Patents by Inventor Mark W. Weber

Mark W. Weber has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 6981414
    Abstract: A suspended, coupled micromachined structure including two proof masses and multiple support arms configured to suspend the masses above a substrate and a coupling spring element having two ends. Each end of the coupling spring element may be attached to a proof mass at a point between the proof masses. The frequency response characteristics of the proof masses may be improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2006
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Gary R. Knowles, Mark W. Weber
  • Patent number: 6978673
    Abstract: A method for providing micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS) devices with multiple motor frequencies and uniform motor-sense frequency separation is described. The devices each include at least one proof mass, each proof mass being connected to a substrate by a system of suspensions. The method includes controlling the resonant frequencies of the MEMS device by adjusting at least two of a mass of the proof masses, a bending stiffness of the proof masses, a length of the suspensions, and a width of the suspensions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2005
    Assignee: Honeywell International, Inc.
    Inventors: Burgess R. Johnson, Max C. Glenn, William P. Platt, David K. Arch, Mark W. Weber
  • Patent number: 6865944
    Abstract: A micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS) device is described which includes a substrate having at least one anchor, a proof mass having either of at least one deceleration extension extending from the proof mass or at least one deceleration indentation formed in the proof mass, a motor drive comb, and a motor sense comb. The MEMS device further includes a plurality of suspensions configured to suspend the proof mass over the substrate and between the motor drive comb and the motor sense comb, and the suspensions are anchored to the substrate. The MEMS device also includes a body attached to the substrate and at least one deceleration beam extending from the body. The deceleration extensions are configured to engage either deceleration beams or deceleration indentations and slow or stop the proof mass before it contacts either of the motor drive comb or the motor sense comb.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2005
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Max C. Glenn, Mark W. Weber, William P. Platt
  • Publication number: 20040255672
    Abstract: A suspended, coupled micromachined structure including two proof masses and multiple support arms configured to suspend the masses above a substrate and a coupling spring element having two ends. Each end of the coupling spring element may be attached to a proof mass at a point between the proof masses. The frequency response characteristics of the proof masses may be improved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 1, 2004
    Publication date: December 23, 2004
    Applicant: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Gary R. Knowles, Mark W. Weber
  • Publication number: 20040221649
    Abstract: By applying a first value of voltage to a first side of a MEMS gyroscope and applying a second value of voltage to a second side of the MEMS gyroscope, the start time of the MEMS gyroscope may be improved. The first and second value of voltage may be provided by a bias power source, such as a battery or a super capacitor. The first value of voltage may be substantially equal in magnitude to and opposite in polarity to the second value of voltage. The bias power source may also be applied to drive electronics connected to the MEMS gyroscope. The bias power source may prevent amplifiers within the drive electronics from saturating during the start time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2004
    Publication date: November 11, 2004
    Applicant: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: William P. Platt, Mark W. Weber
  • Patent number: 6782748
    Abstract: For use in a MEMS device having a suspended proof mass, a method and apparatus for securing the MEMS device during a period of high acceleration. The method may include applying a DC voltage between the proof mass and a non-suspended structure of the device. The non-suspended structure may be mounted on a substrate, and the substrate or the non-suspended structure may be electrically isolated from the proof mass by an insulating layer or by one or more islands. Applying the DC voltage creates an electrostatic force that moves the proof mass toward (or holds the proof mass near) the substrate. Movement of the proof mass may be limited by mechanical contact between the proof mass and the insulating layer, the one or more islands, or by a cage mounted on the substrate during the period of high acceleration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: Honeywell International, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark W. Weber, William A. Harris, Max C. Glenn
  • Publication number: 20040154400
    Abstract: A method for providing micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS) devices with multiple motor frequencies and uniform motor-sense frequency separation is described. The devices each include at least one proof mass, each proof mass being connected to a substrate by a system of suspensions. The method includes controlling the resonant frequencies of the MEMS device by adjusting at least two of a mass of the proof masses, a bending stiffness of the proof masses, a length of the suspensions, and a width of the suspensions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2003
    Publication date: August 12, 2004
    Inventors: Burgess R. Johnson, Max C. Glenn, William P. Platt, David K. Arch, Mark W. Weber
  • Patent number: 6769304
    Abstract: By applying a first value of voltage to a first side of a MEMS gyroscope and applying a second value of voltage to a second side of the MEMS gyroscope, the start time of the MEMS gyroscope may be improved. The first and second value of voltage may be provided by a bias power source, such as a battery or a super capacitor. The first value of voltage may be substantially equal in magnitude to and opposite in polarity to the second value of voltage. The bias power source may also be applied to drive electronics connected to the MEMS gyroscope. The bias power source may prevent amplifiers within the drive electronics from saturating during the start time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2004
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: William P. Platt, Mark W. Weber
  • Publication number: 20040112133
    Abstract: A micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS) device is described which includes a substrate having at least one anchor, a proof mass having either of at least one deceleration extension extending from the proof mass or at least one deceleration indentation formed in the proof mass, a motor drive comb, and a motor sense comb. The MEMS device further includes a plurality of suspensions configured to suspend the proof mass over the substrate and between the motor drive comb and the motor sense comb, and the suspensions are anchored to the substrate. The MEMS device also includes a body attached to the substrate and at least one deceleration beam extending from the body. The deceleration extensions are configured to engage either deceleration beams or deceleration indentations and slow or stop the proof mass before it contacts either of the motor drive comb or the motor sense comb.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2002
    Publication date: June 17, 2004
    Inventors: Max C. Glenn, Mark W. Weber, William P. Platt
  • Publication number: 20040089069
    Abstract: For use in a MEMS device having a suspended proof mass, a method and apparatus for securing the MEMS device during a period of high acceleration. The method may include applying a DC voltage between the proof mass and a non-suspended structure of the device. The non-suspended structure may be mounted on a substrate, and the substrate or the non-suspended structure may be electrically isolated from the proof mass by an insulating layer or by one or more islands. Applying the DC voltage creates an electrostatic force that moves the proof mass toward (or holds the proof mass near) the substrate. Movement of the proof mass may be limited by mechanical contact between the proof mass and the insulating layer, the one or more islands, or by a cage mounted on the substrate during the period of high acceleration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2002
    Publication date: May 13, 2004
    Applicant: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Mark W. Weber, William A. Harris, Max C. Glenn
  • Patent number: 6722197
    Abstract: A suspended, coupled micromachined structure including two proof masses and multiple support arms configured to suspend the masses above a substrate and a coupling spring element having two ends. Each end of the coupling spring element may be attached to a proof mass at a point between the proof masses. The frequency response characteristics of the proof masses may be improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2004
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Gary R. Knowles, Mark W. Weber
  • Patent number: 6655190
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for use in testing devices under high-g environments is disclosed in which an elastic beam, rigidly fastened at least at one end, carries the device under test; the beam being pre-loaded to a bent position by a force producing member which may be suddenly removed to allow the stored energy of the beam to be released, and to apply a high-g force to the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2003
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Owen D. Grossman, Mark W. Weber, Jeffrey E. Fridberg
  • Publication number: 20030183006
    Abstract: By applying a first value of voltage to a first side of a MEMS gyroscope and applying a second value of voltage to a second side of the MEMS gyroscope, the start time of the MEMS gyroscope may be improved. The first and second value of voltage may be provided by a bias power source, such as a battery or a super capacitor. The first value of voltage may be substantially equal in magnitude to and opposite in polarity to the second value of voltage. The bias power source may also be applied to drive electronics connected to the MEMS gyroscope. The bias power source may prevent amplifiers within the drive electronics from saturating during the start time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2002
    Publication date: October 2, 2003
    Applicant: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: William P. Platt, Mark W. Weber
  • Publication number: 20030101794
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for use in testing devices under high-g environments is disclosed in which an elastic beam, rigidly fastened at least at one end, carries the device under test; the beam being pre-loaded to a bent position by a force producing member which may be suddenly removed to allow the stored energy of the beam to be released, and to apply a high-g force to the device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2001
    Publication date: June 5, 2003
    Inventors: Owen D. Grossman, Mark W. Weber, Jeffrey E. Fridberg
  • Publication number: 20020189353
    Abstract: A suspended, coupled micromachined structure including two proof masses and multiple support arms configured to suspend the masses above a substrate and a coupling spring element having two ends. Each end of the coupling spring element may be attached to a proof mass at a point between the proof masses. The frequency response characteristics of the proof masses may be improved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2001
    Publication date: December 19, 2002
    Inventors: Gary R. Knowles, Mark W. Weber
  • Patent number: 4817112
    Abstract: A ring laser angular rate sensor is constructed from a solid glass block with lasing paths machined therein and mirrors joined to the block with a frit seal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 1985
    Date of Patent: March 28, 1989
    Assignee: Honeywell Inc.
    Inventors: Mark W. Weber, Harry Gustafson
  • Patent number: 4807998
    Abstract: A portion of each of the pair of counter-propagating laser beams in a ring laser cavity are extracted and redirected back into the cavity with servo controlled phase and amplitude. The phase and amplitude of one of the redirected beams is a function of a common first discriminant signal but independently controlled, and the phase and the amplitude of the second redirected beam is responsive to a second mutually exclusive discriminant signal and independently controlled. The redirected beams are such as to minimize the internal back scattering effects within the ring laser cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 1986
    Date of Patent: February 28, 1989
    Assignee: Honeywell Inc.
    Inventor: Mark W. Weber
  • Patent number: 4795259
    Abstract: A path length control for a ring laser is described which captures a true peak power laser mode in the presence of parasitic secondary power modes. The control utilizes a decaying dither of the optical path length which decays from a large initial dither amplitude.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 1986
    Date of Patent: January 3, 1989
    Assignee: Honeywell Inc.
    Inventors: Werner H. Egli, Mark W. Weber
  • Patent number: 4791460
    Abstract: A pair of photodetector output signals are positioned so as to be responsive to the interference pattern produced by the pair of laser beams of the ring laser. The photodetectors are positioned such that the output signals are in phase quadrature. A second pair of signals is derived from the first pair of signals in which the second pair are displaced in phase relative to the first pair and are also in phase quadrature. The two pairs of signals are signal processed to enhance resolution of the ring laser readout.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 1988
    Date of Patent: December 13, 1988
    Assignee: Honeywell Inc.
    Inventors: James W. Bergstrom, Mark W. Weber
  • Patent number: 4727638
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method of making a plurality of ring lasers or ring laser blocks from a single block of material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 1986
    Date of Patent: March 1, 1988
    Assignee: Honeywell Inc.
    Inventors: Gerald R. Altmann, Mark W. Weber