Patents by Inventor Ray Wilfinger

Ray Wilfinger 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: 8873029
    Abstract: A coaxial gyro accelerometer device in a semiconductor substrate for simultaneously sensing coaxial linear and rotational forces. An exemplary device includes a resonating cantilever beam within a substrate and a package having a resonating cavity. The package supports the substrate while allowing the beam to resonate. The substrate also includes a piezoresistor driver, a piezoresistor sensor, and a semiconductor interferometric optical gyro. The piezoresistor driver and sensor are incorporated within the beam. The driver electrothermally resonates the beam. The sensor piezoresistively senses a signal that relates to an acceleration force out-of-plane of the beam. A waveguide of the semiconductor interferometric optical gyro is incorporated in the substrate around the beam. The gyro senses rotational motion about the axis that is the same as the acceleration vector (out-of-plane of the beam). The gyro also includes a laser source and a light detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Ray Wilfinger, William E. Bailey, Carl Wingard
  • Publication number: 20140085624
    Abstract: A coaxial gyro accelerometer device in a semiconductor substrate for simultaneously sensing coaxial linear and rotational forces. An exemplary device includes a resonating cantilever beam within a substrate and a package having a resonating cavity. The package supports the substrate while allowing the beam to resonate. The substrate also includes a piezoresistor driver, a piezoresistor sensor, and a semiconductor interferometric optical gyro. The piezoresistor driver and sensor are incorporated within the beam. The driver electrothermally resonates the beam. The sensor piezoresistively senses a signal that relates to an acceleration force out-of-plane of the beam. A waveguide of the semiconductor interferometric optical gyro is incorporated in the substrate around the beam. The gyro senses rotational motion about the axis that is the same as the acceleration vector (out-of-plane of the beam). The gyro also includes a laser source and a light detector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2012
    Publication date: March 27, 2014
    Applicant: HONEYWELL INTERNTIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Ray Wilfinger, William E. Bailey, Carl Wingard
  • Patent number: 7929143
    Abstract: An integrated interferometric gyroscope and accelerometer device. An example device includes a cantilever beam, a package having a post connected to one end of the beam, a piezoresistor driver, a piezoresistor sensor, and a semiconductor interferometric optical gyro. The piezoresistor driver is incorporated within the beam at a first area proximate to the post. The driver electro-thermally resonates the beam. The piezoresistor sensor is incorporated within the beam at the first area. The sensor piezoresitively senses a signal that relates to an acceleration force out-of-plane of the beam. The semiconductor interferometric optical gyro is also incorporated within the beam at a second area of the beam. The gyro senses rotational motion about an axis approximately equivalent to the acceleration force out-of-plane of the beam. The gyro includes a waveguide, a laser source and a light detector. The beam is formed from a semiconductor substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2011
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Ray Wilfinger, Eric Bailey, Carl Wingard
  • Publication number: 20110051144
    Abstract: An integrated interferometric gyroscope and accelerometer device. An example device includes a cantilever beam, a package having a post connected to one end of the beam, a piezoresistor driver, a piezoresistor sensor, and a semiconductor interferometric optical gyro. The piezoresistor driver is incorporated within the beam at a first area proximate to the post. The driver electro-thermally resonates the beam. The piezoresistor sensor is incorporated within the beam at the first area. The sensor piezoresitively senses a signal that relates to an acceleration force out-of-plane of the beam. The semiconductor interferometric optical gyro is also incorporated within the beam at a second area of the beam. The gyro senses rotational motion about an axis approximately equivalent to the acceleration force out-of-plane of the beam. The gyro includes a waveguide, a laser source and a light detector. The beam is formed from a semiconductor substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2008
    Publication date: March 3, 2011
    Applicant: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Ray Wilfinger, Eric Bailey, Carl Wingard