Response To Multiple Sensing Means Or Motion Conditions Patents (Class 73/510)
  • Patent number: 11892465
    Abstract: A MEMS device includes a first MEMS sensor associated with a first spatial plane and a second MEMS sensor is associated with a spatial second plane not co-planar with the first spatial plane, wherein the first MEMS sensor is configured to provide a first interrupt and a first data in response to a physical perturbation, wherein the second MEMS sensor is configured to provide a second interrupt and second data in response to the physical perturbation, and a controller configured to receive the first interrupt at a first time and the second interrupt at a second time different from the first time, wherein the controller is configured to determine a latency between the first time and the second time, and wherein the controller is configured to determine motion data in response to the first data, to the second data, and to the latency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: Movella Inc.
    Inventors: Sanjay Bhandari, Giovanni Bellusci
  • Patent number: 11852649
    Abstract: The present invention relates to microelectromechanical systems (MEMS), and more specifically to an anchor structure for anchoring MEMS components within a MEMS device. The anchor points for rotor and stator components of the device are arranged such that the anchor points are arranged along and overlap a common axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: MURATA MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Akira Konno
  • Patent number: 11815525
    Abstract: Operation of a device may be influenced based on whether the device is being tilted or has been picked up. Accelerometers gather accelerometer data that is processed to determine a reference pose. The reference pose is determined by analyzing the accelerometer data to determine “quiet” periods of accelerometer data. A moving average of the quiet periods is used to determine the reference pose. One or more override techniques may be used to compensate for noise in the accelerometer data, such as produced by the device playing music. The accelerometer data may be processed to compensate for other influences, such as intended movement of the device by one or more actuators. This processed data is compared to the reference pose. Responsive to the processed data exceeding a threshold value, the device may stop moving the one or more actuators, present output on a user interface, and so forth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: AMAZON TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Edward Ayrapetian, Animesh Mishra
  • Patent number: 11754593
    Abstract: A signal processing device includes a detection circuit, a correction circuit, and a comparator circuit. The detection circuit generates a first detection signal, based on an output signal of a capacitive detection element that detects inertial force. The correction circuit corrects non-linearity of the first detection signal and outputs a second detection signal thus corrected. The comparator circuit compares the first detection signal and the second detection signal with each other and outputs a comparison signal representing a result of comparison.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Keisuke Kuroda, Takuya Kajiwara, Junji Nakatsuka, Masaaki Nagai
  • Patent number: 11724725
    Abstract: A system for measuring motion of a locomotive vehicle includes a speed sensor, a decelerometer and an onboard processing unit. The speed sensor is configured to measure wheel speed of the locomotive vehicle. The decelerometer includes a level-sensitive device configured to measure acceleration or deceleration of the locomotive vehicle as a function of a tilt from a level position. The onboard processing unit computes a current grade traversed by the locomotive vehicle prior to detection of a slip or slide condition based on a first measurement signal from the decelerometer. Upon detection of the slip or slide condition, the onboard processing unit obtains a second measurement signal from the decelerometer and filters out the current grade from the second measurement signal. The onboard processing unit determines an actual acceleration or deceleration of the locomotive vehicle during the slip or slide condition from the filtered second measurement signal from the decelerometer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: Siemens Mobility, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy Dixon, Raymund Novak, Meng Ju Vincent Lu, Scott Novak
  • Patent number: 11716803
    Abstract: The present application relates to a method and an apparatus for controlling a device, a smart home device and system and a storage medium the device may be a lighting device. The method for controlling a device comprises: receiving a data stream including data for playing audio; acquiring reference data corresponding to a device control command controlling the device to perform one or more functions; determining whether at least a portion of the data in the data stream matches the reference data; and controlling, in case at least a portion of the data in the data stream matches the reference data, the device to perform one or more of the functions according to the corresponding device control command.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Inventors: Weihu Chen, Guangting Guo, Hong Zhao, Jinpeng Hu, Mathew Sommers
  • Patent number: 11467181
    Abstract: The present invention provides a high-accuracy low-noise MEMS accelerometer by using at least two symmetric out-of-plane proof masses for both out-of-plane and in-plane axes. Movement of the proof masses in one or more in-plane sense axes is measured by comb capacitors with mirrored comb electrodes that minimise cross-axis error from in-plane movement of the proof mass out of the sense axis of the capacitor. The two out-of-plane proof masses rotate in opposite directions, thus maintaining their combined centre of mass at the centre of the accelerometer even as they rotate out of plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: MURATA MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Matti Liukku, Ville-Pekka Rytkönen, Anssi Blomqvist
  • Patent number: 11327102
    Abstract: Aspects are generally directed to a compact and low-noise electric field detector, methods of operation, and methods of production thereof. In one example, an electric field detector includes a proof mass, a source of concentrated charge coupled to the proof mass, and a substrate having a substrate offset space defined therein, the proof mass being suspended above the substrate offset space. The electric field detector further includes a sense electrode disposed on the substrate within the substrate offset space and proximate the proof mass, the sense electrode being configured to measure a change in capacitance relative to the proof mass from movement of the proof mass in response to a received electric field at the source of concentrated charge. The electric field detector includes a control circuit coupled to the sense electrode and configured to determine a characteristic of the electric field based on the measured change in capacitance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: THE CHARLES STARK DRAPER LABORATORY, INC.
    Inventors: James A. Bickford, Stephanie Lynne Golmon, Paul A. Ward, William D. Sawyer, Marc Steven Weinberg, John J. Le Blanc, Louis Kratchman, James S. Pringle, Jr., Daniel K. Freeman, Amy Duwel, Max Lindsay Turnquist, Ronald Steven McNabb, Jr., William A. Lenk
  • Patent number: 11255871
    Abstract: A MEMS device includes a first MEMS sensor associated with a first spatial plane and a second MEMS sensor is associated with a spatial second plane not co-planar with the first spatial plane, wherein the first MEMS sensor is configured to provide a first interrupt and a first data in response to a physical perturbation, wherein the second MEMS sensor is configured to provide a second interrupt and second data in response to the physical perturbation, and a controller configured to receive the first interrupt at a first time and the second interrupt at a second time different from the first time, wherein the controller is configured to determine a latency between the first time and the second time, and wherein the controller is configured to determine motion data in response to the first data, to the second data, and to the latency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: mCube, Inc.
    Inventors: Sanjay Bhandari, Giovanni Bellusci
  • Patent number: 11253748
    Abstract: A scoring method for an exercise system includes playing a course video and obtaining coach exercise data; obtaining learner exercise data by the wearable acceleration sensor; splitting the coach exercise data into multiple coach segments, in which each of the coach segments corresponds to multiple learner segments of the learner exercise data, and a portion of the learner segments overlap with each other; for each of the coach segments, performing a dynamic time warping algorithm according to the coach segment and the corresponding learner segments to obtain a learner segment having a smallest error and to calculate an exercise score; and displaying the exercise score.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Inventor: Lung-Fei Chuang
  • Patent number: 11215635
    Abstract: An accelerometer arrangement and method are described for determining accelerations of an inground tool. First and second triaxial accelerometers are supported such that a normal sensing axis of the first triaxial accelerometer is at least generally orthogonal to the normal sensing axis of the second triaxial accelerometer for determining the accelerations along the three orthogonal axes based on a combination of sensing axis outputs from one or both of the triaxial accelerometers. A weaker sensing axis of one triaxial accelerometer can be supported at least approximately normal to a weaker sensing axis of another triaxial accelerometer such that the weaker axes are not used. The triaxial accelerometers can be supported such that one axis of one accelerometer can be redundant with respect to another axis of another accelerometer. One triaxial accelerometer can be mounted on a tilted plane with respect to another triaxial accelerometer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2022
    Assignee: Merlin Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Albert W. Chau, John E. Mercer, Scott Phillips
  • Patent number: 11204388
    Abstract: A power generation equipment monitoring system includes a receiver and a determining processor. The receiver acquires, from a measuring device that measures output currents of power generation equipment that converts rotational energy of a rotor thereof into electric energy to output AC voltage with a reference frequency, waveform data representing waveform of the output currents. The determining processor determines presence and absence of a malfunction in a rotary block that applies motive power to the rotor of the power generation equipment, according to the waveform data acquired through the receiver. The determining processor determines the presence and absence of the malfunction based on a component of at least one specific frequency arranged at one or more intervals according to a rotational speed of the rotor from the reference frequency on a frequency axis in a frequency spectrum of the output currents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2021
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shin Tabuchi, Satoshi Kanai
  • Patent number: 11168983
    Abstract: A signal processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present technology includes an acceleration arithmetic unit. The acceleration arithmetic unit extracts, on a basis of a first detection signal and a second detection signal, the first detection signal including information related to an acceleration along at least a uniaxial direction and having an alternating-current waveform corresponding to the acceleration, the second detection signal including the information related to the acceleration and having an output waveform in which an alternating-current component corresponding to the acceleration is superimposed on a direct-current component, a dynamic acceleration component and a static acceleration component from the acceleration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: SONY SEMICONDUCTOR SOLUTIONS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hidetoshi Kabasawa, Yusaku Kato, Satoshi Mitani
  • Patent number: 11125546
    Abstract: According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a fuse system for a projectile for a ranged weapon, the fuse system comprising: a pressure sensor system for sensing an air pressure of an environment in which the fuse system is present; a control system arranged to receive a signal from the pressure sensor system, and to at least initiate arming of the fuse system conditional on the received signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: BAE Systems plc
    Inventor: Martyn John Hucker
  • Patent number: 10899300
    Abstract: A collision detection sensor includes a sensor module which includes a first surface and a second surface facing each other. The first surface includes an acceleration detection element detecting a vehicle acceleration in one direction parallel thereto, and the second surface is formed with a first land and a second land. Among four corners of the second surface, one corner in a first pair of opposing corners is provided with the first land, and the other corner in the first pair of opposing corners is provided with the second land.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Makoto Sakai
  • Patent number: 10883887
    Abstract: A physical quantity sensor includes a base unit as a support substrate, provided with a cavity that is open on one side, a movable unit which is formed on an open side of the cavity and is capable of displacing in a first direction, and spring units that are formed on the open side of the cavity and are connected to the movable unit. A length of the spring units in a second direction that is a direction, which intersects the first direction and in which the base unit overlaps the movable unit, is shorter than a length of the movable unit in the second direction and is longer than a length of the spring units in the first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2021
    Inventor: Atsuki Naruse
  • Patent number: 10859620
    Abstract: Aspects are generally directed to a compact and low-noise electric field detector, methods of operation, and methods of production thereof. In one example, an electric field detector includes a proof mass, a source of concentrated charge coupled to the proof mass, and a substrate having a substrate offset space defined therein, the proof mass being suspended above the substrate offset space. The electric field detector further includes a sense electrode disposed on the substrate within the substrate offset space and proximate the proof mass, the sense electrode being configured to measure a change in capacitance relative to the proof mass from movement of the proof mass in response to a received electric field at the source of concentrated charge. The electric field detector includes a control circuit coupled to the sense electrode and configured to determine a characteristic of the electric field based on the measured change in capacitance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Assignee: THE CHARLES STARK DRAPER LABORATORY, INC.
    Inventors: James A. Bickford, Stephanie Lynne Golmon, Paul A. Ward, William D. Sawyer, Marc S. Weinberg, John J. LeBlanc, Louis Kratchman, James S. Pringle, Jr., Daniel Freeman, Amy Duwel, Max Lindsay Turnquist, Ronald Steven McNabb, Jr., William A. Lenk
  • Patent number: 10859449
    Abstract: To provide a distribution measuring sensor system and the like having a high spatial resolution and can greatly reduce a wiring region even if many sensor units for the measurement of a contact pressure and a shear stress acting on an interface between a living body and an object are integrated. A distribution measuring sensor 10 has a configuration in which sensor units Uij which measure a shear stress in a direction of a plane and a contact pressure in a direction perpendicular to the plane are arranged at each element of a matrix M. The sensor units Uij are constituted of an upper electrode UijH common to measurement of the shear stress and the contact pressure, and a lower electrode UijL arranged below the upper electrode UijH through a pressure sensitive material 20. Each sensor unit Uij in the x axis direction arranged in the same column j of the matrix M has each upper electrode UijH connected in the column j direction in common through the connecting line Cj.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Assignee: HIROSAKI UNIVERSITY
    Inventor: Kazuhiko Sasagawa
  • Patent number: 10794929
    Abstract: A vibration sensor for construction projects has a housing, a low range accelerometer and a high range accelerometer disposed in the housing, and an analog-to-digital conversion circuit connected to the low and high range accelerometers. The low range accelerometer may have a noise floor below 0.0248 g across frequencies up to 1 kHz, especially between 1 Hz and 315 Hz. The high range accelerometer has a maximum acceleration equal to or greater than 50 g across frequencies up to 1 kHz, especially between 1 Hz and 315 Hz.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignee: Stanley Convergent Security Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert C. Turnbull, Terance D. Brown, Damon Kutten
  • Patent number: 10782312
    Abstract: A rotational acceleration sensor having a substrate, a mass movable with respect to the substrate, a suspension means suspending the mass movably relative to the substrate, a detection means for detecting a state of the mass deflected with respect to an idle position, and a detection means encompassing a first detection unit for detecting a deflected state of the mass i.e., a pivoting of the mass around a first axis substantially perpendicular to a principal extension plane of the substrate as a result of a rotational acceleration of the rotational acceleration sensor around the first axis. The detection means also encompassing a second detection unit for detecting a deflected state of the mass, i.e., a pivoting of the mass around a second axis substantially parallel to the principal extension plane of the substrate as a result of a rotational acceleration of the rotational acceleration sensor around the second axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2020
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Mathias Reimann
  • Patent number: 10696541
    Abstract: Systems and methods for suppressing bias in a non-degenerate vibratory structure are provided. In certain embodiments, a vibratory structure includes a first proof mass; a second proof mass, wherein the first proof mass and the second proof mass are driven into motion along a first axis, wherein the first proof mass and the second proof mass move in anti-phase along a second axis, wherein the motion of the first proof mass and the second proof mass along the second axis is such that the centers of mass of the first proof mass and the second proof mass move collinearly along a same axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel Endean, John Reinke
  • Patent number: 10634499
    Abstract: An inertial measurement apparatus has mechanically bendable beams that have an isosceles trapezoid cross-section. The apparatus has a resonant member having a perimeter at least partially defined by a sidewall slanted at a first angular value and at least one electrode disposed adjacent, and parallel, to the sidewall and separated therefrom by a capacitive gap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: Georgia Tech Research Corporation
    Inventors: Farrokh Ayazi, Haoran Wen
  • Patent number: 10569134
    Abstract: A system and method for analyzing and improving the performance of a body motion of an animal or human subject requires instrumenting a subject with inertial sensors, monitoring a body motion of interest, converting sensor data into motion data and animation, comparing the motion data with existing data for motion related performance parameters, providing a real-time, information rich, animation and data display of the results in color coded displays; and based on the results prescribing a training regime with exercises selected from a library of standardized exercises using standardized tools and training aids.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: K-Motion Interactive, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Vermilyea, Erik Herter, Steve Diamond, Anthony Morgan, Michael D Bentley
  • Patent number: 10514776
    Abstract: Systems and methods according to the present invention address these needs and others by providing a handheld device, e.g., a 3D pointing device, which uses at least one sensor to detect motion of the handheld device. The detected motion can then be mapped into a desired output, e.g., cursor movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2019
    Assignee: IDHL Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew G. Liberty, Daniel S. Simpkins, Charles W. K. Gritton, Mark Turner, Frank A. Hunleth
  • Patent number: 10503275
    Abstract: Computing interface systems and methods are disclosed. Some implementations include a first accelerometer attached to a first fastening article that is capable of holding the first accelerometer in place on a portion of a thumb of a user. Some implementations may also include a second accelerometer attached to a second fastening article that is capable of holding the second accelerometer in place on a portion of a wrist of a user. Some implementations may additionally or alternatively include magnetometers and/or gyroscopes attached to the first and second fastening articles. Some implementations may also include a processing device configured to receive measurements from the accelerometers, magnetometers, and/or gyroscopes and identify, based on the measurements, symbols associated with motions of a user's hand and/or the orientation of the hand. Some implementations may allow a user to control a cursor in a three dimensional virtual space and interact with objects in that space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignee: Opdig, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric Jeffrey Keller, Vinh Vi Lam, Frank Peter Lambrecht
  • Patent number: 10473708
    Abstract: The invention provides methods and systems for real-time monitoring of the insulation state of wind-powered generator windings comprising the following steps: a) capturing in real-time, during a predetermined time period (in situations where the generator is synchronized to the electrical network but is not yet couplet thereto as well as in situations where the generator is producing energy) the values of one or more electrical and vibration variables of the generator; b) obtaining in real-time, the temporal evolution of the vibration and of the inverse components of electrical variables at one or more predetermined frequencies; c) identifying a possible generator insulation fault when the inverse component of at least one electrical variable and/or one vibration at a predetermined frequency exceeds an absolute threshold or a temporal increase threshold pre-sets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignee: GAMESA INNOVATION & TECHNOLOGY, S.L.
    Inventors: Jose Luis Rodriguez Izal, Isaac Gude Rodriguez, Guillermo Sanchez Vitorica, Almudena Munoz Babiano
  • Patent number: 10426019
    Abstract: A lighting device that properly controls light emission, thereby making it possible to perform product protection of the lighting device from generated heat without impairing usability. The lighting device is capable of using a plurality of types of batteries attached thereto, and includes a light emission section to which electric power is supplied from the attached battery. The lighting device includes a processor that functions as a light emission control unit configured to control light emission from the light emission section, and an acquisition unit configured to acquire information on the battery, including information on a temperature of the attached battery. A parameter for use in limiting light emission from the light emission section is determined based on a result of acquisition of the information on the battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Keiichiro Saito
  • Patent number: 10371516
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method and apparatus for determining the misalignment between a device and a pedestrian, wherein the pedestrian can carry, hold, or use the device in different orientations in a constrained or unconstrained manner, and wherein the device comprises a sensor assembly. The sensors in the device may be for example, accelerometers, gyroscopes, magnetometers, barometer among others. The sensors have a corresponding frame for the sensors' axes. The misalignment between the device and the pedestrian means the misalignment between the frame of the sensor assembly in the device and the frame of the pedestrian. The present method and apparatus can work whether in the presence or in the absence of absolute navigational information updates (such as, for example, Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) or WiFi positioning).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: InvenSense, Inc.
    Inventors: Abdelrahman Ali, Hsiu-Wen Chang, Jacques Georgy, Zainab Syed, Christopher Goodall
  • Patent number: 10371520
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a gyroscope sensor for detecting a rotational motion about a sensitivity axis and comprising means for quadrature compensation. The gyroscope sensor comprises a total inertial mass comprising a first inertial mass and a second inertial mass physically attached to each other and arranged such that a rotation of the first inertial mass about a detection axis caused by the coriolis force when the gyroscope sensor is subjected to a rotation about a sensitivity axis. The gyroscope further comprises a first drive structure having a displaceable drive frame which may cause a respective of the first or second inertial mass to rotate about the detection axis in order to compensate for quadrature errors originating from faulty coupling between a drive mode and a sense mode of the gyroscope sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: RISE ACREO AB
    Inventors: Gert Andersson, Erik Svensson, Borys Stoew, Nils Hedenstierna
  • Patent number: 10339354
    Abstract: Disclosed are a wearable device and controlling method thereof. The present invention includes a flexible surface light source, a photo panel located on a top surface of the flexible surface light source, and a controller coupled with the flexible surface light source and the photo panel. The controller is configured to detect a first biometric image by controlling the flexible surface light source and identify a user by comparing the detected first biometric image to a second biometric image previously saved in a memory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Junhak Lee, Hyungchul Won, Chaedeok Lee
  • Patent number: 10281486
    Abstract: The structure enables two-directional sensing of accelerations with compact component dimensions and with minimal cross-axis sensitivity. The rotation mass includes a first frame and a second frame. In one sense direction, the structure employs a combined proof mass of the first frame and the second frame, which improves the signal to noise level achievable with said device dimensions. In the other sense direction, a detection structure with at least two sensing elements is used to detect displacements of the proof mass of the second frame. Due to the specific internal configuration of the detection structure, signal contributions of the sensing elements in the one direction cancel each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignee: MURATA MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Matti Liukku, Severi Niskanen
  • Patent number: 10213137
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure help to synchronize multiple video segments of an actor or actors performing athletic maneuvers. Among other things, various embodiments help provide a side-by-side visual comparison of athletic maneuvers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2019
    Assignee: ALPINEREPLAY, INC.
    Inventors: Anatole M. Lokshin, David J. Lokshin
  • Patent number: 10184951
    Abstract: Three-axis monolithic microelectromechanical system (MEMS) accelerometers and methods for fabricating integrated capacitive and piezo accelerometers are provided. In an embodiment, a three-axis MEMS accelerometer includes a first sensing structure for sensing acceleration in a first direction. Further, the three-axis MEMS accelerometer includes a second sensing structure for sensing acceleration in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. Also, the three-axis MEMS accelerometer includes a third sensing structure for sensing acceleration in a third direction perpendicular to the first direction and perpendicular to the second direction. At least one sensing structure is a capacitive structure and at least one sensing structure is a piezo structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2019
    Assignee: GLOBALFOUNDRIES SINGAPORE PTE. LTD.
    Inventors: Aveek Nath Chatterjee, Siddharth Chakravarty, Ramachandramurthy Pradeep Yelehanka, Rakesh Kumar
  • Patent number: 10084946
    Abstract: An exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes a PCB (Printed Circuit Board) mounted with an image sensor, a holder member mounted at the PCB to support a lens module, movable lens concentrically arranged with the lens module, a first actuator compensating movement of an image captured by the image sensor by moving the movable lens, and a gyro sensor unit integrally formed with the first actuator to detect rotation of trajectory in response to movement of an electronic device mounted with the camera module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2018
    Assignee: LG INNOTEK CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Hack Ho Kim
  • Patent number: 9977046
    Abstract: A device includes two electrically isolated metalized posts attached in close proximity to each other on a bendable substrate. When the bendable substrate bends concavely with respect to the surface onto which the posts are mounted, the distance between the tops of the two posts decreases. At a fixed bending curvature, the two posts will meet and complete an electrical circuit. The posts comprise a flexible material so that the meeting of the posts has minimal effect on the spring constant or damping coefficient of the harmonic oscillation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Assignee: THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AS REPRESENTED BY THE SECRETARY OF THE NAVY
    Inventors: Paul D. Swanson, Andrew Wang, Charles H. Tally, IV
  • Patent number: 9809444
    Abstract: According to an embodiment, a MEMS device includes a deflectable membrane including a first plurality of electrostatic comb fingers, a first anchor structure including a second plurality of electrostatic comb fingers interdigitated with a first subset of the first plurality of electrostatic comb fingers, and a second anchor structure including a third plurality of electrostatic comb fingers interdigitated with a second subset of the first plurality of electrostatic comb fingers. The second plurality of electrostatic comb fingers are offset from the first plurality of electrostatic comb fingers in a first direction and the third plurality of electrostatic comb fingers are offset from the first plurality of electrostatic comb fingers in a second direction, where the first direction is different from the second direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventor: Wolfgang Klein
  • Patent number: 9726489
    Abstract: A single proof-mass, dual-axis gyroscope apparatus comprises a resonating body member and first and second electrodes each capacitively coupled to the resonating body member by a respective lateral capacitive air gap and a vertical capacitive air gap. The width of one of the lateral capacitive air gap of the first electrode is substantially smaller than the vertical capacitive air gap. The width of one of the vertical capacitive air gap of the second electrode is substantially smaller than the lateral capacitive air gap. The apparatus claimed can address the process variation such as vertical and lateral dimension variation by electrostatic tuning method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: Georgia Tech Research Corporation
    Inventors: Farrokh Ayazi, Wang-kyung Sung, Mohammad Zaman
  • Patent number: 9720012
    Abstract: An inertial sensor includes first and second movable elements suspended from a substrate and interconnected by a beam. The second movable element is positioned laterally adjacent to the first movable element, and each of the movable elements has a mass that is asymmetric relative to a rotational axis. A first spring system couples the first movable element to the substrate and a second spring system couples the second movable element to the substrate. The spring systems and the beam enable the movable elements to move together in response to force imposed upon the movable elements. In particular, the first and second movable elements can undergo in-plane torsion motion in response to force, such as acceleration, imposed in a sense direction. Additionally, damping structures may be integrated into the first and second movable elements to effectively increase a damping ratio of the device resulting from the in-plane torsion motion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: NXP USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Jun Tang, Aaron A. Geisberger, Margaret L. Kniffin
  • Patent number: 9702894
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a monolithic z-axis torsional CMOS MEMS accelerometer, it includes a matching frame, two anchors, a first comb structure, a second comb structure and a proof mass. With the implementation of the present invention, the capacitance sensitivity of Z+ direction and Z? direction sensing signals by the accelerometer can be improved. On the other hand, due to the feasibility of applying micromachining etch processes from the top side, the ease and the yield of production are both promoted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: NATIONAL APPLIED RESEARCH LABORATORIES
    Inventors: Sheng-Hsiang Tseng, Yi-Jen Wang, Hann-Huei Tsai, Ying-Zong Juang
  • Patent number: 9696339
    Abstract: A three-axis accelerometer to provide measurement of acceleration in three axes, comprising a substrate, a suspending mass block suspended in the substrate, a group of Y direction displacement sensors, a group of Z direction displacement sensors and a group of X direction displacement sensors; wherein the Y direction displacement sensors, the Z direction displacement sensors and the X direction displacement sensors are respectively arranged adjacent to the mass block; the mass block and the displacement sensors respectively comprise a plurality of metal layers and a dielectric layer between two metal layers. In the mass block, regions corresponding to the Y, Z and X direction displacement sensors respectively comprise at least two metal layers connected by a via. The Y, Z and X groups displacement sensors respectively comprise at least two metal layers connected by a via.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: SAGATEK CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kuei-Ann Wen, Tai-Wei Chiang
  • Patent number: 9639953
    Abstract: A surgical mechanism control system including an acceleration or orientation detection unit to output a control signal in response to detecting an acceleration or orientation of the unit, the unit being attachable to a surgeon. The unit includes an acceleration sensor and the acceleration sensor has an associated threshold acceleration, such that an acceleration below the associated threshold acceleration does not cause actuation of an associated switch unit and an acceleration above the associated threshold acceleration does cause the associated switch unit to actuate. A control signal is output on actuation of the switch unit and foot pedal, and the control signal is used to control a surgical mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: Freehand 2010 Ltd
    Inventor: Paul Moraviec
  • Patent number: 9575088
    Abstract: The invention relates to a capacitive micromechanical acceleration sensor comprising a first sensor, a second sensor, and a third sensor. The first sensor comprises a rotor electrode and stator electrode. The sensor comprises a first beam that is connected to a rotor electrode support structure and that is connected to the rotor electrode. The sensor comprises a second beam that is connected to the rotor electrode support structure and that is connected to the rotor electrode. The second sensor is situated in a first space circumscribed by the first beam, the first sensor, and the rotor electrode support structure. The third sensor is situated in a second space circumscribed by the second beam, the first sensor, and the rotor electrode support structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: MURATA MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Matti Liukku, Ville-Pekka Rytkönen, Anssi Blomqvist
  • Patent number: 9566021
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure help to synchronize multiple video segments of an actor or actors performing athletic maneuvers. Among other things, various embodiments help provide a side-by-side visual comparison of athletic maneuvers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignee: ALPINEREPLAY, INC.
    Inventors: Anatole M. Lokshin, David J. Lokshin
  • Patent number: 9531330
    Abstract: An amplifier system has an amplifier for amplifying a plurality of input signals from a plurality of different channels, and a plurality of demodulators each operatively coupled with the amplifier for receiving amplified input signals from the amplifier. Each demodulator is configured to demodulate a single amplified input channel signal from a single channel of the plurality of different channels. The system thus also has a plurality of filters, coupled with each of the demodulators, for mitigating the noise.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: Analog Devices, Inc.
    Inventor: Howard R. Samuels
  • Patent number: 9400930
    Abstract: Embodiments disclosed obtain a plurality of measurement sets from a plurality of sensors in conjunction with the capture of a sequence of exterior and interior images of a structure while traversing locations in and around the structure. Each measurement set may be associated with at least one image. An external structural envelope of the structure is determined from exterior images of the structure and the corresponding outdoor trajectory of a UE. The position and orientation of the structure and the structural envelope is determined in absolute coordinates. Further, an indoor map of the structure in absolute coordinates may be obtained based on interior images of the structure, a structural envelope in absolute coordinates, and measurements associated with the indoor trajectory of the UE during traversal of the indoor area to capture the interior images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2016
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Mark Leo Moeglein, Christopher Brunner, Hui Chao, Murali Ramaswamy Chari, Arvind Ramanandan, Mahesh Ramachandran, Abhishek Tyagi
  • Patent number: 9342973
    Abstract: The present disclosure proposes a method of handling a fall event for use by a handheld mobile electronic device, and a handheld mobile electronic device using the same method. Accordingly, the handheld mobile electronic device first detects a fall event. In response to the fall event determined to have exceeded a predetermined distance, the device would detect whether the device has moved or has experienced a pressure variation within a time period after the fall event has ended. If the result is negative, the device would activate an alarm and transmit a notification related to the fall event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: HTC Corporation
    Inventors: Chuan-Yu Tseng, Chun-Hung Chen
  • Patent number: 9327962
    Abstract: A micromechanical structure of a MEMS device, integrated in a die of semiconductor material provided with a substrate and having at least a first axis of symmetry lying in a horizontal plane, has a stator structure, which is fixed with respect to the substrate, and a rotor structure, having a suspended mass, mobile with respect to the substrate and to the stator structure as a result of an external action, the stator structure having fixed sensing electrodes capacitively coupled to the rotor structure; a compensation structure is integrated in the die for compensation of thermo-mechanical strains. The compensation structure has stator compensation electrodes, which are fixed with respect to the substrate, are capacitively coupled to the rotor structure, and are arranged symmetrically to the fixed sensing electrodes with respect to the first axis of symmetry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Assignee: STMICROELECTRONICS S.R.L.
    Inventor: Angelo Antonio Merassi
  • Patent number: 9315377
    Abstract: A first sensor section installed in an acceleration sensor employs a first elastic member which is elastically movable according to acceleration in the first and third directions and is stiff against acceleration in second direction so as to restrict elasticity in second direction. Thereby, the first sensor section is provided as a biaxial acceleration sensor which detects the first and third directional acceleration according to a change of electrostatic capacity between a first weight (i.e. the first movable electrode) made movable according to acceleration and the first fixed electrode. A second sensor section installed in the acceleration sensor is structurally identical with the first sensor section and configured to detect acceleration in second and third directions. Thereby, such combination of the first sensor section and the second sensor section constitutes a three-dimensional acceleration sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2016
    Assignee: MURATA MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Toshihisa Suzuki
  • Patent number: 9279682
    Abstract: An inertial unit comprising an inertial core (3) that is connected to a control unit (50) and that includes three gyros (9, 10, 11) that are mounted relative to one another so as to have sensing axes (X, Y, Z) that are substantially perpendicular to one another, the gyros being vibrating axisymmetric gyros with hemispherical resonators, the unit being characterized in that the core is mounted on a carousel (2) arranged to drive the inertial core in rotation about an axis of rotation (4) at at least one frequency that corresponds to a minimum for spectral error density of the gyros. An angle-measurement method making use of the unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: SAGEM DEFENSE SECURITE
    Inventors: Alain Renault, Christian Lignon, Etienne Brunstein
  • Patent number: 9261968
    Abstract: A video gaming system includes a wireless controller that senses linear and angular acceleration to calculate paths of controller movement over a broad range of controller motion. The system also includes an electromagnetic alignment element, such as a set of LEDS. The controller includes an additional sensor to sense light from the LEDs over a relatively restricted range of controller motion, and use this sensed light to dynamically calibrate the controller when the controller passes through the restricted range of motion over which the sensor senses the light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: AiLive, Inc.
    Inventors: Wei Yen, Ian Wright, Xiaoyuan Tu, Stuart Reynolds, William Robert Powers, III, Charles Musick, John Funge, Daniel Dobson, Curt Bererton