Abstract: A method for improving long-term stability in a time-switched frequency modulated accelerometer includes demodulating a frequency of the time-switched frequency modulated accelerometer in an anti-phase vibrational mode one or more instances. Assuming an initial phase offset value, demodulating occurs in-phase and out-of-phase with a modulation reference to extract the in-phase and out-of-phase responses. The method further includes calculating a slope between the in-phase and the out-of-phase responses where if the slope is not equal to 1 or ?1, the phase offset value is adjusted, and the demodulating is repeated until the slope is equal to 1 or ?1. If the slope is equal to 1 or ?1, the selected phase offset value is kept as a selected phase offset value. The method further includes using a linear model to detect bias drift with the out-of-phase response, thereby compensating for bias drift in the in-phase response.

Abstract: A single body multi-mode mechanical resonator includes two or more spring-mass devices, one or more anchor springs, a phase 1 parallel plate electrode and a phase 2 parallel plate electrode, a plurality of interdigitated shaped combs, a plurality of interdigitated drive combs, and a plurality of interdigitated sense combs. The spring-mass devices further include two or more lumped masses and one or more anchor springs. The coupling springs couple the motion of the two or more lumped masses. The parallel plate electrodes apply forces to the in-phase mode that yield equal in magnitude but opposite in sign frequency shifts of the anti-phase mode. The shaped combs compensate for a frequency drift of the anti-phase mode and cancels first-order displacement effects. The drive combs are aligned to the anti-phase mode, with a frequency selective excitation. The sense combs are aligned to the anti-phase mode and capable of cancelling common-mode noise effects.

Abstract: A nonlinear frequency modulated gyroscope includes a degenerate-mode mechanical resonator, positive feedback circuits, a temperature control component, and a gyroscope controller. The degenerate-mode mechanical resonator with two or more modes are coupled via a Coriolis effect. The positive feedback circuits for each mode of the degenerate-mode mechanical resonator include an analog or digital automatic gain control that maintains oscillations of each mode at a constant amplitude. The temperature control component includes a sensor and heating elements. The gyroscope controller is an application-specific integrated circuit, a field programmable gate array, or microcontroller. The degenerate-mode mechanical resonator, the positive feedback circuits, and the temperature control component are subsystems of the nonlinear frequency modulated gyroscope.

Abstract: A single body multi-mode mechanical resonator includes two or more spring-mass devices, one or more anchor springs, a phase 1 parallel plate electrode and a phase 2 parallel plate electrode, a plurality of interdigitated shaped combs, a plurality of interdigitated drive combs, and a plurality of interdigitated sense combs. The spring-mass devices further include two or more lumped masses and one or more anchor springs. The coupling springs couple the motion of the two or more lumped masses. The parallel plate electrodes apply forces to the in-phase mode that yield equal in magnitude but opposite in sign frequency shifts of the anti-phase mode. The shaped combs compensate for a frequency drift of the anti-phase mode and cancels first-order displacement effects. The drive combs are aligned to the anti-phase mode, with a frequency selective excitation. The sense combs are aligned to the anti-phase mode and capable of cancelling common-mode noise effects.

Abstract: A system and method sorts particles suspended in a fluid. The system includes a transverse flow filter and a microfluidic sorter. The transverse flow filter concentrates the particles in a retained portion of the fluid. The microfluidic sorter sorts the particles and includes a delivery channel and at least one sorting stage. The delivery channel is dimensioned to permit passage of all the particles in the retained fluid from the transverse flow filter. The delivery channel delivers the particles in the retained fluid to a respective input for each sorting stage and exhausts a remainder of both the particles and the retained fluid at a drain output. Each sorting stage has a labyrinth of interconnected passageways dimensioned to permit passage from the respective input to a respective output for the sorting stage of those of the particles smaller than a respective size for the sorting stage.

Abstract: Compared to amplitude modulated gyroscopes, frequency modulated (FM) gyroscopes have demonstrated excellent long-term stability. A notable limitation with FM gyroscopes is FM operation can decrease short-term stability. Short-term stability is typically quantified via angle random walk (ARW). The present disclosure provides an FM gyroscope ARW minimization method.

Abstract: Compared to amplitude modulated gyroscopes, frequency modulated (FM) gyroscopes have demonstrated excellent long-term stability. A notable limitation with FM gyroscopes is FM operation can decrease short-term stability. Short-term stability is typically quantified via angle random walk (ARW). The present disclosure provides an FM gyroscope ARW minimization method.

Abstract: A gyroscope includes: a support frame; a circular oscillator; a flexible support structure supporting by suspension the circular oscillator to the support frame; a drive mechanism configured to induce the circular oscillator into a two-dimensional driving oscillation; a plurality of movable sections disposed at a perimeter of the circular oscillator; a plurality of digital proximity switches, each disposed near a respective movable section and around the perimeter of the circular oscillator; and a processor. The two-dimensional driving oscillation is modified responsive to an angular rotation of the support frame and the circular oscillator. The processor is operable to determine the position of each movable section, to determine the plurality of variable oscillation parameters for each oscillation of the modified drive oscillation and to determine the angular rotation of the support frame and the circular oscillator via a parametric system identification method.

Abstract: A gyroscope includes: a support frame; a circular oscillator; a flexible support structure supporting by suspension the circular oscillator to the support frame; a drive mechanism configured to induce the circular oscillator into a two-dimensional driving oscillation; a plurality of movable sections disposed at a perimeter of the circular oscillator; a plurality of digital proximity switches, each disposed near a respective movable section and around the perimeter of the circular oscillator; and a processor. The two-dimensional driving oscillation is modified responsive to an angular rotation of the support frame and the circular oscillator. The processor is operable to determine the position of each movable section, to determine the plurality of variable oscillation parameters for each oscillation of the modified drive oscillation and to determine the angular rotation of the support frame and the circular oscillator via a parametric system identification method.