Abstract: A gyro sensor includes a substrate, a fixed section fixed to the substrate, a driving section configured to perform driving along an X axis parallel to a principal plane of the substrate, a mass section coupled to the driving section and displaced along the X axis, a detecting section coupled to the mass section, capable of turning around a Z axis crossing the X axis, and capable of being displaced along the Z axis by a Coriolis force acting on a turning motion horizontal to the substrate, and an elastic section coupling the detecting section and the fixed section. The fixed section is disposed between the center of gravity of the detecting section and the mass section in a plan view.

Abstract: A vibrator device includes a vibrator element, and a support substrate configured to support the vibrator element. The vibrator element includes a drive arm provided with a drive signal electrode and a drive constant-potential electrode, and a detection arm provided with a detection signal electrode and a detection constant-potential electrode. The support substrate includes a base, and a drive signal interconnection electrically coupled to the drive signal electrode, a drive constant-potential interconnection electrically coupled to the drive constant-potential electrode, and a detection signal interconnection electrically coupled to the detection signal electrode all provided to the base, and the drive arm includes a first surface located at the support substrate side, and a second surface located at an opposite side to the first surface. Further, the drive constant-potential electrode is disposed on the first surface, and the drive signal electrode is disposed on the second surface.

Abstract: A sensor module includes: a printed circuit board having a first recessed portion formed at a first side, a second recessed portion formed at a second side facing the first side, a third recessed portion formed at a third side, and a fourth recessed portion formed at a fourth side facing the third side; a metal cap including convex portions each bonded to a respective one of the first to fourth recessed portions; and a first inertial sensor and a second inertial sensor that are provided at a main surface of the printed circuit board. The first inertial sensor and the second inertial sensor are disposed outside a region surrounded by a line connecting both ends of the first recessed portion and the second recessed portion and outside a region surrounded by a line connecting both ends of the third recessed portion and the fourth recessed portion.

Abstract: A gyro sensor includes a substrate, a fixed section fixed to the substrate, a driving section configured to perform driving along an X axis parallel to a principal plane of the substrate, a mass section coupled to the driving section and displaced along the X axis, a detecting section coupled to the mass section, capable of turning around a Z axis crossing the X axis, and capable of being displaced along the Z axis by a Coriolis force acting on a turning motion horizontal to the substrate, and an elastic section coupling the detecting section and the fixed section. The fixed section is disposed between the center of gravity of the detecting section and the mass section in a plan view.

Abstract: Provided is a sensor-device attachment structure including: a thin portion that is thinner than other parts of a member; a flexible board; an at least one sensor device installed to the flexible board; a spacer that is formed into a shape of a film having a uniform thickness, that is sandwiched between the thin portion and the flexible board, and that includes a through portion which is formed through the spacer in a thickness direction of the spacer at a position corresponding to the at least one sensor device; and an adhesive that is charged in the through portion, and that bonds the thin portion and the flexible board to each other.

Abstract: A physical quantity detection circuit including a differential amplification circuit that differentially amplifies a signal pair based on a first signal containing a first physical quantity component and a first vibration leakage component and a second signal containing a second physical quantity component having a phase opposite the phase of the first physical quantity component and a second vibration leakage component having the same phase as the phase of the first vibration leakage component, an adder circuit that adds the signal pair, a first synchronous wave-detection circuit that performs synchronous wave-detection on a signal based on an output signal from the differential amplification circuit, a second synchronous wave-detection circuit that performs synchronous wave-detection on a signal based on an output signal from the adder circuit, a physical quantity detection signal generation circuit that generates a physical quantity detection signal based on an output signal from the first synchronous wave

Abstract: An inertial sensor includes a substrate, a first inertial sensor element provided on the substrate, a lid bonded to the substrate so as to cover the first inertial sensor element, a first drive signal terminal that is provided outside the lid and is for a drive signal to be applied to the first inertial sensor element, and a first detection signal terminal that is provided outside the lid and is for a detection signal output from the first inertial sensor element, in which, in plan view of the substrate, the first drive signal terminal and the first detection signal terminal are provided with the lid interposed therebetween.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are aspects of a multiple-mass, multi-axis microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) accelerometer sensor device with a fully differential sensing design that applies differential drive signals to movable proof masses and senses differential motion signals at sense fingers coupled to a substrate. In some embodiments, capacitance signals from different sense fingers are combined together at a sensing signal node disposed on the substrate supporting the proof masses. In some embodiments, a split shield may be provided, with a first shield underneath a proof mass coupled to the same drive signal applied to the proof mass and a second shield electrically isolated from the first shield provided underneath the sense fingers and biased with a constant voltage to provide shielding for the sense fingers.

Abstract: A MEMS gyroscope and a method for compensating drift of sensitivity of a MEMS gyroscope are disclosed. The method comprises demodulating an angular rate signal with an in-phase carrier signal for producing a raw rate signal, and obtaining a DC test signal The DC test signal is filtered for obtaining a raw test signal, and zeroing offset of the raw test signal is performed by comparing each sample of the raw test signal to a test signal normalization value for producing an offset zeroed test signal that represents a deviation of the sample of the raw test signal from the test signal normalization value. A sensitivity compensation multiplier is determined based upon the offset zeroed test signal and a predefined gain coefficient, and drift of sensitivity is compensated by multiplying the raw rate signal with the sensitivity compensation multiplier for providing a sensitivity compensated rate signal.

Abstract: Provided is a vibrator device including a vibrator structure body. When the A axis, the B axis, and the C axis are three axes orthogonal to each other, the vibrator structure body includes a vibrator element and a support substrate that is aligned with the vibrator element along the C axis. The vibrator element includes vibrating arms configured to flexurally vibrate along a plane parallel to the A axis and the B axis and along the A axis. The support substrate includes a base that supports the vibrator element, a support that supports the base, and a beam that couples the base and the support. A relationship f0<f1 is satisfied in which f0 is a resonance frequency of a vibration of the vibrator structure body along the B axis and f1 is a drive frequency of the vibrator element.

Abstract: A gyroscope which comprises first and second proof masses aligned on a first lateral axis, third and fourth proof masses are aligned on a second lateral axis, and central and peripheral anti-phase coupling structures which synchronize a first and a second oscillation mode in this four-mass system. Each central x-axis anti-phase structure and each central y-axis anti-phase structure comprises an in-plane seesaw with a central elongated bar which is suspended from at least one central anchor point with at least one central seesaw suspender which allows the central elongated bar to rotate in the device plane about an axis which is perpendicular to the device plane.

Abstract: A gyro vibrating element includes a drive signal pattern including a drive signal electrode to which a drive signal is applied and a drive signal wire connected to the drive signal electrode, a first detection signal pattern including a first detection electrode that outputs a first detection signal and a first detection signal wire connected to the first detection electrode, the first detection signal pattern being capacitively coupled to the drive signal pattern, and a second detection signal pattern including a second detection electrode that outputs a second detection signal opposite in phase to the first detection signal and a second detection signal wire connected to the second detection electrode, the second detection signal pattern being capacitively coupled to the drive signal pattern. Any one of the first detection signal pattern, the second detection signal pattern, and the drive signal pattern includes an adjustment pattern for adjusting an area of the signal pattern.

Abstract: The resonator includes a vibrating portion that has three or more vibrating arms each having a fixed end and an open end and at least two vibrating arms undergoing out-of-plane bending in different phases. Moreover, the resonator includes a first base portion having a first front end connected to the fixed ends and a first rear end facing the first front end, a second base portion having a second front end facing the first rear end and a second rear end facing the second front end, and a connecting portion connected between a vicinity of a center of the first rear end and a vicinity of a center of the second front end, a holding portion that is provided in at least a part of a periphery of the vibrating portion, and a holding arm that is provided between the vibrating portion and the holding portion.

Abstract: An acceleration sensor, a capacitance detection circuit and method, an acceleration processing circuit and method, a storage medium and an electronic device are provided. The acceleration sensor includes: a base, at least one fixed electrode fastened on the base, and at least one mass movable relative to the fixed electrode. The mass includes a conductive electrode, the conductive electrode and the fixed electrode are configured to form a capacitor, and a capacitance value of the capacitor is variable due to movement of the mass relative to the base.

Abstract: In a MEMS electrostatic capacitor type acceleration sensor, the manufacturing costs of MEMS elements are reduced, and at the same time, the variations of the electrical and mechanical characteristics of the MEMS elements are reduced. A detection circuit generates a voltage signal corresponding to the product of a difference between the two capacitance values of a pair of MEMS capacitors and a servo signal. A modulation circuit outputs a signal corresponding to the difference between the capacitance values using the servo signal. The control circuit outputs the servo signal on the basis of a signal corresponding to the difference between the capacitance values.

Abstract: According to an aspect, a fingerprint detection device includes: a substrate; a plurality of drive electrodes provided on one surface side of the substrate and arranged in a first direction; a plurality of detection electrodes provided on the one surface side and arranged in a second direction intersecting the first direction; and an insulating layer provided in a normal direction of the substrate between each of the drive electrodes and the corresponding detection electrodes. The detection electrodes intersect the drive electrodes in the normal direction of the substrate. The detection electrodes include: a first metallic layer; and a second metallic layer positioned closer to the one surface than the first metallic layer to the one surface. The first metallic layer has a reflectance of visible light lower than that of the second metallic layer.

Abstract: One embodiment of the invention includes a vibrating-mass gyroscope system. The system includes a sensor system comprising a vibrating-mass and a plurality of electrodes coupled to the vibrating-mass that are configured to facilitate in-plane motion of the vibrating-mass. The system also includes a gyroscope controller configured to generate a drive signal that is provided to a first set of the plurality of electrodes to provide an in-plane periodic oscillatory motion of the vibrating-mass along a drive axis, to generate a force-rebalance signal that is provided to a second set of the plurality of electrodes to calculate a rotation of the vibrating-mass gyroscope system about an input axis, and to generate a quadrature signal that is provided to a third set of the plurality of electrodes to substantially mitigate quadrature effects associated with the vibrating-mass.

Abstract: A gyroscope includes four drive masses and four sense masses. Each drive mass is adjacent to two other drive masses and opposite the fourth drive mass, and each sense mass is adjacent to two other sense masses and opposite the fourth sense mass. Each drive mass may oscillate in a manner that is perpendicular to its adjacent drive mass and parallel and anti-phase to its opposite mass. The sense motion of the each sense mass may be coupled in a manner that prevents motion due to linear acceleration or angular acceleration.

Abstract: A resonance device is provided with a reduced size and also suppresses the occurrence of deformation and breakage during operation. The resonance device includes a lower substrate, an upper substrate that defines a vibration space between the lower substrate and the upper substrate, a protruding portion that is formed on an inner surface of the lower or upper substrates. Moreover, a resonator is disposed in the vibration space and includes a base portion and vibration arms that extend in parallel to one another from the base portion along the inner surface of the lower substrate or the inner surface of the upper substrate and that vibrate in a vertical direction toward the inner surface of the lower substrate or the inner surface of the upper substrate.

Abstract: A flexible sensor that includes a printed circuit board (PCB), a capacitive structure on the PCB, and mechanical coupling sites. The PCB includes a slot extending from an outer edge of the PCB to an inner portion of the PCB, and the slot defines a first edge and a second edge facing the first edge. The first and second edges are separated by a gap when the PCB is in an unflexed state. The slot is configured to permit the PCB to flex so as to vary a relative position of the first edge with respect to the second edge. The capacitive structure on the PCB includes a first edge electrode on a portion of the first edge of the PCB, and a second edge electrode on a portion of a second edge of PCB. The second edge electrode is aligned with the first edge electrode across the slot.

Abstract: A device for converting the kinetic energy of molecules into useful work includes an actuator configured to move within a fluid or gas due to collisions with the molecules of the fluid or gas. The actuator has dimensions that subject it to the Brownian motion of the surrounding molecules. The actuator utilizes objects having multiple surfaces where the different surfaces result in differing coefficients of restitution. The Brownian motion of surrounding molecules produce molecular impacts with the surfaces. Each surface then experiences relative differences in transferred energy from the kinetic collisions. The sum effect of the collisions produces net velocity in a desired direction. The controlled motion can be utilized in a variety of manners to perform work, such as generating electricity or transporting materials.

Abstract: An improved sensing device comprising micromechanical gyroscope and a feed-back loop with a controller for creating a damp control signal. A frequency generator generates a drive signal for drive mode vibration and a reference signal that is in quadrature-phase in relation to the drive mode vibration. The quadrature reference signal is summed with the damp control signal of the controller. The resulting transducer control signal is fed to the second mechanical resonator. Stable cancellation of the actual mechanical quadrature motion is achieved already at the sensing element level, before the detection of the Coriolis signal.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a resonator element includes: an outer shape forming step of etching a substrate to form, in a plan view, a base portion, a pair of vibrating arms extending from the base portion in a first direction, a frame portion surrounding the base portion and the vibrating arms, and a coupling portion coupling the base portion with the frame portion; and a singulation step of cutting the coupling portion to singulate the resonator element. In the outer shape forming step, the coupling portion is formed so as to extend, in the plan view, from only one edge side of the base portion in a direction along a second direction orthogonal to the first direction and be connected with the frame portion.

Abstract: A microelectromechanical device includes a semi-flexible proof-mass comprising a primary part, a secondary part and a stiff spring suspending the primary part and the secondary part. The spring causes the parts to move as a single entity when the device is in its normal range. A first stopper structure stops the primary part. The proof-mass is configured to deform through deflection of the spring, when the device is subjected to a shock having a force that is beyond the normal operation range. While the shock causes motion of the proof-mass in one direction along an axis of movement, the spring is configured to cause a restoring force causing the secondary part of the proof-mass to be driven into a restoring motion in a direction opposite to motion along an axis caused by the shock. Momentum of the secondary part causes the primary part to dislodge from the first stopper structure.

Abstract: An angular velocity sensor element includes a fixing part, an extension part, a twisted extension part, a drive vibrator, a detection vibrator, and a counter beam. The extension part has a first end coupled to the fixing part, and a second end. The twisted extension part has a first end coupled to the second end of the extension part, and a second end. The drive vibrator has a first end coupled to the second end of the twisted extension part, and a second end. The drive vibrator is provided with a drive electrode. The detection vibrator is coupled to the second end of the drive vibrator, and is provided with a first detection electrode. The counter beam is coupled to the second end of the twisted extension part, disposed substantially parallel to the drive vibrator, and configured to vibrate in a direction opposite to a vibration direction of the drive vibrator.

Abstract: When one direction of plane directions of a substrate is a first direction and a direction of the plane directions of the substrate perpendicular to the first direction is a second direction, a vibrating member is supported at an outer peripheral section via a plurality of beam sections having first beam-configuring members that can displace at least in the first direction and second beam-configuring members that are joined to the first beam-configuring members and that can displace at least in the second direction. In at least a subset of the plurality of beam sections, beam-configuring members on a side of the outer peripheral section among the first beam-configuring members and the second beam-configuring members are integrated with each other.

Abstract: A capacitance type physical quantity sensor including a movable electrode formed in a weight part, and a fixed electrode facing the movable electrode is provided. A first movable sensing electrode and a first fixed sensing electrode face each other in a first y direction. A second movable sensing electrode and a second fixed sensing electrode face each other in a second y direction. A first movable damping electrode is located in the middle between two first fixed damping electrodes, faces one of the first fixed damping electrodes in the first y direction and faces the other of the first fixed damping electrodes in the second y direction. A plurality of the first movable damping electrodes are located point-symmetrically with respect to the center of the weight part or line-symmetrically with respect to a center line passing the center in the y direction.

Abstract: A sensing device comprising a micromechanical gyroscope, the gyroscope comprising an improved sensing device with a micromechanical gyroscope, where the resonance frequency of the first mechanical resonator and the resonance frequency of the second mechanical resonator are adjusted to essentially coincide. The device comprises a feed-back loop connected to the second mechanical resonator, the quality factor of the combination of the feed-back loop and the second mechanical resonator being less than 10. More accurate sensing is achieved without essentially adding complexity to the sensor device configuration.

Abstract: A system and/or method for efficiently operating a MEMS gyroscope without drive circuitry and/or with drive circuitry and a non-constant oscillating amplitude. In a non-limiting example, drive circuitry may be utilized to drive the MEMS gyroscope proof mass to a desired oscillating amplitude, and then the drive circuitry may be powered off. Rotational velocity may be sensed while the proof mass is being driven to a desired oscillating amplitude, while the proof mass is being maintained at a desired oscillating amplitude, and/or while the proof mass amplitude decays.

Abstract: Inertial sensor comprising a fixed part and at least one mass suspended from the fixed part and means of damping the displacement of the part suspended from the fixed part, said damping means being electromechanical damping means comprising at least one DC power supply source, one electrical resistor and one variable capacitor in series, said variable capacitor being formed partly by the suspended part and partly by the fixed part such that displacement of the suspended part causes a variation of the capacitance of the variable capacitor.

Abstract: A robot includes a robot arm, a force sensor, and a control unit configured to control the operation of the robot art. The control unit initializes the force sensor while the robot arm is moving at uniform speed. It is preferable that the control unit initializes the force sensor while the robot arm is moving at the uniform speed and the amplitude of a detection value of the force sensor is smaller than a threshold.

Abstract: One embodiment of the invention includes a vibrating-mass gyroscope system. The system includes a sensor system comprising a vibrating-mass and a plurality of electrodes coupled to the vibrating-mass that are configured to facilitate in-plane motion of the vibrating-mass. The system also includes a gyroscope controller configured to generate a drive signal that is provided to a first set of the plurality of electrodes to provide an in-plane periodic oscillatory motion of the vibrating-mass along a drive axis, to generate a force-rebalance signal that is provided to a second set of the plurality of electrodes to calculate a rotation of the vibrating-mass gyroscope system about an input axis, and to generate a quadrature signal that is provided to a third set of the plurality of electrodes to substantially mitigate quadrature effects associated with the vibrating-mass.

Abstract: A detection device includes a driving circuit which drives a vibrator, and a detection circuit which detects a desired signal. The driving circuit includes a current-voltage conversion circuit which receives a feedback signal, and performs a current-voltage conversion, a drive signal output circuit which amplifies an input voltage signal after being subjected to the current-voltage conversion, and outputs a drive signal of a sine wave, and a gain control circuit which controls a gain of amplification of the drive signal in the drive signal output circuit. When a resistance for a current-voltage conversion is set to RI, the gain of the amplification of the drive signal in the drive signal output circuit is set to K, and an equivalent series resistance in a fundamental wave mode of the vibrator is set to R, the gain control circuit performs a gain control such that K×RI=R is satisfied.

Abstract: A gyroscope includes: a mass, which is movable with respect to a supporting body; a driving loop for keeping the mass in oscillation according to a driving axis; a reading device, which supplying an output signal indicating an angular speed of the body; and a compensation device, for attenuating spurious signal components in quadrature with respect to a velocity of oscillation of the mass. The reading device includes an amplifier, which supplies a transduction signal indicating a position of the mass according to a sensing axis. The compensation device forms a control loop with the amplifier, extracts from the transduction signal an error signal representing quadrature components in the transduction signal, and supplies to the amplifier a compensation signal such as to attenuate the error signal.

Abstract: A detection device includes a driving circuit which drives a physical quantity transducer, a detection circuit which detects a desired signal, a power-supply terminal into which a power-supply voltage is input, a regulator circuit which performs a voltage adjustment of stepping down the power-supply voltage from the power-supply terminal, and supplies a regulated power-supply voltage obtained by the voltage adjustment to the driving circuit and the detection circuit as an operating power-supply voltage, and a buffer circuit which is supplied with the power-supply voltage, receives a drive signal from the driving circuit, and outputs an amplified drive signal in which an amplitude of the drive signal increases to the physical quantity transducer.

Abstract: An vibrating gyro device includes a base, drive vibrating arms extending from one end of the base, and detection vibrating arms extending from the other end of the base that faces away from the one end, and an adjustment film is provided on each of the drive vibrating arms in an area close to the base.

Abstract: A capacitance detection circuit inhibits noise. The capacitance detection circuit detects a change in capacitance between a pair of electrodes of a physical quantity sensor, with these electrodes generating the change in capacitance in response to a change in physical quantity. The capacitance detection circuit has a carrier signal generating circuit that supplies a carrier signal to one of the electrodes, an operational amplifier that has an inverting input terminal to which the other one of the electrodes is input, a dummy capacity that is connected in parallel to the pair of electrodes, and a carrier signal conditioning circuit that inverts a phase of a carrier signal supplied from the carrier signal generating circuit to the dummy capacity and adjusts a gain to inhibit the dummy capacity.

Abstract: A vibrator includes a vibrator element and a base on which the vibrator element is installed. In addition, when n is set to a natural number equal to or greater than 2, and j is set to a natural number equal to or greater than 1 and equal to or less than n, the vibrator element includes n inherent vibration modes having resonance frequencies different from each other, and when a resonance frequency of a main vibration of the vibrator element in the n inherent vibration modes is set to ?1 in a relationship between an arbitrary integer kj and a resonance frequency ?j corresponding to each of the n inherent vibration modes, the following three expressions are all satisfied. ?? ? ( ? j = 2 n ? k j ? ? j - k 1 - ? 1 ) / ? 1 ? ? 1 ? ? 0.

Abstract: An inertial force sensor includes a detecting device which detects an inertial force, the detecting device having a first orthogonal arm and a supporting portion, the first orthogonal arm having a first arm and a second arm fixed in a substantially orthogonal direction, and the supporting portion supporting the first arm. The second arm has a folding portion. In this configuration, there is provided a small inertial force sensor which realizes detection of a plurality of different inertial forces and detection of inertial forces of a plurality of detection axes.

Abstract: In an angular velocity sensor, when a width of a detection frequency band is set to f1 [Hz], a resonance frequency in a first rotational vibration mode in which a base portion rotates and vibrates around a detection axis with respect to fixing units in association with the deformation of beam portions is set to f2 [Hz], a detuning frequency is set to f3 [Hz], and a resonance frequency in a second rotational vibration mode, having a phase opposite to that of the first rotational vibration mode, in which the base portion rotates and vibrates around the detection axis with respect to the fixing units in association with the deformation of the beam portions is set to f4, a relation of f1<f2<f3<f4 or a relation of f1<f2<f4<f3 is satisfied.

Abstract: An angular velocity sensor includes fixing units, a base portion, beam portions that support the base portion with respect to the fixing units, driving vibrating arms connected to the base portion, and detection vibrating arms connected to the base portion. When a width of a detection frequency band is set to f1 [Hz], a resonance frequency in a rotational vibration mode in which the base portion rotates and vibrates around a detection axis with respect to the fixing units in association with the deformation of the beam portions is set to f2 [Hz], and a detuning frequency is set to f3 [Hz], the relation of f1<f2<f3 is satisfied.

Abstract: A method of controlling exposed glass charging in a micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) device is disclosed. The method includes providing a MEMS device comprising a proof mass positioned apart from at least one sense plate and at least one outboard metallization layer, wherein at least one conductive glass layer is coupled to the sense plate and the outboard metallization layer, the conductive glass layer including at least one exposed glass portion near the proof mass; and applying a first voltage to the sense plate and a second voltage to the outboard metallization layer. The first voltage is separated from the second voltage by a predetermined voltage level such that the exposed glass portion has an average voltage corresponding to a voltage midway between the first voltage and the second voltage.

Abstract: Provided is an angular velocity sensor including a plurality of angular velocity detection units each outputting a different detection result, and including a common driving circuit to drive the angular velocity detection units. The angular velocity detection units of the angular velocity sensor of the present invention are configured to have different driving amplitudes when being driven by a driving signal at the same frequency.

Abstract: The invention provides an MEMS device. The MEMS device includes: a substrate, a proof mass, a spring, a spring anchor, a first electrode anchor, and a second electrode anchor, a first fixed electrode and a second fixed electrode. The proof mass is connected to the substrate through the spring and the spring anchor. The proof mass includes a hollow structure inside, and the spring anchor, the first electrode anchor, and the second electrode anchor are located in the hollow structure. The proof mass and the first fixed electrode form a first capacitor, and the proof mass and the second fixed electrode form a second capacitor. There is neither any portion of the proof mass nor any portion of any fixing electrode located between the first electrode anchor, second electrode anchor, and the spring anchor.

Abstract: A method for determining absolute orientation of a platform is disclosed. In one embodiment, a first sky polarization data set for a first time Ti is measured using a sky polarization sensor disposed on a platform. A second sky polarization data set is obtained at a second time Tj. A difference in orientation between the first sky polarization data set and the second sky polarization data set is determined using an orientation determiner. The difference in orientation is provided as at least one orientation parameter for the platform at time Tj. The at least one orientation parameter is used to provide a direction relative to a reference point on the platform.

Abstract: A vibrating device having vibrating arms connected to a supporter. The vibrating arms have an n-type Si layer which is a degenerated semiconductor and an exciter provided on the n-type Si layer. The exciter has a piezoelectric thin film and a first and second electrodes with the piezoelectric thin film interposed therebetween.

Abstract: A method for the precise measuring operating of a micro-mechanical rotation rate sensor, including at least one seismic mass, at least one drive device for driving the seismic mass in the primary mode (q1) and at least three trimming electrode elements which are jointly associated directly or indirectly with the seismic mass. An electric trimming voltage (u1, u2, u3, u4) is set respectively between the trimming electrode elements and the seismic mass. Each of the electric trimming voltages (u1, u2, u3, u4) are adjusted in accordance with a resonance frequency variable (?T, ?T,0), a quadrature variable (?c, ?C,0) and a restoring variable (?S).

Abstract: The vibrating reed includes a first main surface and a second main surface that face each other in the thickness direction of a piezoelectric body and a detection unit that vibrates along the thickness direction when detecting. The detection unit includes a groove of which a groove bottom is positioned at a position beyond a midline between the first main surface and the second main surface in the depth direction from an opening formed in the first main surface, an inside surface electrode that is formed on an inside surface facing the inside of the groove, an outside surface electrode that is formed on an outside surface which is opposite the inside surface with the piezoelectric body interposed there between, and a pair of groove bottom electrodes that is provided further on the groove bottom at an interval than the midline and face inside the groove.

Abstract: A device for converting the kinetic energy of molecules into useful work includes an actuator configured to move within a fluid or gas due to collisions with the molecules of the fluid or gas. The actuator has dimensions that subject it to the Brownian motion of the surrounding molecules. The actuator utilizes objects having multiple surfaces where the different surfaces result in differing coefficients of restitution. The Brownian motion of surrounding molecules produce molecular impacts with the surfaces. Each surface then experiences relative differences in transferred energy from the kinetic collisions. The sum effect of the collisions produces net velocity in a desired direction. The controlled motion can be utilized in a variety of manners to perform work, such as generating electricity or transporting materials.

Abstract: A method involves applying a voltage to a first conductive surface and a second conductive surface separated by a conductive surface gap of a distance greater than the distance required to produce a tunneling current between the first and second conductive surfaces when the voltage is applied, and using angled deposition to deposit conductive material on the first and second conductive surfaces to narrow the conductive surface gap until a tunneling current appears across the first and second conductive surfaces responsive to the applied voltage.