Patents by Inventor Steve Becka

Steve Becka 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: 9016126
    Abstract: Microelectromechanical (MEMS) accelerometer and acceleration sensing methods. An example MEMS accelerometer includes a housing, a proof mass suspended within the housing by at least one torsional flexure, at least one planar coil on the proof mass that extends on both sides of an axis of rotation of the proof mass, at least one magnet oriented such that a north-south axis of the at least one magnet is oriented approximately orthogonal to the rotational axis of the proof mass, at least one pole piece located outside the coil, and at least one magnetic flux concentrator located inside the coil opposite the at least one of the at least one pole pieces. A method includes sensing a change in capacitance of a pickoff in the MEMS accelerometer and rebalancing the MEMS accelerometer by sending a current through the planar coil between the magnetic flux concentrator and the pole piece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Paul W. Dwyer, Steve Becka
  • Patent number: 8122767
    Abstract: Microelectromechanical (MEMS) accelerometer and acceleration sensing methods. A MEMS accelerometer includes a housing, a proof mass suspended within the housing by at least one torsional flexure, and a torsional magnetic rebalancing component. In an example embodiment, the torsional magnetic rebalancing component includes at least one planar coil on the proof mass that extends on both sides of an axis of rotation of the proof mass about the at least one torsional flexure and at least one magnet oriented such that a north-south axis of the at least one magnet is oriented approximately orthogonal to the rotational axis of the proof mass. A method includes sensing a change in capacitance of a pickoff in the MEMS accelerometer and rebalancing the MEMS accelerometer by sending a current through the planar coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2012
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Paul W. Dwyer, Steve Becka, Matt Reddy
  • Publication number: 20100170341
    Abstract: Microelectromechanical (MEMS) accelerometer and acceleration sensing methods. An example MEMS accelerometer includes a housing, a proof mass suspended within the housing by at least one torsional flexure, at least one planar coil on the proof mass that extends on both sides of an axis of rotation of the proof mass, at least one magnet oriented such that a north-south axis of the at least one magnet is oriented approximately orthogonal to the rotational axis of the proof mass, at least one pole piece located outside the coil, and at least one magnetic flux concentrator located inside the coil opposite the at least one of the at least one pole pieces. A method includes sensing a change in capacitance of a pickoff in the MEMS accelerometer and rebalancing the MEMS accelerometer by sending a current through the planar coil between the magnetic flux concentrator and the pole piece.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 7, 2009
    Publication date: July 8, 2010
    Applicant: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Paul W. Dwyer, Steve Becka
  • Publication number: 20100083761
    Abstract: Microelectromechanical (MEMS) accelerometer and acceleration sensing methods. A MEMS accelerometer includes a housing, a proof mass suspended within the housing by at least one torsional flexure, and a torsional magnetic rebalancing component. In an example embodiment, the torsional magnetic rebalancing component includes at least one planar coil on the proof mass that extends on both sides of an axis of rotation of the proof mass about the at least one torsional flexure and at least one magnet oriented such that a north-south axis of the at least one magnet is oriented approximately orthogonal to the rotational axis of the proof mass. A method includes sensing a change in capacitance of a pickoff in the MEMS accelerometer and rebalancing the MEMS accelerometer by sending a current through the planar coil.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2008
    Publication date: April 8, 2010
    Applicant: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Paul W. Dwyer, Steve Becka, Matt Reddy