Abstract: Four sensor units (SUA1 to SUA4) are disposed symmetrically about a point, on both top and bottom and left and right centering around one point of a support (15e). Furthermore, four sensor units (SUA1 to SUA4) are designed so that all the components are fully in tuning-fork structure. Drive frames (5, 5) of the sensor units (SUA1, SUA2) disposed adjacent to each other in a first direction (Y) are vibrated in mutually inverted phases, and drive frames of the other sensor units (SUA3, SUA4) disposed adjacent to each other in a second direction (X) are vibrated in mutually inverted phases as well. Moreover, the drive frames of the sensor units (SUA1, SUA2) and the drive frames of the other sensor units (SUA3, SUA4) are operated in synchronization in the state in which phases are shifted by 90 degrees. Whereby, it is possible to reduce or prevent vibration coupling in the driving direction and in the detection direction, and the leakage (loss) of excitation energy and Coriolis force.

Abstract: As an embodiment of the present invention, in a navigation system using an acceleration sensor, when position information cannot be obtained from a GPS processing section, a velocity detecting unit performs an operation using detected acceleration ?G, a measurement time mt, a velocity V0 at a time t0, gravity acceleration g and an amount of height change Dh, according to Expression (11). By using the relationship among a gravity acceleration component gf, the gravity acceleration g, the amount of height change Dh and distance Dm shown in Expression (4), the gravity acceleration component gf can be offset by the amount of height change Dh. Therefore, velocity V can be calculated with high accuracy without receiving the effect of the gravity acceleration component gf.

Abstract: An electronic apparatus includes an acceleration detection unit configured to detect acceleration acting on the electronic apparatus, a noise removal unit configured to remove a noise component from an output of the acceleration detection unit, a first determination unit configured to determine whether output from the noise removal unit indicates acceleration equal to or less than a first acceleration, a second determination unit configured to determine whether output from the noise removal unit indicates acceleration equal to or less than a second acceleration, and a fall state determination unit configured to determine that the electronic apparatus is falling when the first determination unit detects that output from the noise removal unit is equal to or less than the first acceleration, or when the second determination unit determines that output from the noise removal unit is equal to or less than the second acceleration.

Abstract: An inertial measurement unit is provided. The inertial measurement unit comprises two rotational axes, wherein a first of the two rotational axes is aligned nominally along a thrust axis and a second of the two rotational axes is aligned substantially perpendicular to a plane formed by a local gravity vector and a thrust vector, and one or more sensors which rotate about the second rotational axis.

Abstract: A method for determining the roll angle for occupant protection devices and a corresponding device are described. A transverse acceleration and a vertical acceleration of the vehicle are detected, and the roll angle of the vehicle is estimated based on the detected transverse acceleration and the detected vertical acceleration.

Abstract: In an embodiment of the present invention there is provided a micro-electromechanical (MEMS) accelerometer, including a substrate, a first sensor and a second sensor. The first sensor is configured to measure an acceleration along a first axis parallel to a plane of the substrate. The second sensor is configured to measure an acceleration along an axis perpendicular to the plane of the substrate. The second sensor comprises a first beam, a second beam and a single support structure. The single support structure supports the first and second beams relative to the substrate, wherein the first and second beams circumscribe the first sensor.

Abstract: A sensing device for measuring movement along linear/arc path, being adapted to adhere to a body, is capable of determining specific movements of the body, which comprises: at least a two-axis accelerometer, for detecting accelerations measured along a first direction and a second direction and thus issuing a sensing signal corresponding to the detection; a signal processor, for processing the sensing signal received thereby and thus providing a data of acceleration; and a means of measurement, capable of determining and measuring a linear/arc movement of the body with respect to the data of acceleration.

Abstract: A system captures motion data in natural environments. A set of sources and a set of sensors are arranged on an object such as a human body. Each source emits ultrasonic signals detected by the sensors. A driver module is also arranged on the body. The driver module generates the ultrasonic signals for the set of sources and timing signals for the set of sensors. Distances between the set of sources and the set of sensors are measured based on a time of flight of the ultrasonic signals. Three dimensional locations of the set of sources and the set of sensors are determined from the distances. The distance measurements are refined using inertial components that provide rotation rates and accelerations. All these measurements together yield poses or configurations of the object.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention are directed toward a system and method of determining real time chest compression depth of a CPR patient or manikin from acceleration and a reference signal, such as force. In one embodiment, an acceleration signal is filtered and integrated to determine a raw depth signal. A force signal is adjusted to having a similar amplitude, phase, and shape as the raw depth signal. The force signal is filtered. The adjusted force signal is subtracted from the filtered force signal to obtain a compensation signal. The chest compression depth is obtained by adding the raw depth signal to the compensation signal.

Abstract: A transducer package 20 includes a substrate 32 having a first axis of symmetry 36 and a second axis of symmetry 38 arranged orthogonal to the first axis of symmetry 36. At least a first sensor 50 and a second sensor 52 each of which are symmetrically arranged on the substrate 32 relative to one of the first and second axes of symmetry 36 and 38. The first and second sensors 50 and 52 are adapted to detect movement parallel to the other of the first and second axes of symmetry 36 and 38. The first sensor 50 is adapted to detect movement over a first sensing range and the second sensor 52 is adapted to detect movement over a second sensing range, the second sensing range differing from the first sensing range.

Abstract: To enable accurate body motion detection of a user according to the direction of body motion of the user (movement direction) without being affected by the wearing position and wearing direction of the device main unit. A control unit 110 performs computation processing of acceleration vectors which are detection output from a tri-axial acceleration sensor 101, and calculates an acceleration-of-gravity vector. A vertical component included in the acceleration vector is extracted by predetermined computation processing taking into consideration the calculated acceleration-of-gravity vector and the acceleration vector. The vertical direction body motion of the user can be accurately detected by analyzing the vertical component.

Abstract: The movement detector having six degrees of freedom comprises a support on which three position sensors are arranged according to three orthogonal axes. Each sensor comprises a rigid body (3), a deformable element (4) which is electrically conductive, and four conductive areas (6b) which are disposed on rigid walls (3). The deformable element (4) is balanced around the centre part thereof and has a rest position and four active positions wherein it is temporarily in contact with two of the conductive areas (6b) of the rigid body (3). The deformable element (4) of a sensor moves from a rest position to one of the active positions in response to a predetermined directional or axial translation or votation.

Abstract: A fall detection device is provided, which accomplishes a fall judgment on acceleration by a simple calculation and improves uniformity of effective threshold value for the acceleration judgment as to a direction of an applied acceleration vector. The fall detection device produces a fall detection signal when an absolute value of each axis component of an acceleration measured by a three-axis acceleration sensor is less than a first threshold value, and when a sum of the absolute values of the axis components of the acceleration is less than a second threshold value that is 1.5 times to twice the first threshold value.

Abstract: Tracking a motion of a body by obtaining two types of measurements associated with the motion of the body, one of the types including acoustic measurement. An estimate of either an orientation or a position of the body is updated based on one of the two types of measurement, for example based on inertial measurement. The estimate is then updated based on the other of the two types of measurements, for example based on acoustic ranging. The invention also features determining range measurement to selected reference devices that are fixed in the environment of the body.

Abstract: A system including a processor, a high-energy density system linked to the processor, and a communicator linked to the processor. The communicator comprehensively integrates a plurality of hardware and software functions associated with operating the high-energy density system into a single, convenient interface. In one exemplary embodiment, the communicator comprises a wireless communicator. In operation, the communicator generates a command signal whereby the command signal is received by the processor. Accordingly, the processor controls the high-energy density system based on the command signal. In one aspect, the communicator interfaces with a security system for selectively limiting user access through a restricted system. In another aspect, the communicator is used for object information storage and retrieval associated with operating a high-energy density system, such as an ultrasonic laser system. In another aspect, the communicator is used to control a robotic device.

Abstract: A monitoring system for a machine is provided. The machine includes at least one movable member including at least one sensor configured to generate at least one speed measurement of the moveable member. The machine also includes at least one processor coupled in electronic data communication to the sensor. The sensor is configured to generate at least one time stamp value for the at least one speed measurement signal. The at least one processor is configured to generate a plurality of time-stamped speed measurement signals of the at least one moveable member. The processor is further configured to determine a prioritization of the plurality of time-stamped speed measurement signals as a function of at least one predetermined temporal value.

Abstract: An inertial sensor, comprises a detection element detecting an amount of a physical quantity in a detection axis direction, a plurality of support members having flexibility and supporting nearly a center of the detection element, and a package substrate housing the detection element and the plurality of support members. In a case when an X-axis is defined as an extending direction of the plurality of support members, a Y-axis is perpendicular to the X-axis in a plane including the detection element, and a Z-axis is perpendicular to the X-axis and the Y-axis, one of load components in a direction of the Y-axis of the detection member applied to the plurality of support members is nearly equal to other among the plurality of support members, and one of load components in a direction of the Z-axis is nearly equal to the other among the plurality of support members.

Abstract: An activity monitor is provided that can be cheaper and require lower power than existing activity monitors. A single output channel from a plurality of motion sensors is provided and monitored intermittently.

Abstract: MEMS devices and methods employing one or more electrodes coupled to a time-varying rebalancing voltage are disclosed. A MEMS inertial sensor in accordance with an illustrative embodiment can include one or more proof masses, at least one sense electrode positioned adjacent to each proof mass, and one or more torquer electrodes. Rebalancing voltages can be applied to the torquer electrodes to electrostatically null quadrature and/or Coriolis-related proof mass motion along a sense axis of the device. The rebalancing voltages applied to each of the torquer electrodes can be adjusted using feedback from one or more force rebalancing control loops.

Abstract: An acceleration sensor includes a weight and a vibrator that supports the weight at its center of gravity. When acceleration is applied to the weight, stress equivalent to the applied acceleration is generated in the vibrator. As the vibrator is arranged to support the weight at its center of gravity, a characteristic relationship is observed between the acceleration, such as angular acceleration or translational acceleration, and the size of electric charges and the polarity. By taking advantage of this relationship, different types of acceleration can be easily detected.

Abstract: A physical quantity sensor includes: a substrate; an angular speed sensor disposed on the substrate; and an acceleration sensor disposed on the substrate. The angular speed sensor includes an oscillator capable of oscillating by a driving force and displaceable in accordance with a Coriolis force attributed to an angular speed of the oscillator. The acceleration sensor includes a movable portion displaceable in accordance with an acceleration applied to the acceleration sensor. The oscillator has a driving direction, which is not parallel to a displacement direction of the movable portion. The physical quantity sensor having the angular speed sensor and the acceleration sensor detects both of the angular speed and the acceleration with high accuracy.

Abstract: A method for object detection using vehicle-mounted sensors is provided, the sensing ranges of which sensors overlap at least partially. In this context, signals of at least two sensors having sensing ranges with essentially identical coverage, and additional signals of at least one additional sensor having a sensing range which only partially overlaps with the sensing ranges of the at least two sensors, are evaluated. An object is identified as relevant when it is detected by at least three of the sensors.

Abstract: A monolithic integrated 3-axis accelerometer chip includes a single crystal substrate, the substrate including at least one single crystal membrane layer portion. A single sensor microstructure made from the single crystal membrane senses acceleration in each of the three orthogonal directions. At least one electronic circuit can also be disposed on the chip, such as a circuit for driving, detecting, controlling and signal processing.

Abstract: A sensor for measuring acceleration in three mutually orthogonal axes, X, Y and Z is disclosed. The sensor comprises a sensor subassembly. The sensor subassembly further comprises a base which is substantially parallel to the X-Y sensing plane; a proof mass disposed in the X-Y sensing plane and constrained to move substantially in the X, Y, and Z, about by at least one linkage and is responsive to accelerations in the X, Y and Z directions. The sensor includes at least one paddle disposed in the sensing plane; and at least one pivot on the linkage. Finally, the sensor includes at least one electrode at the base plate and at least one transducer for each sensing direction of the sensor subassembly responsive to the acceleration.

Abstract: Measurement of a spatial velocity vector in order to make determination of a geographical position possible. A spatial velocity meter includes an inertial measurement unit, a direction-sensing module and a velocity processor. The inertial measurement unit registers acceleration parameters and angular velocity parameters in three dimensions. The direction-sensing module registers a natural reference signal. The velocity processor receives the acceleration parameters, the angular velocity parameters and the natural reference signal, and based thereon, generates the spatial velocity vector.

Abstract: MEMS Sensor Systems and Methods are provided. In one embodiment, a method for producing a six degree of freedom inertial sensor is provided. The method comprises fabricating a first silicon wafer segment having at least one inertial sensor pair, the at least one inertial sensor pair comprising one or both of a pair of orthogonally oriented accelerometers and a pair of orthogonally oriented gyroscopes; fabricating a second silicon wafer segment having at least one inertial sensor, the at least one inertial sensor comprising one or both of an accelerometer and a gyroscope; assembling together the first silicon wafer segment and the second silicon wafer segment such that the at least one inertial sensor pair and the at least one inertial sensor are oriented orthogonal to each other; and bonding the first silicon wafer segment to the second silicon wafer segment.

Abstract: Cross-monitoring sensor system and method in which a plurality of sensors each having a sensing element, circuitry for processing signals from the sensing element, an output interface for delivering processed signals, and an auxiliary input to which signals from another device can be input for processing and delivery by the output interface. Signals from each of the sensors are applied to the auxiliary input of another one of the sensors, and signals from the output interfaces of the sensors are compared to verify integrity of the system.

Abstract: An application of rate gyros and accelerometers allows electronic measurement of the motion of a rigid or semi-rigid body, such as a body associated with sporting equipment including a fly rod during casting, a baseball bat, a tennis racquet or a golf club during swinging. For instance, data can be collected by one gyro according to the present invention is extremely useful in analyzing the motion of a fly rod during fly casting instruction, and can also be used during the research, development and design phases of fly casting equipment including fly rods and fly lines. Similarly, data collected by three gyros and three accelerometers is extremely useful in analyzing the three dimensional motion of other sporting equipment such as baseball bats, tennis racquets and golf clubs. This data can be used to support instruction as well as design of the sporting equipment.

Abstract: A tilt sensor and a method for the use of the tilt sensor to calculate the degree of tilt, whereby the tilt sensor has at least three accelerometers mounted to a base, the accelerometers are positioned in a common plane, and wherein each is preferably at an equally spaced angle from one another.

Abstract: A micro accelerometer including a plurality of proof masses is provided to detect the acceleration of the first axis, the second axis and the third axis. The disclosed micro accelerometer has the advantages of close loop control, mechanical decoupling, and not relying on high aspect ratio manufacturing technology.

Abstract: An activity monitor is provided that corrects for the effects of motion external to the entity being monitored. For example, the activity monitor can overcome the effects of vehicular travel.

Abstract: The accelerometer includes an inertial mass, a fixed base and at least one or more supports/sensors for supporting the mass from the base rendering the support system statically indeterminate. The supports/sensors are preferably double-ended dual beam tuning forks suspended between mounting pads and vibrated by an oscillator. By adding one or more supports/sensors beyond those supports/sensors necessary for a statically determinate support system, the support system is rendered statically indeterminate and therefore sensitive in one or more directions.

Abstract: The inertial rotation sensor comprising a vibrating resonator associated with transducers defining a pair of control channels and a pair of detection channels, preferably comprises a single multiplexer member for all of the channels, the multiplexer member being associated with a processing unit generating cycles comprising control action times on each control channel followed by detection action times on each detection channel, with two succession action times being separated by a relaxation time.

Abstract: The alignment of railway tracks may be monitored using an accelerometer (36) mounted on a bogie (24) of a railway vehicle to detect lateral accelerations, and a displacement transducer (38) to monitor the lateral displacements of a wheelset (27) relative to the bogie. The acceleration signals are digitised, and processed corresponding to double integration, so as to deduce the lateral displacements of the bogie, and in conjunction with the signals from the displacement transducer hence to determine the effective lateral displacements of the track. This can provide a more useful indication of the lateral positions of the rails than measurements of the gauge faces. Such equipment (16) may be installed in a service vehicle, and operate automatically, downloading resulting data to a remote base station at regular intervals.

Abstract: An electrical interconnect apparatus has a mounting member with a plurality of sides. The mounting member is formed from an insulator as a cuboid. Moreover, the mounting member also may be formed from a flexible circuit. Among other things, the plurality of sides includes an interface side. At least two of the plurality of sides are in electrical communication with the interface side.

Abstract: An application of rate gyros and accelerometers allows electronic measurement of the motion of a rigid or semi-rigid body, such as a body associated with sporting equipment including a fly rod during casting, a baseball bat, a tennis racquet or a golf club during swinging. For instance, data can be collected by one gyro according to the present invention is extremely useful in analyzing the motion of a fly rod during fly casting instruction, and can also be used during the research, development and design phases of fly casting equipment including fly rods and fly lines. Similarly, data collected by three gyros and three accelerometers is extremely useful in analyzing the three dimensional motion of other sporting equipment such as baseball bats, tennis racquets and golf clubs. This data can be used to support instruction as well as design of the sporting equipment.

Abstract: An inertial navigation system is provided. The system includes a gas supported sensor block that is adapted to rotate in three dimensions in a near frictionless environment, a plurality of jet plates adapted to receive two or more pairs of opposing pneumatic nozzles and a plurality of electronically controlled pneumatic valves that provides and controls gas to the opposing pair of pneumatic nozzles. Each pair of opposing pneumatic nozzles is directed at an exterior surface of the sensor block and uses gas flow to move and hold the sensor block in any rotational location without physically touching the sensor block.

Abstract: A multi-axis solid state accelerometer is made of electricity conductive material and is made by way of micro-machining. The main structure includes at least one proof mass connected to an anchor by several sensing beams and two boards are located on two sides of the main structure and fixed to the anchor. The sensing beams make the proof mass movable in parallel to or perpendicular to the boards. The surfaces of the proof mass include several grooves, which are parallel to the first axis and the second axis, and an area that has no grooves. Each board that face the grooves include two sets of electrodes and each of which includes several elongate electrodes located corresponding to the grooves. The two sets of elongate electrodes are located interposed each other. The board facing the area having no grooves has electrodes. The electrodes and the surfaces of the proof mass form detection capacitors for each axis.

Abstract: A method and apparatus describing a device for tracking moving objects or persons are taught. The invention is an embedded system using a series of sensors such as light sensors along a passageway to determine some movement characteristics such as number, size, direction, speed and position of objects or people along the passageway. One embodiment of this invention is in fare gates for public transport systems. Another aspect of this invention is the algorithm that determines the movement characteristics using the overlaps or intersections of rising edge, on state, falling edge and off state of signals from the sensors to determine the movement characteristics of objects or humans. The simplicity and robustness of the algorithm allow implement of the invention with inexpensive programmable logical controllers without the need of control by expensive computers. This invention also avoids the attendant disadvantages of other systems using cameras, computer vision or mechanical sensors.

Abstract: An accelerometer includes an inertial platform maintaining an attitude in response to a platform stabilizing controller signal and defining a spin axis and a reference plane. An accelerometer, coupled to the inertial platform a distance from the spin axis, defines a flex axis. The accelerometer generates an accelerometer signal in response to acceleration of the accelerometer. A second accelerometer defines a second flex axis, and is also coupled to the inertial platform a distance from the spin axis. The second accelerometer generates a second accelerometer signal in response to acceleration of the second accelerometer. A controller receives the first accelerometer signal and the second accelerometer signal and generates a linear acceleration signal in response to a sum of the first accelerometer signal and the second accelerometer signal and generates an angular acceleration signal from the difference.

Abstract: An inertial sensor includes a single sense element disposed upon a silicon wafer. The sense element is electrically connected to a plurality of signal conditioning circuits that generate output signals in different ranges. Each signal conditioning circuit has an output that is electrically connected to an associated control device.

Abstract: An angular motion measurement system disposed on a movable platform having a first and second section, the system comprising a first and second measurement arrangement and a processor arrangement. The first measurement arrangement provides a first output indicative of angular motion of the first section and has a bandwidth above 50 Hertz and at least one of, a bias above 5 degrees per second and a scale factor above 10%. The second measurement arrangement provides a second output indicative of angular motion of the second section and has a bandwidth below 50 Hertz, a bias below 5 degrees per second and a scale factor below 10%. The processor arrangement is responsive to a plurality of inputs, which include the first and second output, generating a corrected output having a bandwidth above 50 Hertz, a bias below 5 degrees per second and a scale factor below 10%.

Abstract: A sensor arrangement for measuring a displacement of a proof mass using a tunneling current includes a proof mass body suspended by micro-mechanical beams to permit a mass body movement, at least one integrated electrode tip arranged to be integrated with the proof mass body, and at least one external electrode tip arranged externally to the proof mass body and suspended by micro-mechanical beams to permit an external electrode movement, the at least one external electrode tip further arranged to be in a close proximity to the at least one integrated electrode tip to permit a flow of the tunneling current between the at least one external electrode tip and the at least one integrated electrode tip, in which the displacement of the proof mass causes a change in the tunneling current.

Abstract: An accelerometer includes an inertial platform maintaining an attitude in response to a platform stabilizing controller signal and defining a spin axis and a reference plane. An accelerometer, coupled to the inertial platform a distance from the spin axis, defines a flex axis, which is perpendicular to the stability axis. The accelerometer generates an accelerometer signal in response to acceleration of the accelerometer. A second accelerometer defines a second flex axis also perpendicular to the stability axis, and is also coupled to the inertial platform a distance from the spin axis. The second accelerometer generates a second accelerometer signal in response to acceleration of the second accelerometer. A controller, including an angular acceleration signal generator, receives the first accelerometer signal and the second accelerometer signal and generates an angular acceleration signal from a difference in amplitudes between the first accelerometer signal and the second accelerometer signal.

Abstract: A transducer is provided herein which comprises an unbalanced proof mass (51), and which is adapted to sense acceleration in at least two mutually orthogonal directions. The proof mass (51) has first (65) and second (67) opposing sides that are of unequal mass.

Abstract: The invention is a portable gait analyzer comprising of at least one independent rear foot motion collection unit, at least one independent lower shank motion collection unit, plantar pressure collection unit, at least one processing and display unit, and a soft casing unit. A plurality of accelerometers, rate sensors, force sensor resistors, and pressure sensors provide for the acquisition of acceleration signals, angular velocity signals, foot force signals, and foot pressure signals to be processed. At least one central processing unit, a plurality of memory components, input/output components and ports, telemetry components, calibration components, liquid crystal displays components for the processing and outputting of three dimensional acceleration, angular velocity, tilt, and position. The rearfoot motion collection unit and lower shank motion collection unit interact with the processing and display unit to calculate rear foot kinematic data crucial to identify the motions of pronation and supination.

Abstract: A triaxial acceleration sensor comprises an inertial mass suspended in three orthogonal directions by support members in a statically determinate structure. Acceleration applied to the inertial mass generates loading forces that stress the support members either in tension or in compression. The stress levels are thus a measure of the applied acceleration. In an embodiment of this invention, the support members are force-sensitive resonators whose resonant frequencies of oscillation are related to the stresses in the members. The resonant frequencies are thus a measure of the complete three-dimensional vector of the applied acceleration.

Abstract: An acceleration measuring apparatus capable of calibrating its output with a zero-point in the state of no acceleration applied as well as sensitivity. An acceleration sensor detects each component of an acceleration and creates an output based on each of the detected components in each direction of at least two mutually perpendicular axes of orthogonal coordinates for the acceleration sensor. The acceleration sensor is held at at least two different positions; each of the acceleration sensor axes at one position is at a angle, with the gravitational acceleration direction, that is different from the angle at the other position. A processing circuit develops calibration parameters based on output by each component in the at least two axis directions of the gravitational acceleration measured by the acceleration sensor positioned at each of the at least two different positions and calibrates the output of the acceleration measured by using the calibration parameters to provide a calibrated output.

Abstract: A six degree-of-freedom micro-machined multi-sensor that provides 3-axes of acceleration sensing, and 3-axes of angular rate sensing, in a single multi-sensor device. The six degree-of-freedom multi-sensor device includes a first multi-sensor substructure providing 2-axes of acceleration sensing and 1-axis of angular rate sensing, and a second multi-sensor substructure providing a third axis of acceleration sensing, and second and third axes of angular rate sensing. The first and second multi-sensor substructures are implemented on respective substrates within the six degree-of-freedom multi-sensor device.

Abstract: An acceleration sensor including a bimorph type acceleration detection element including a pair of surface acoustic wave resonators laminated to each other with the back surface of one resonator bonded to the back surface the other resonator. Each resonator includes a piezoelectric substrate and a pair of IDT electrodes which are arranged on the front surface of the piezoelectric substrate. The acceleration detection element is supported at the end thereof so that the acceleration detection element is deflected in the direction of thickness under acceleration. Acceleration is detected by detecting a difference between frequency changes of the two surface acoustic wave resonators or a difference between impedance changes of the two surface acoustic wave resonators, which takes place under acceleration.