Abstract: A motion sensor in the form of an angular rate sensor and a method of making a sensor are provided and includes a support substrate and a silicon sensing ring supported by the substrate and having a flexive resonance. Drive electrodes apply electrostatic force on the ring to cause the ring to resonate. Sensing electrodes sense a change in capacitance indicative of vibration modes of resonance of the ring so as to sense motion. A plurality of silicon support rings connect the substrate to the ring. The support rings are located at an angle to substantially match a modulus of elasticity of the silicon, such as about 22.5 degrees and 67.5 degrees, with respect to the crystalline orientation of the silicon.

Abstract: A motion sensor in the form of an angular rate sensor and a method of making a sensor are provided and includes a support substrate and a silicon sensing ring supported by the substrate and having a flexive resonance. Drive electrodes apply electrostatic force on the ring to cause the ring to resonate. Sensing electrodes sense a change in capacitance indicative of vibration modes of resonance of the ring so as to sense motion. A plurality of silicon support rings connect the substrate to the ring. The support rings are located at an angle to substantially match a modulus of elasticity of the silicon, such as about 22.5 degrees and 67.5 degrees, with respect to the crystalline orientation of the silicon.

Abstract: A strain gauge for sensing strain is provided and includes a support substrate, and first and second electrodes supported on the substrate. The first and second electrodes include first and second capacitive plates, respectively. The first capacitive plates are movable relative to the second capacitive plates responsive to strain. The strain gauge further has an input electrically coupled to one of the first and second electrodes for receiving an input signal, and an output electrically coupled to the other of the first and second electrodes for providing an output signal which varies as a function of the capacitive coupling and is indicative of sensed strain.

Abstract: A computer system includes a real time clock and a non-volatile memory that stores a current date and time from the real time clock. This date is proactively updated at the turn of the century by software running on the computer. This software looks for an Interrupt 08 signal and, in response, determines whether the current date stored in the non-volatile memory is equal to Dec. 31, 1999. If it is, the software determines whether the current time is a predetermined amount of time (e.g., one or two seconds) before the end of the day. If both these criteria are met, the current date in the non-volatile memory is set to Jan. 1, 2000 the current time is set to 00:00:00.

Abstract: A balanced angular accelerometer is provided having a substrate, a fixed electrode with a plurality of fixed capacitive plates, and a rotational inertia mass with a central opening and substantially suspended over a cavity and including a plurality of movable capacitive plates arranged to provide a capacitive coupling with the first plurality of fixed capacitive plates. The accelerometer has a central member and an outer member fixed to the substrate. According to one embodiment, a plurality of inner support arms extend between the central member and the inertia mass and a plurality of outer support arms extend between the inertia mass and the outer member to support the mass over the cavity. According to another embodiment, one or more cut out apertures are formed in the inertia mass to compensate for a channel and signal line so as to balance the inertia mass about the center of the inertia mass.

Abstract: A balanced angular accelerometer is provided having a substrate, a fixed electrode with a plurality of fixed capacitive plates, and a rotational inertia mass with a central opening and substantially suspended over a cavity and including a plurality of movable capacitive plates arranged to provide a capacitive coupling with the first plurality of fixed capacitive plates. The accelerometer has a central member and an outer member fixed to the substrate. According to one embodiment, a plurality of inner support arms extend between the central member and the inertia mass and a plurality of outer support arms extend between the inertia mass and the outer member to support the mass over the cavity. According to another embodiment, one or more cut out apertures are formed in the inertia mass to compensate for a channel and signal line so as to balance the inertia mass about the center of the inertia mass.

Abstract: A balanced angular accelerometer is provided having a substrate, a fixed electrode with a plurality of fixed capacitive plates, and a rotational inertia mass with a central opening and substantially suspended over a cavity and including a plurality of movable capacitive plates arranged to provide a capacitive coupling with the first plurality of fixed capacitive plates. The accelerometer has a central member and an outer member fixed to the substrate. According to one embodiment, a plurality of inner support arms extend between the central member and the inertia mass and a plurality of outer support arms extend between the inertia mass and the outer member to support the mass over the cavity. According to another embodiment, one or more cut out apertures are formed in the inertia mass to compensate for a channel and signal line so as to balance the inertia mass about the center of the inertia mass.

Abstract: A balanced angular accelerometer is provided having a substrate, a fixed electrode with a plurality of fixed capacitive plates, and a rotational inertia mass with a central opening and substantially suspended over a cavity and including a plurality of movable capacitive plates arranged to provide a capacitive coupling with the first plurality of fixed capacitive plates. The accelerometer has a central member and an outer member fixed to the substrate. According to one embodiment, a plurality of inner support arms extend between the central member and the inertia mass and a plurality of outer support arms extend between the inertia mass and the outer member to support the mass over the cavity. According to another embodiment, one or more cut out apertures are formed in the inertia mass to compensate for a channel and signal line so as to balance the inertia mass about the center of the inertia mass.

Abstract: A yaw rate sensor having a vibrating ring microstructure surrounded by electrodes capacitively coupled to the ring has vibration responsive circuits with inputs connected to several of the sensors, the circuits having outputs connected to others of the electrodes for driving or influencing the vibration. The circuits produce a main drive voltage to excite the ring to resonance, a feedback drive voltage to provide force-to-rebalance correction, and a dc compensation voltage to tune the ring to a single resonance frequency. An economy of electrode space is achieved by using some electrodes for more than one function, e.g. feedback and compensation.

Abstract: An improved keyboard interface is provided for use with personal computers. A received scancode from the keyboard is made available at a port which may be repeatedly inspected by the CPU. The scancode data remains available until explicitly cleared by the CPU, or until a preestablished time-out interval has expired.