Abstract: A method and apparatus for estimating vehicle yaw rate using a pair of single axis accelerometers that obviate the need for a gyroscope when used to provide a yaw rate estimate to a vehicle stability control system. The accelerometers are longitudinally aligned along an axis with one accelerometer in front of the vehicle center of gravity and one behind it. A method of estimating yaw rate uses a statistical estimating algorithm to process accelerometer inputs and a steer angle from a steer angle sensor on the vehicle.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for estimating vehicle yaw rate using a pair of single axis accelerometers that obviate the need for a gyroscope when used to provide a yaw rate estimate to a vehicle stability control system. The accelerometers are longitudinally aligned along an axis with one accelerometer in front of the vehicle center of gravity and one behind it. A method of estimating yaw rate uses a statistical estimating algorithm to process accelerometer inputs and a steer angle from a steer angle sensor on the vehicle.

Abstract: The present invention is a mechanism for making minute adjustments in the position of a read/write head for magnetically or optically reading from or writing to a data storage media. The head positioning mechanism (microactuator) will preferably be used in association with known disk storage actuation systems such as those typically used in current magnetic data storage devices such as hard disk drives, and optical data storage devices such as CDs. The microactuator comprises a slider support arm with a slider formed thereon, that is separated from an anchor structure by a gap. A pizoelectric element is positioned across the gap and is coupled at one end to the slider support arm, and at the other to the anchor structure. The anchor structure has greater resistance to bending than the slider support arm. Thus, when the piezoelectric element changes length, the slider support arm will tend to bend relative to the anchor structure, moving the slider on the slider support arm a controlled minute distance.