Abstract: A bearing-less flywheel both exchanges energy with a rotating flywheel using a regenerative controller via a rotating electrostatic field but also suspends the flywheel with an electrostatic field to provide a compact robust mechanism for energy storage.

Abstract: An accelerometer based on the measurement of Casimir force fluctuations is described. The accelerometer comprises a sealed housing containing a vacuum or a liquid, a piezoelectric plate fixed with the sealed housing, and a mass moveable within the sealed housing located in proximity to the piezoelectric plate. The moveable mass and the piezoelectric plate each have conductive surfaces which are located from each other at a distance which creates a Casimir Effect between the movable mass and the piezoelectric plate. Fluctuations in acceleration of the moveable mass cause fluctuations in the Casimir force on the piezoelectric plate. The acceleration fluctuations cause fluctuations in an electric output of the piezoelectric plate. The fluctuations in electric output are measured and used to calculate an acceleration and direction of movement of the accelerometer or a host device in which the accelerometer is carried.

Abstract: To provide a small-sized liquid seal sensor that can enhance degrees of freedom in detection directions. A liquid seal sensor having a liquid seal part that seals a liquid therein, and a detecting part that detects changes in the liquid sealed in the liquid seal part has a configuration in which the detecting part detects changes in the liquid sealed in the liquid seal part, and thus when an acceleration is applied, the detecting part detects changes in the liquid sealed in the liquid seal part, whereby the sensitivity to accelerations can be enhanced in any directions.

Abstract: Conventional accelerometers are based on test masses that are suspended in some kind of spring damper system. According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a two-dimensional adaptive accelerometer based on dielectrophoresis is provided, which measures an acceleration of a test mass freely floating in a medium by determining the movement of the test mass due to an accelerating force acting on the test mass. A non-uniform electric force field provides for a wide and adjustable dynamic range.

Abstract: An apparatus includes: a fluid container; a fluid mixture disposed within the fluid container, the fluid mixture including at least two components having different relative dielectric constants or different relative permeabilities; an imparter for imparting an electrostatic or electromagnetic force across the fluid mixture to cause at least one of the components to be placed in motion; and a controller for controlling the electrostatic or electromagnetic force to counteract the effects of an applied acceleration. A method includes positioning a high dielectric or high permeability element suspended in a low dielectric or low permeability fluid contained between a pair of charged electrode plates or a magnetic gap; determining a change in capacitance or inductance of the apparatus; and determining from the capacitance change or inductance change a magnitude of the acceleration.

Abstract: The angular velocity sensor includes a container, a sensing element in the container and a viscous fluid between the container and the sensing element. The sensing element is supported by the viscous fluid such as an ER fluid or an MR fluid. The angular velocity sensor detects acceleration of the body in which the angular velocity sensor is installed. The angular velocity sensor controls the viscosity of the viscous fluid depending on the acceleration of a body, by changing a voltage applied to the viscous fluid.

Abstract: A capacitance type liquid sensor is disclosed which detects a tilt angle and acceleration of an object using the fact that a liquid surface always keeps itself horizontal. Openings (13, 14) are formed in two sides of a hollow cylindrical closed container (6) made of an electrically insulating material, and the container has two parallel sides (2, 3). Plate-shaped main electrodes (4, 5) on at least one face of each of which silicon oxide film is formed are made to be in contact with the sides so as to close the openings, with the silicon oxide film being placed so as to face the inside of the container. A sealing agent (28) is interposed in a gap between the plate-shaped main electrodes and the sides. The container is filled with electrically conductive liquid (27) of an amount equal to substantially one-half of the inside volume of the container. An auxiliary electrode (8) brought into electrical contact with the conductive liquid is mounted in the container.

Abstract: An improved system for sensing ground motion is provided. The system generally comprises a shell and a case within the shell and connected by a suspension. The mass of the case is greater than the mass of the shell. An electrode within the shell detects relative motion between the shell and the case.