Abstract: Disclosed is a device for applying liquid onto a running web (B), particularly dyeing liquid onto a textile web with a pole. The inventive device is embodied so as to be selectively operable in an injection mode in which the liquid is delivered to the volume of the web (B) at an increased pressure or in a pouring mode in which the liquid is applied to at least one surface of the web (B).

Abstract: A padlock that can be unlocked by the owner of the padlock by dialing an unlocking number or by authorized security personals with a general key. The padlock mainly contains a lock body, a block, a shackle, a general locking means and a private locking means. The lock body has a first channel and a second channel therein. The block is engaged with the second channel. The block has a receptacle therein. The shackle has a longer arm slidably received in the first channel and a shorter arm engagable with the receptacle of the block. The general locking means is formed in the lock body for locking or unlocking the longer arm of the shackle. The private locking means is formed in the lock body for controlling movements of the block in order the block to be engaged with or disengaged from the shorter arm of the shackle.

Abstract: A security device for securing around a generally cylindrical article such as the neck of a bottle includes a housing which forms a lock compartment and which contains an EAS security device and a magnetically actuated lock mechanism. A ratchet strap have a series of locking teeth and is formed integrally with the housing and extends outwardly therefrom and has sufficient rigidity to assume a generally circular configuration with a curved article contact surface of the housing to facilitate attaching the device around the article. The lock mechanism includes a locking pawl which engages the strap teeth and an actuation strip which biases the pawl toward locking engagement with the strap.

Abstract: A locking device for a watersports apparatus which in one embodiment, comprises a pair of interlocking brackets which form an inverted “T” when slidably disposed in a channel associated with a fin box. Apertures are provided to allow a cable or other security device to traverse the inverted “T” locking device for securing the watersports apparatus. In a second embodiment, a pair of generally planar scissor members having a pair of unguiform clasping elements aligned in opposition and configured to clasp a rod disposed in a tether plug aperture by scissor action. Useful watersport tools may be provided on the distal ends of the generally planar scissor members. The useful tools include a screwdriver, a wax comb, a bottle cap opener and a wax scrapper.

Abstract: The convenience of use of a method for locking a working machine without locking actuation by a human being is improved. A lock control device (80) of a working machine (1) includes: a stop operation detection means (186) which detects that a predetermined stop operation has been performed by the working machine (1); a time period length measurement means (187) which measures the time period length from when it has been detected that the predetermined stop operation has been performed, to the present; and a lock setting means (188) which: if the time period length which has been measured is within a predetermined time period length, without locking the working machine, makes it possible to restart it without a password; and, if the time period length which has been measured is greater than the predetermined time period length, locks the working machine (1), and makes restarting possible upon password input.

Abstract: Described herein is a lock for a door of a motor vehicle provided with a closing mechanism designed to cooperate with a lock striker fixed to an upright of the door itself; the closing mechanism is provided with: a fork, which can assume an opening position, in which it enables engagement and disengagement between the lock striker and a seat thereof, and a closing position, in which it withholds the lock striker within its seat and prevents disengagement thereof; a dog coupled via snapaction with the fork for blocking it in a releasable way in the closing position; and an auxiliary lever, which can be actuated by the fork during coupling with the lock striker for exerting an action of thrust on the dog and causing it to couple with the fork itself

Abstract: A locking device is provided for preventing a motor vehicle door from opening when a handle portion of a handle assembly moves with acceleration above a predetermined threshold relative to a base thereof. The locking device includes a lock cup fixedly secured to the base and having a plurality of teeth. The locking device also includes a spool rotatably coupled to the lock cup and operably connected to the handle portion. The spool includes a pawl rotatably mounted thereto. The locking device further includes an inertia element disposed between the lock cup and the spool. The inertia element is coupled to the pawl such that upon the acceleration above the predetermined threshold the inertia element lags rotation of the spool and forces the pawl into engagement with one of the plurality of teeth to stop movement of the handle portion relative to the base and prevent the door from opening.

Abstract: An electronic key for a locking system of a motor vehicle having a housing including a grip region for holding purposes and a front region, which adjoins the drip region, for inserting the key into a corresponding lock, an important feature is that a design element in the form of a separate ocmponetn is fitted to at least two lateral edge regions of the grip region.

Abstract: Apparatus and associated methodology are provided for key operated pin tumbler locks, some of which may incorporate a removable core pin tumbler lock. A selected tumbler of a type commonly used in pin tumbler locks is configured along with a driver pin to control operation of a retainer that, when rotated by use of a control key inserted in the lock, allows alternate selective removal and replacement of the core assembly in the lock. Also, or separate therefrom, one or more tumbler holes may be formed or drilled in a manner so as to prevent engagement of a tumbler with the bite of a key. Presently disclosed structures and associated methodology help to reduce any susceptibility to unauthorized techniques practiced against the lock, such as unintentional activation of the tumblers by unauthorized persons through use of a key with so-called “bumping” techniques.

Abstract: A method for optimizing measurement and control of the flatness of a strip of rolled material. A mapping is accomplished by associating to relevant flatness fault types a reference strip model and an actuator space conversion matrix. A device for optimizing measurement and control of the flatness of a strip of rolled material.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing a hardened profiled structural part from a hardenable steel alloy with cathodic corrosion protection, wherein: a) a coating is applied to a sheet made of a hardenable steel alloy, wherein b) the coating substantially consists of zinc, and c) in addition the coating contains one or several elements with affinity to oxygen in a total amount of 0.

Abstract: A punch designed for producing holes in the walls of hollow parts, the part being subjected to the action of high pressure in the interior by a medium during the punching. In particular when producing hollow parts by the internal high pressure forming process, it is normal practice, following the forming and with the part still located in the forming tool, to make holes in the wall. In order to avoid a drop in the internal high pressure when cutting through the wall of the part, the punch is designed so as to taper at an angle toward the cutting edge in its region plunging into the part to be punched. As a result, sealing of the hole occurs during the punching.

Abstract: A method is provided for producing peripherally closed hollow profile section using fluidic internal high pressure. A hollow profile section blank is inserted into a cavity of an internal high pressure forming tool and thereafter being pressed mechanically into an intermediate form approximate to the final form of the hollow profile section, after which, with the tool closed, the intermediate form of the blank is expanded into the final form of the hollow profile section. The blank used in terms of its peripheral length, possesses oversize with respect to the peripheral length of the forming tool cavity. Moreover, the blank material which is excess with respect to the blank material required for the hollow profile section blank to come to bear completely against the cavity of the forming tool is pushed into the blank interior, so as to form an indentation, at the earliest during the pressing operation.

Abstract: An apparatus for expanding a tubular member.

Abstract: A metal spinning machine includes a mandrel kept in rotation, a roller tool with which a plate blank workpiece is pressed against the mandrel to form the workpiece, linear motors that generate thrust force in proportion to driving electrical current and drive the roller tool, an operating lever that gives an operator command to the linear motor and a control unit that includes a memory. Manual operation of the roller tool with the operating lever by an operator receiving a teaching of the operator command forms the workpiece in a prescribed shape. The memory of the control unit stores the operator command that is then given to the linear motor to enable a same shape to be subsequently formed relative to plate blank workpieces repeatedly.

Abstract: The machine (20) comprises: a supporting structure (24, 26); a movable unit (28) mounted on the supporting structure (24, 26) so that it can translate along a first working direction (Z) and along a second direction (X) towards and away from a stationary workpiece-carrying structure (88); a tool-carrying unit (10, 11, 12) carried by the movable unit (28); and a driving system for controlling the movement of the movable unit (28) in the working direction (Z). The driving system includes a first motor unit (60) for controlling the rotation of a driving shaft (62) and a mechanism for converting the rotational movement of the shaft (62) into the translational movement of the movable unit (28). The motion conversion mechanism comprises a cam member (76), which is rotatably mounted on the movable unit (28) and the rotation of which is controlled by the driving shaft (62), and a roller member (78) which is rotatably mounted on the supporting structure (24, 26) and on which the cam member (76) rests.

Abstract: A rolling mill drive with at least one drive spindle arranged between a drive unit and a driven roll and terminating in a spindle head connected detachably to the neck of the roll. A coupling and decoupling device is arranged between the neck of the roll and the spindle head of the drive spindle. The coupling and decoupling device includes a coupling sleeve, a coupling pin inserted releasably into the coupling sleeve, and a locking element which is displaceable transversely to the axis of rotation of the neck of the roll. The locking element is inserted into the coupling sleeve and engages behind the coupling pin in an operating position of the locking element. The locking element is capable of being coupled to a displacing device for displacing it.

Abstract: Valve guides are formed on a U-shaped sheet metal rocker arm by the horizontal displacement inwardly of surface metal from the outboard portion of the rocker arm. A rocker arm body made by forming a steel flat blank into a U-shape cross-section comprising sidewalls that connect a pad end and an opposite socket end. The pad end is defined by a central section and two outboard surfaces. The valve guide walls are formed by displacing material from the outboard surface portions of the pad end and forcing it centrally. This changes, i.e., diminishes, the thickness of the outboard portions of the pad end of the rocker arm which are not aligned with valve contact central surface. The valve contact area defined by horizontal surface and by the vertical sides of the formed guide extensions is created by a tool having a width to accept a known valve stem diameter.

Abstract: A method and device are disclosed for producing tubes that are at least partially profiled on their interior and preferably on their exterior from a hollow cylindrical bland (3), using a mechanical cold forming method, wherein the end of the blank (3) that is not to be machined (3?) is fed to a clamping device (10). The blank (3) is then secured in the clamping device (10) and a mandrel (2) is subsequently inserted into the end of region (3) of the blank (3) that is to be machined. A lance (8) is guided in the mandrel so that it can be coaxially displaced in a longitudinal direction and the free end of the lance (8?) can be introduced into the clamping device (10). The tip (8?) of the lance (8) is then brought into a positive fit with the clamping device (10) in the axial direction of the blank (3) and the mandrel (2), together with the clamping device (10) and the blank (3) is guided axially through a fixed machining point (6).

Abstract: In a bending apparatus which moves one of upper and lower tables (9, 10), and performs bending on a workpiece (W) by tools (P, D) attached to the upper and lower tables (9, 10), a tool group including a plurality of split tools is transferred to the upper and lower table (9, 10), a plurality of process stations are formed by splitting the transferred tool into a plurality of tool groups based on automatically or manually determined tool-layout information, and then bending is carried out.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a device for fastening a rivet nut (2) on a workpiece (3), in which a hole (5) is punched into this workpiece and the rivet nut (2) is introduced into this hole by its section (14) to be riveted, after which the rivet nut (2) is riveted to the workpiece (3) by means of a riveting tool. To make it possible for the rivet nut (2) to be fastened on a workpiece (3) in a simple and problem-free manner, it is proposed that, after the hole (5) has been punched, the workpiece (3) is fed to a first follow-on tool (13) in which the rivet nut (2) is introduced into the hole (5) by its section (14) to be riveted, the rivet nut (2) in the follow-on tool (13) being aligned with a discharge channel (19) which is arranged in the first follow-on tool (13) below the workpiece (3) and whose diameter is at least as large as the maximum diameter of the rivet nut (2). The rivet nut (2) now inserted in the hole (5) is then riveted in a second follow-on tool (21) designed as a riveting tool.

Abstract: A swage or crimp press has a housing with a peripheral side wall and a front wall integrally formed with the side wall, the front wall defining an access opening providing access to a press zone arranged within the peripheral side wall, the housing having an open rear face and a rear wall secured by fastening means to the peripheral side wall to at least partially enclose the rear face of the housing, and a hydraulically operated press mechanism located within the housing at least partially surrounding the press zone.

Abstract: A crimping device is provided for crimping an outer work piece onto an inner work piece. The crimping device includes at least two jaws forming a throat surface about the outer work piece and movable between a partially closed position wherein the outer work piece is not crimped and a closed position wherein the jaws crimp the outer work piece onto the inner work piece. The jaws are configured as a shutter mechanism so that the throat surface remains substantially continuous about the first work piece as the jaws move from the partially closed position to the closed position. At least one of the jaws moves in straight line motion as the jaws move from the partially closed position to the closed position. At least two of the jaws radially and slide against each other as the jaws move from the partially closed position to the closed position.

Abstract: The inventive crimping tool (1) comprises a pushing head (2) which contact the fold (3) of a sheet (4) and has a front convex contour (5) in a plane view and a guiding seat (6) applicable to the sheet (4), wherein the pushing head (2) and the guiding seat (6) are remote from each other and define therebetween a groove (7) bounded by faces (8, 9) which are opposite in a substentially parallel direction with respect to the pushing head and the seat. The thickness (e) of said groove (7) substantially corresponds to the thickness of parts to be crimped, the front face of the pushing head is convexly connected to said flat face delimiting the groove and the bottom (10) thereof and extends along a convex contour, in particular substentially in a parallel direction with respect to the front face (5) of the pushing head (2).

Abstract: For handling reasons, this invention makes it possible to construct electrically operated pressing tools as compact as possible. The pressing tool includes a hydraulic pump that acts upon a piston-cylinder unit by which locking pliers can be actuated by a roll holder with rolls. During actuation, hydraulic oil is conveyed out of an elastic hydraulic oil reservoir and into the cylinder chamber and, from there, flows back again after a pressure build-up. To save space, according to this invention the hydraulic oil reservoir is formed as a sleeve that sealingly acts as a cylinder housing of the piston-cylinder unit. An actuating valve in the piston-cylinder unit can be actuated while passing through the sleeve.

Abstract: Method wherein a) a container (1, 6) is placed in a two halves mould (2) having an internal shaped wall (21), b) an internal pressure P of a fluid is build up so as to shape the skirt (12), is characterized in that an external pressure P? of a fluid is applied in an upper space (101) contiguous to an external or upper surface (100) of the open top end (10) and/or in a lower space (141) contiguous to an external or lower surface (140) of the shaped bottom end (14), so as to have, during the span of time ?t, a pressure difference ?P|P?P?l low enough to prevent any distortion of the shaped open top end (10) and/or the shaped bottom end (14), so as to form a shaped metallic container (1?, 6?). An apparatus for carring out the method is also disclosed.

Abstract: The invention provides press brake and press brake tooling technology. Certain embodiments of the invention provide a press brake tool that has an elongated, retractable safety key. In certain embodiments, the invention provides click-in/slide-out press brake tools. In some of these embodiments, the tool has a safety key defining a flat (i.e., a planar wall section/planar surface) that is adapted for sliding along a surface of a tool holder when the tool is dismounted from the holder by moving the tool horizontally out of the holder. In certain embodiments, the flat has a longitudinal length of at least about 0.008 inch (in some cases, at least about 0.010 inch, at least about 0.015 inch, or at least about 0.020 inch), ranging up to the full longitudinal length of the tool. In certain embodiments, the invention provides a press brake tool and a tool holder in combination. Finally, the invention in some embodiments provides methods of press brake operation.

Abstract: A calibration block for use in calibrating a thickness gauge having a diameter d, wherein the block has a measurement face and a recess extending inwardly of the block from a face opposite the measurement face, the recess having a maximum transverse dimension at the opposite face which is not less than 3 d, and in that the bottom of the recess is inclined relative to the measurement face in all directions from a central region of the bottom of the recess, the measurement face comprising a reference feature, the location of which corresponds to a specific point on the bottom of the recess.

Abstract: A cantilever assembly (1) comprises a cantilever (10) having a cantilever tip (11). The cantilever is mounted to a rigid support (12,120,121) and is provided on its back side with an area (110) of a high reflectance material having a boundary (111) sloping towards the support (12). The extensions (c,?c) of the area (110) and of the boundary (111) towards the support fulfil the condition c/?c?1 wherein c denotes the extension of the area (110) of the high reflectance material in the direction towards the support (12), and ?c denotes the extension of the sloped boundary (111) of the area (110) of the high reflectance material in the direction towards the support (12).

Abstract: Methods and systems for analyzing samples, such as gas samples, are described. One method comprises providing a gas sample, increasing pressure applied to the gas sample to compress the sample to a smaller volume and provide a pneumatically focused gas sample, and analyzing the pneumatically focused gas sample using any of a variety of analytical techniques. Also disclosed are systems for gas analysis, including systems for analysis of pneumatically focused, and thereby concentrated, gas samples and for analysis of particulate matter in gas samples. Analytical systems constructed within personal computer cases also are disclosed.

Abstract: An apparatus for testing the emissions, content or permeability of samples of materials, comprises at least two sample chambers (5a,5b), each in communication with a receiver (9a,9b) for a sorbent trap (10a,10b), a gas inlet conduit (2) having at least two gas delivery conduits (3a,3b), arranged to deliver gas to respective sample chambers, and at least two gas-flow impedance devices (4a,4b), arranged to control the flow of gas through respective sample chambers and through respective sorbent traps. The gas-flow impedance devices preferably comprise a body of porous material and serve to ensure that the rate of flow of gas is substantially the same through each and every sample chamber, regardless of whether a given sample chamber is in use, with a sorbent trap in place or not, or if different sorbent traps are in use for the different sample chambers.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a low current depletion control device that allows substituting MOS transistors for bipolar transistors and comprises a battery, a switch, a control switch, a self-holding switch, a controller, a driving unit, and a drain switch. The battery connects with the switch that connects with the control switch. The switch controls the control switch. The battery and the control switch connect with the self-holding switch that further connects with the controller. The control switch controls the self-holding switch. The controller connects with the driving unit that further connects with the drain switch. The controller controls the driving unit, and the driving unit controls the drain switch that turn off the control switch.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for microfluid analyses for a substrate with plane base surface and cover surface, wherein a chamber is integrated in the substrate for receiving liquid with at least two admissions and a semipermeable or permeable membrane is arranged in the chamber, wherein the chamber is subdivided by the membrane into two sectional chambers with at least one admission each.

Abstract: Microfluidic systems including a principal microfluidic conduit (24), an adjacent dead volume (1) and a drain conduit (70) which mitigates the adverse effects of the dead volume on the operation of the system.

Abstract: A sensor for measuring a liquid viscosity includes at least one piezo-electrical element in the form of a resonator, at least one first exciting electrode, and a second exciting electrode. At least the first exciting electrode is arranged on the sensitive surface of the sensor and, in order to reduce measuring time at predefined temperatures, the sensor is provided with a heating electrode for heating a measurable liquid.

Abstract: An article is provided for immobilizing functional organic biomolecules (e.g. proteins, DNA, and the like) through a covalent bond to a thiolate or disulfide monolayer to a metal surface wherein an extra activation step of the surface layer or an activation step of the functional biomolecules or bioreceptors could be avoided. The monolayer can contain, but is not limited to, two moieties. One has a group that resists nonspecific adsorption and another has a group that directly (without activation) reacts with functional groups on the biomolecules. In addition, poly(ethylene oxide) groups are incorporated in the monolayer surfaces to resist the nonspecific adsorption and to enhance the specific affinity interactions. A sensor device including these monolayers is also provided to perform reproducible, sensitive, specific and stable bioanalysis.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a fast, nondestructive measurement method for determining the contents of solid, liquid and/or suspended flowing organic compounds. The arrangement according to the invention comprises a sample vessel, a pump, and a measurement cell which form a unit together with a spectroscopic measurement head. The measurement cell is connected to the pump, which can be regulated to vary the flow rate, and to the sample vessel by a pipe, and the spectroscopic measurement head and the regulatable pump have electrical connections to a controlling and evaluating unit. Due to its compact construction, the solution which makes use of the principle of transflection is also particularly suited to mobile use, for example, to determine the components of liquid manure while the latter is being dispensed. In principle, the solution can be transferred to any applications with suspensions or pumpable, homogeneous and inhomogeneous materials.

Abstract: The present invention provides a technique for eliminating the effect of the thermal drift and other variances and to improve the observing or manipulating accuracy of a scanning probe microscope or atom manipulator by using the technique to correct the aforementioned change in the relative position of the probe and the sample due to heat or other factors during the observation or manipulation. To obtain an image of the sample surface at the atomic level or perform a certain manipulation on an atom on the sample surface, the present invention can be applied to a probe position control method for controlling the relative position of the probe and the sample while measuring an interaction between the objective atom on the sample surface and the tip of the probe. In the present method, the relative position of the probe and the sample are changed while the probe is oscillated relative to the sample in two directions parallel to the sample surface at frequencies of f1 and f2 (S1a).

Abstract: The invention concerns a tire provided with a capacitative sensor including two substantially parallel electrodes, the sensor being carried by a sidewall of the tire. The electrodes of the sensor lie substantially in a plane perpendicular to the rotation axis of the tire and are substantially orientated in an ortho-radial direction. The invention also concerns a tire provided with a deformation sensor, a method for evaluating the deflection of a tire, and a deformation sensor.

Abstract: To enable detection of flow of a distant fluid to be measured to provide a new application of a PIV system at a practical level. A fluid measurement system of the present invention includes a long focus optical system 3 at a CCD camera 2, and an image processing means 43 for comparing particle images taken at two time points for analysis. The system further includes a high-pass filter for leaving high frequency components at a predetermined frequency and higher from the luminance signal of the image, so that a turbulence structure occurring in the fluid to be measured is extracted, and the turbulence structure is captured and its image is taken. Therefore, the flow field of an inaccessible fluid to be measured can be analyzed.

Abstract: A capacitance fuel volume measuring apparatus for a fuel cell is disclosed. The apparatus utilizes two electrode boards disposed in a fuel tank and an elastic element to perform calculation of the fuel volume in the fuel tank. The apparatus includes a structure disposed in the fuel tank and a control unit. The structure in the fuel tank includes two electrode boards and an elastic element, which maintains the liquid level of the fuel in a level and transmits essential data corresponding to the distance between the two electrode boards to the control unit for calculation such that the control unit may obtain the volume of the fuel in the fuel tank.

Abstract: The invention relates to a float (5) for a fill level sensor, comprised of a fuel-resistant plastic (7), an expanding means (8) and/or filler (9), whereby the expanding means consists of gas-filled plastic balls (11) that are provided in the form of microspheres (8), and the filler consists of micro-hollow balls (9). The microspheres (8) and the micro-hollow balls (9) are surrounded by fuel-resistant plastic (7).

Abstract: A method and apparatus are described for assessing function of the cranio-cervical muscles. The method includes assessment of torque produced during flexion/extension, axial rotation, lateral rotation or combination thereof. The apparatus (110) has a lever arm (130) mounted to a support frame (120), wherein the length of the arm and its angle of extension may be varied. Torque is assessed at an anatomical axis of rotation in a subject. The apparatus axis of rotation may be adjustable. A preferred embodiment has a pivoted support frame for positioning over a subject's head, wherein the support frame (120) may form a lever arm for rotation. The apparatus may be removably mountable to an upright such as a door jamb.

Abstract: A universal athleticism rating system and related athletic performance measuring systems for accurately detecting and recording athletic performance are disclosed. The athleticism rating system evaluates individual athletes against a common, standardized, set of athletic performance tests. Each athlete performs the athletic tests and his or her scores in the individual tests are entered into a standardized calculation to produce a single athletic performance score. The related performance measuring system is preferably a timing system that ensures quick, easy, and accurate collection of athletic event timing related data without the need for the athlete to wear any special detection devices or the like. In a preferred embodiment, the performance measuring system integrates with the rating system to provide seamless athletic data collection and rating of athletes.

Abstract: The present invention provides a portable liquid gauge that allows a person to quickly pour a precise amount of liquid directly into a glass. In an embodiment, the liquid gauge comprises a top, four sides, and a base. The top is connected to the base by the sides, which support the top above the base. The top has a plurality of inward semicircular edges, where each semicircular edge is dimensioned to fit around a portion of a glass. The height of the top is chosen so that, when a glass is placed into one of the semicircular edges, the edge aligns with the meniscus of liquid in the glass when a precise amount of the liquid is poured into the glass.

Abstract: Methods and systems for analyzing engine unbalance conditions are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method includes receiving vibrational data from a plurality of locations distributed over an engine and a surrounding engine support structure, and inputting the vibrational data into a neural network inverse model. The neural network inverse model establishes a relationship between the vibrational data and an unbalance condition of the engine, and outputs diagnostic information indicating the unbalance condition of the engine. In a further embodiment, a method further includes subjecting the vibrational data to a Fast Fourier Transformation to extract a desired once per revolution vibrational data prior to input to the neural network inverse model.

Abstract: A method of computing imbalance in a motion control system is disclosed. The motion control system includes an object mounting mechanism for holding and rotating the object about a first axis; an object positioning mechanism for displacing the object mounting mechanism; an object positioning drive for driving the object positioning mechanism; and one or more rotation detection devices for generating an output signal indicative of the rotation of the object about the first axis. The method includes the steps of computing an object rotation signal indicative of the speed and phase of the object about the first axis from the rotation detection devices' output signal; demodulating an output signal from the drive with the object rotation signal to derive a demodulated output signal that is synchronous with rotation of the object about the first axis; and computing the magnitude and phase of the object imbalance from the demodulated output signal.

Abstract: An angular rate sensor formed into a planar shape, which detects an angular rate around a first axis in the plane, includes a rotating oscillator rotatably supported in the plane and around the rotational axis in a direction of a second axis perpendicular to the first axis; vibration generating means which rotationally vibrates the rotating oscillator; and a first detecting oscillator and a second detecting oscillator which are disposed inside the rotating oscillator and separately on the right side and the left side of the rotational axis, and which are supported as being displaceable in a direction of the second axis. A first detecting unit and a second detecting unit, which detect vibrations of the respective first and second detecting oscillators in the direction of the second axis due to the Coriolis force, are respectively provided closer to the rotational axis than the first and second detecting oscillators are.

Abstract: The piezo-resistance type triaxial acceleration sensor includes a frame section, a mass section disposed in the frame section, beam elements which flexibly support the mass section, and piezo-resistors for X, Y and Z axes of the frame section, formed on the beam elements. The length of the Z-axis piezo-resistors is longer than the length of the X-axis piezo-resistors and the Y-axis piezo-resistors, so as to decrease the sensitivity.

Abstract: A closed-loop, comb drive device that reduces certain “common mode” sensor errors. The device includes a comb structure, electronics, a substrate, and a position sensor. The comb structure includes two comb-drive sections, each having at least two subsections. The comb drive sub-sections in each section are positioned in a diagonal relationship to each other relative to the device axes. A separate pick-off section, along with the electronics, determine which of the two drive sections should receive a voltage differential, and the size of that differential. The diagonal relationship within each drive section eliminates many of the large scale factor errors which often occur in prior-art designs.