Abstract: A MEMS silicon inertial sensor formed of a mass that is supported and constrained to vibrate in only specified ways. The sensors can be separately optimized from the support, to adjust the sensitivity separate from the bandwidth. The sensor can sense three dimensionally, or can only sense in a single plane. Vibration cancellation may be provided.

Abstract: A multi-turn angular position sensor for generating a pulse width modulated (PWM) output corresponding to greater than a 360 degree turn of a shaft. The angular position sensor includes main, first and second gears and first and second angular position sensor assemblies. The main gear can be mounted on the shaft and has a plurality of teeth formed around its periphery. The first and second gears respectively have first and second teeth that are engaged with the main gear teeth. The first and second angular position sensor assemblies respectively include first and second coupler disks coupled to rotate together respectively with the first and second gears. The first and second angular position sensor assemblies generate first and second output signals corresponding to a single 360 degree turn of the first and second coupler disks, respectively. A PWM generator generates the PWM output according to the first and second output signals.

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 MEMS silicon inertial sensor formed of a mass that is supported and constrained to vibrate in only specified ways. The sensors can be separately optimized from the support, to adjust the sensitivity separate from the bandwidth. The sensor can sense three dimensionally, or can only sense in a single plane. Vibration cancellation may be provided.

Abstract: A sensor having both gyroscope and accelerometer functions. The sensor includes a pair of masses, an anchor, a pair of support beams, a driver and a displacement measurement device. The pair of masses are configured to oscillate in a counter phase relationship with respect to each other. The anchor supports the pair of masses, and each of the support beams is used to couple one of the masses to the anchor. The driver drives the pair of masses to create a counter phase oscillation, and the displacement measurement device measures respective displacements of the masses in at least one direction. The sensor derives information regarding an acceleration experienced by the sensor in the at least one direction using a measurement of the displacements of the masses.

Abstract: A sensor assembly having an angular position sensor unit and a torque sensor unit enclosed in a single package. The angular position sensor unit generates a first multi-bit output indicative of a degree of rotation of a shaft assembly having a first shaft and a second shaft. The first and second shafts are substantially co-axial to each other and coupled to each other via a torsion rod. The torque sensor unit generates a second multi-bit output indicative of a torque exerted between the first shaft and the second shaft. The second multi-bit output may be linearized and temperature compensated using the first multi-bit output and measured temperature to generate a linearized and temperature compensated torque sensor output.

Abstract: A digital incremental encoder for generating an output signal indicative of an angular position, a direction of rotation, and a speed of rotation of a shaft. A counter receives a PWM signal indicative of the angular position of the shaft and a clock signal from an angular position sensor, and generates a multi-bit output. A latch latches the multi-bit output, a first bit and a second bit of which are used to generate the output signals that include the first bit. The first bit and the second bit may be XOR'd together to generate an XOR output included in the output signals. A direction of rotation may be derived from a quadrature phase relationship between the first bit and the XOR output. The angular position sensor may be an NCAPS or MT-NCAPS. A linear position sensor may be used instead of an angular position sensor to generate the PWM signal.

Abstract: A multi-turn pulse width modulation (PWM) generator for generating a PWM output corresponding to multiple 360 degree turns. A counter receives a reference signal, and counts a number of cycles of the reference signal to generate a binary output corresponding to the number of cycles counted. A frequency divider receives a sensor output signal, and divides the frequency of the sensor output signal by the number of turns in the multiple turns to generate a frequency divided signal. The sensor output signal has substantially the same frequency as the reference signal, but can be offset in phase from the reference signal. A demultiplexer receives the binary output, and generates a plurality of turn indicator signals, each corresponding to one of the multiple turns. A multiplexer receives the turn indicator signals and a mechanical turn indication signal, and selects one of the turn indicator signals that corresponds to the mechanical turn indication signal.

Abstract: An adaptive fuzzy logic based control system for rifle stabilization uses a rifle where the barrel is freely pivoted on the stock which is held by the human being firing the rifle who may be shooting from a moving vehicle or helicopter; alternatively, the firing person may have erratic hand or body motion. During a tracking mode, when the target is being sighted in, undesired motion is sensed by position sensors to effectively lock the rifle barrel in alignment with the stock. During a stabilizing mode just before actuation of the trigger to fire the rifle, the barrel is unlocked, inertial rate sensors make the barrel relatively immune to movement of the stock to facilitate the barrel remaining sighted on the tracked target. The fire control system includes a fuzzy logic controller which by a set of inference rules provides for both alignment of the barrel with the stock during tracking and also for stabilization of the barrel just prior to firing.