a housing and fixed to a main gear. A plurality of secondary gears are arranged around and meshed with the primary gear. A plurality of displacement sensors are integrally coupled with the secondary gears. Advantageously, the main shaft is formed with a shear notch. Further, each of the secondary gears are coupled to the displacement sensors so as to break free in case of a jam.

Abstract: A dual rate force transducer is disclosed. A spring is machined to have a first spring portion with a first spring rate, a second spring portion with a second spring rate, and a platen between the spring portions. A pair of flanges are affixed to the distal ends of the spring portions. At least one sensor is affixed to one of the flanges, and at least one other sensor is affixed to another one of the flanges. Mounting hardware is used to couple the springs, flanges and platen together, including at least one mechanical stop to limit displacement of the spring.

Abstract: A vibration information transmission apparatus for improving efficiency of field wiring of a vibration monitoring/analyzing system includes transmitters (11-1 to n) for converting vibration information from vibration sensors (2-1 to n) for detecting vibration of an object to be measured, into an electric signal and outputting the electric signal to a digital network (DN). The transmitters (11-1 to n) includes in the same casing, a transducer circuit (18) for converting the vibration information from the vibration sensors (2-1 to n) into an analog electric signal, an A/D conversion circuit (19) for converting the analog electric signal from the transducer circuit (18) into a digital signal, and a network interface (20) for outputting the digital signal from the A/D conversion circuit (19) to the digital network (DN).

Abstract: A data recorder for use as a hunting detector includes a piezofilm accelerometer. A bandpass filter tuned to the approximate frequency of a hunting railcar couples the output of the accelerometer to a hold circuit. A controller, operating primarily in a low power consumption “sleep” mode, awakens periodically to check the hold circuit. If the contents of the hold circuit is greater than a predetermined value, a counter is incremented. When the counter exceeds a preset limit, then a flasher on the exterior of the data recorder is enabled.

Abstract: A system for display of three dimensional images and video utilizing flat panel technology, such as liquid crystal technology, wherein the left and right images are separated by polarization and the user wears polarized glasses to view the display. A first display, which may be any display technology, is used to generate an intensity modulated image. A second display is used to modulate the polarization of the intensity modulated image. A light spreading device is used to spread the light to minimize Moiré effects resulting from the use of two displays. In one embodiment, the light spreading device is a diffuser. In another embodiment, the light spreading device is a micro lens array.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an apparatus and method for a measurement system for the testing of transducers, and more particularly to the testing of piezoelectric transducers. The measurement system includes a transducer, a feedback amplifier coupled to the transducer and a signal processing circuit coupled to the output of the amplifier. The method of testing the transducer includes coupling the test signal to the transducer, disabling the amplifier, and measuring the response of the transducer to the test signal with the test processing circuit.

Abstract: A compact data recorder includes angular rate sensors for monitoring rotational movement about three axes. Three linear accelerometers, or one triaxial linear accelerometer, track linear movement along the same three axes. A processor and memory record outputs from the angular rate sensors and the linear accelerometers.

Abstract: An apparatus for validating the operation of an optical scanning system is provided. The apparatus includes one or more scanning illumination beams (6) for scanning an object, and one or more observing beams that comprise light scattered by the object being scanned, which inversely follow the path of the illumination beams. The apparatus further includes a reflector structure (9) arranged to reflect both the illuminating beams and observing beams scattered by a reference target (10) for a portion of each scan (e.g., a scan may be a 360-degree scan in the case of a circular scanning system). The apparatus still further includes the reference target (10) arranged to be scanned by the illumination beams reflected by the reflector structure during said portion of each scan. Light scattered by the reference target is received as the observing beams, and their optical properties are continuously monitored to validate the proper operation of the optical scanning system.

Abstract: A device for removing mineral deposits from the electrode of a pool chlorinator cell, which has a housing with liquid inlet and outlet ports and in which the electrode is submerged, has: (a) a container having an opening, with this opening being affixed proximate an aperture that is placed in the housing, (b) an ultrasonic membrane which covers the aperture, (c) an ultrasonic transducer mounted in the container and coupled to the membrane in such a manner so as to cause specified, ultrasonic vibrations in the membrane and throughout the liquid contained in the housing, and (d) a frequency modulated power source that drives the transducer. In a preferred embodiment, this device is powered such that the energy projected to the electrodes is in range of 100 to 200 watts and the flux of energy supplied to the membrane is in the range of 4 to 25 watts per square inch of membrane surface area.

Abstract: The invention is based on the discovery of reduced valency carbohydrate binding ligands (CBLs) that can be used to to detect or quantitate (i.e., evaluate) carbohydrates in a sample. CBLs can be used with fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) to evaluate free carbohydrates or those within a carbohydrate containing compound.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an apparatus and method for a measurement system for the testing of transducers, and more particularly to the testing of piezoelectric transducers. The measurement system includes a transducer, a feedback amplifier coupled to the transducer and a signal processing circuit coupled to the output of the amplifier. The method of testing the transducer includes coupling the test signal to the transducer, disabling the amplifier, and measuring the response of the transducer to the test signal with the test processing circuit.