Patents by Inventor Stuart J. Knowles

Stuart J. Knowles 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).

  • Method of manufacturing a tuning fork with reduced quadrature errror and symmetrical mass balancing
    Patent number: 7523537
    Abstract: Tuning fork and method in which a pair of elongated tines having front and rear surfaces are disposed symmetrically about an axis, and balancing masses on the front surface of one tine and on the rear surface of the other tine are trimmed to reduce quadrature error and also to maintain mass balance between the tines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2009
    Assignee: Custom Sensors & Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Stuart J. Knowles, Robert H. Moore
  • Tuning fork with symmetrical mass balancing and reduced quadrature error
    Patent number: 6701785
    Abstract: Tuning fork and method in which a pair of elongated tines having front and rear surfaces are disposed symmetrically about an axis, and balancing masses on the front surface of one tine and on the rear surface of the other tine are trimmed to reduce quadrature error and also to maintain mass balance between the tines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2004
    Assignee: BEI Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Stuart J. Knowles, Robert H. Moore
  • Inertial rate sensor tuning fork
    Patent number: 6507141
    Abstract: Vibratory tuning fork having a body of piezoelectric material with a base and a pair of tapered tines which extend from the base and decrease in lateral dimension from the base toward the tips of the tines. A crotch section at the base of the tines has an inner pair of faces which lie in crystallographic planes of the piezoelectric material and an outer pair of faces which lie in additional crystallographic planes of the material and extend between the inner pair of faces and the tines. An isolation slot is formed in the base adjacent to the crotch, with enlarged cut-outs at the ends of the slot to prevent the formation of facets and membranes across the slot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2003
    Assignee: BEI Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Stuart J. Knowles
  • Tuning fork and method with reduced quadrature error and symmetrical mass balancing
    Publication number: 20020021059
    Abstract: Tuning fork and method in which a pair of elongated tines having front and rear surfaces are disposed symmetrically about an axis, and balancing masses on the front surface of one tine and on the rear surface of the other tine are trimmed to reduce quadrature error and also to maintain mass balance between the tines.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2001
    Publication date: February 21, 2002
    Applicant: BEI Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Stuart J. Knowles, Robert H. Moore
  • Inertial rate sensor tuning fork
    Publication number: 20010054860
    Abstract: Vibratory tuning fork having a body of piezoelectric material with a base and a pair of tapered tines which extend from the base and decrease in lateral dimension from the base toward the tips of the tines. A crotch section at the base of the tines has an inner pair of faces which lie in crystallographic planes of the piezoelectric material and an outer pair of faces which lie in additional crystallographic planes of the material and extend between the inner pair of faces and the tines. An isolation slot is formed in the base adjacent to the crotch, with enlarged cut-outs at the ends of the slot to prevent the formation of facets and membranes across the slot.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2001
    Publication date: December 27, 2001
    Applicant: BEI Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Stuart J. Knowles
  • Inertial rate sensor tuning fork
    Patent number: 6262520
    Abstract: Vibratory tuning fork having a body of piezoelectric material with a base and a pair of tapered tines which extend from the base and decrease in lateral dimension from the base toward the tips of the tines. A crotch section at the base of the tines has an inner pair of faces which lie in crystallographic planes of the piezoelectric material and an outer pair of faces which lie in additional crystallographic planes of the material and extend between the inner pair of faces and the tines. An isolation slot is formed in the base adjacent to the crotch, with enlarged cut-outs at the ends of the slot to prevent the formation of facets and membranes across the slot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2001
    Assignee: BEI Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Stuart J. Knowles