4964results about "Devices using electric/magnetic means" patented technology

A method and circuit for determining the speed and / or counting the revolutions of brush and commutator motors is described. The method and circuitry detects signals present on the windings of the motor due to commutation that occurs at the brushes and commutator of the motor. This method can be used to simply monitor & indicate the motor speed and revolutions or to form the basis of a motor control.

The invention detects the loft time, speed, power and / or drop distance of a vehicle, such as a sporting vehicle, during activities of moving and jumping. A loft sensor detects when the vehicle leaves the ground and when the vehicle returns to the ground. A controller subsystem converts the sensed information to determine a loft time. A display shows the recorded loft time to a user of the system. In addition, a speed sensor can detect the vehicle's speed for selective display to the user. A power sensing section informs the user of expended energy, which can be compared to other users. A drop distance sensing unit informs the user of the peak height of a jump, during an airtime. Gaming on the internet is facilitated to connect worldwide sport enthusiasts.

A primary device for inductive power transfer to a secondary device is disclosed. The primary device includes a primary coil, the primary device being configured to (i) operate in a first mode during which the primary coil transfers power through inductive coupling to the secondary device, and (ii) operate in a second mode during which a foreign object is detected. The primary device further includes a primary controller configured to operate the primary coil (i) using a first frequency during the first mode, and (ii) using a second frequency during the second mode. A method to detect a foreign object which is in proximity of an inductively coupled environment of a primary device is also disclosed.

A sigma-delta modulator can be used for actuating a sensor element. The sigma delta modulator includes: a forward branch to which an input signal is fed at an input and which includes a loop filter, a quantizer and an output for providing an output signal. A feedback branch is configured to feed back the output signal of the forward branch at least temporarily to the input of the forward branch. A signal source is configured to generate a readout signal which corresponds to the voltage profile at the sensor element during a measuring process. A control unit is configured to generate a control signal dependent on which either the output signal of the forward branch or the readout signal of the signal source is fed back to the input of the forward branch.

A module operable to be mounted onto a surface of a board. The module includes a linear accelerometer to provide a first measurement output corresponding to a measurement of linear acceleration in at least one axis, and a first rotation sensor operable to provide a second measurement output corresponding to a measurement of rotation about at least one axis. The accelerometer and the first rotation sensor are formed on a first substrate. The module further includes an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) to receive both the first measurement output from the linear accelerometer and the second measurement output from the first rotation sensor. The ASIC includes an analog-to-digital converter and is implemented on a second substrate. The first substrate is vertically bonded to the second substrate.

A method of force estimation for a minimally invasive medical system comprising a robot manipulator (10). The manipulator has an effector unit (12) equipped with a 6-degrees-of-freedom (DOF) force / torque sensor and is configured to hold a minimally invasive instrument (14) having a first end (16) mounted to the effector unit and a second end (20) located beyond an external fulcrum (23) that limits the instrument in motion, usually to 4 DOF. The method comprising the steps: —determining a position of the instrument relative to the fulcrum; —measuring by means of the 6-DOF force / torque sensor a force and a torque exerted onto the effector unit by the first end of the instrument; and —calculating by means of the principle of superposition an estimate of a force exerted onto the second end of the instrument based on the determined position, the measured force and the measured torque.

Methods and systems are disclosed for determining speed, power and / or impact (sporting characteristics) of persons involved in activity. Wireless signals may be generated indicative of the sporting characteristics for receipt and display on a watch worn by the user or on a remote display. Sensors may attach to the person or to a vehicle ridden by the person, to gauge activities such as jogging, hockey, biking, football and aerobics.

Apparatus and methods for detecting passing magnetic articles using a first, True Power On State (TPOS) detector during a first time interval and transitioning to a second, running mode detector after the first time interval, when the output of the second detector is accurate. A phase comparator is responsive to the output signal of the first and second detectors and provides a control signal indicative of a change in the phase relationship between the two output signals. An output switch controlled by the phase comparator provides, as the detector output signal, the first detector output signal during the first time interval and the second detector output signal thereafter. A threshold signal associated with the TPOS detector is at a fixed level during a first portion of the first time interval and is adjusted during a second portion of the first time interval in response to an automatic gain control circuit in order to reduce the phase error associated with transitioning from the TPOS detector to the running mode detector. Also described are apparatus and methods for updating a running mode threshold signal that is a percentage of the peak-to-peak magnetic field sensor signal, so that unnecessary update events are reduced.

A system and method for capturing and analyzing motion. According to embodiments of the present invention, the system and method may include defining a standard motion; receiving a first signal from a first sensor, the first signal being representative of a motion under analysis; receiving a second signal from a second sensor, the second signal being representative of the motion under analysis; synchronizing the first signal to the second signal; and comparing the motion under analysis represented by the synchronized first signal and second signal to the standard motion. The system may include video cameras and position sensors and may be include a computer. The computer may be networked.

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.

Described is a system and method for monitoring a mobile computing Arrangement. The arrangement may include a sensor and a processor. The sensor detects first data of an event including a directional orientation and a motion of the arrangement. The processor compares the first data to second data to determine if at least one predetermined procedure is to be executed. The second data may include a predetermined threshold range of changes in the directional orientation and the motion. If the predetermined procedure is to be executed, the processor selects the predetermined procedure which corresponds to the event as a function of the first data. Subsequently, the predetermined procedures is executed.

A micromachined inertial sensor with a single proof-mass for measuring 6-degree-of-motions. The single proof-mass includes a frame, an x-axis proof mass section attached to the frame by a first flexure, and a y-axis proof mass section attached to the frame by a second flexure. The single proof-mass is formed in a micromachined structural layer and is adapted to measure angular rates about three axes with a single drive motion and linear accelerations about the three axes.

A device for measuring a motion of a moving electrically conducting body is disclosed. A magnetic field generated by, for example, electromagnets or permanent magnets, penetrates at least a partial area of the moving body. Two or more measuring devices are arranged outside the magnetic field to measure a measurement magnetic field that is induced by electrical currents in the moving body. The measuring devices are arranged essentially symmetrically with respect to the magnetic field generating means or the moving body. The measurement magnetic field represents at least one motion variable of the moving body. The measuring device is thereby no longer subjected to the temperature-dependent variations of the exciting field.

A driving mass of an integrated microelectromechanical structure is moved with a rotary motion about an axis of rotation, and a sensing mass is connected to the driving mass via elastic supporting elements so as to perform a detection movement in the presence of an external stress. The driving mass is anchored to a first anchorage arranged along the axis of rotation by first elastic anchorage elements. The driving mass is also coupled to a pair of further anchorages positioned externally thereof and coupled to opposite sides with respect to the first anchorage by further elastic anchorage elements; the elastic supporting elements and the first and further elastic anchorage elements render the driving mass fixed to the first sensing mass in the rotary motion, and substantially decoupled from the sensing mass in the detection movement, the detection movement being a rotation about an axis lying in a plane.

The wireless sensor adds identification information peculiar to respective sensor modules to detection data of vibration, temperature, and so on, detected by the sensor modules respectively. The wireless sensor transmits the detection data with the identification information as a signal through a communication unit by radio waves. On the other hand, the management apparatus receiving the signal classifies and files the detection data on the basis of the identification information included in the signal. Then, the monitoring system is designed to make the management apparatus manage a plurality of wireless sensors attached to movable shafts of processing machines or the like.

A driving mass of an integrated microelectromechanical structure is moved with a rotary motion about an axis of rotation, and a first sensing mass is connected to the driving mass via elastic supporting elements so as to perform a first detection movement in a presence of a first external stress. The driving mass is anchored to an anchorage arranged along the axis of rotation by elastic anchorage elements. An opening is provided within the driving mass and the first sensing mass is arranged within the opening. The elastic supporting and anchorage elements render the first sensing mass fixed to the driving mass in the rotary motion, and substantially decoupled from the driving mass in the first detection movement. A second sensing mass is connected to the driving mass so as to perform a second detection movement in a presence of a second external stress. A first movement is a rotation about an axis lying in a plane, and a second movement is a linear movement along an axis of the plane.

Angular rate sensor for detecting rotation about first, second and third mutually perpendicular input axes having a plurality of generally planar proof masses coupled together for linear drive-mode oscillation along multi-directional drive axes in a plane formed by the first and second input axes. The masses are mounted on a generally planar sense frame for linear movements relative to the sense frame in drive-mode and for rotation together with the sense frame in sense modes. The sense frame is mounted for rotation with the masses in sense modes about the first, second, and third input axes independent of each other, in response to Coriolis forces produced by rotation of the masses about the first, second, and third input axes respectively. And capacitance sensors responsive to the rotational movements of the masses and the sense frame in sense modes are employed for monitoring rate of rotation.

An angular rate sensor made from a structural wafer of single crystal silicon has a pair of proof masses lying in an X-Y plane and supported by a circular frame. The masses are driven into oscillation in the X-direction using an interdigitated comb drive. Rotation of the sensor about the Z-axis induces Coriolis forces which cause the frame to rotate, the rotation of the frame being indicative of the angular rate of the sensor. A parallel plate sensor located outside of the circular frame senses rotation of the frame.

An angular velocity sensor including a drive extension mode. In one aspect, an angular rate sensor includes a base and at least three masses disposed substantially in a plane parallel to the base, the masses having a center of mass. At least one actuator drives the masses in an extension mode, such that in the extension mode the masses move in the plane simultaneously away or simultaneously towards the center of mass. At least one transducer senses at least one Coriolis force resulting from motion of the masses and angular velocity about at least one input axis of the sensor. Additional embodiments can include a linkage that constrains the masses to move in the extension mode.

A vibratory rate z-axis gyroscope is characterized by drive-mode and sense-mode quality factors and rate sensitivity and is fabricated with at least two decoupled vibratory tines, a levered drive-mode mechanism coupled between the tines to structurally force anti-phase drive-mode motion of the tines at a predetermined drive frequency, to eliminate spurious frequency modes of the anti-phase drive-mode motion of the tines lower than the predetermined drive frequency and to provide synchronization of drive- and sense-mode motion of the tines, and a sense-mode mechanism coupled between the tines arranged and configured to provide a linearly coupled, dynamically balanced anti-phase sense-mode motion of the tines to minimize substrate energy dissipation and to enhance the sense-mode quality factor and rate sensitivity.

A movable device simultaneously enabling reduction of size down to the submicron level, higher speed operation, a streamlined production process, low costs, and greater reliability. A movable device provided with bottom electrodes and a basic conductive layer fixed to a substrate, an elastic shaft of a carbon nanotube with a bottom end fixed on the basic conductive layer and standing up, and a top structure including a top electrode spaced away from the bottom electrode and fixed to a top end of the elastic shaft, wherein when applying voltage between a bottom electrode and the top electrode, the top electrode displaces relatively to the bottom electrodes within an allowable range of elastic deformation of the elastic shaft.

A solid-state gyroscope apparatus based on ensembles of negatively charged nitrogen-vacancy (NV−) centers in diamond and methods of detection are provided. In one method, rotation of the NV− symmetry axis will induce Berry phase shifts in the NV− electronic ground-state coherences proportional to the solid angle subtended by the symmetry axis. A second method uses a modified Ramsey scheme where Berry phase shifts in the 14N hyperfine sublevels are employed.

The present invention discloses an inertial sensor comprising a planar mechanical resonator with embedded sensing and actuation for substantially in-plane vibration and having a central rigid support for the resonator. At least one excitation or torquer electrode is disposed within an interior of the resonator to excite in-plane vibration of the resonator and at least one sensing or pickoff electrode is disposed within the interior of the resonator for sensing the motion of the excited resonator. In one embodiment, the planar resonator includes a plurality of slots in an annular pattern; in another embodiment, the planar mechanical resonator comprises four masses; each embodiment having a simple degenerate pair of in-plane vibration modes.

A control system or method for a vehicle references a camera and sensors to determine when an offset of a yaw rate sensor may be updated. The sensors may include a longitudinal accelerometer, a transmission sensor, a vehicle speed sensor, and a steering angle sensor. The offset of the yaw rate sensor may be updated when the vehicle is determined to be stationary by referencing at least a derivative of an acceleration from the longitudinal accelerometer. The offset of the yaw rate sensor may be updated when the vehicle is determined to be moving straight by referencing at least image data captured by the camera. Lane delimiters may be detected in the captured image data and evaluated to determine a level of confidence in the straight movement. When the offset of the yaw rate sensor is to be updated, a ratio of new offset to old offset may be used.

A solid state silicon micromachined acceleration and Coriolis (MAC) sensor that measures linear and angular motion. The MAC sensor is a single device that performs the functions of a conventional accelerometer and a gyroscope simultaneously. The MAC sensor is unique in that it is a differential dual stage device using only one micromachined proof mass to measure both linear and angular motions. The single proof mass is connected to opposing electromechanical resonators in a monolithic microstructure made from single crystal silicon. This unique design offers improvements in measurement performance and reductions in fabrication complexity that are beyond the state the art of earlier micromachined inertial sensors.

The gait monitor system and method provides various basic gait parameters including step count, cadence, and step duration, in addition to its ability to distinguish between normal, limping and shuffling gait modes, as well as determine falls. Moreover, this gait monitor may be provided with additional sensors, e.g. beam break at the beginning and end of a corridor to estimate average walking velocity (with the distance between the beams known or determined); this enables the calculation of additional gait characteristics such as average step length and average stride length. These parameters can additionally be used to detect various gait anomalies and other diagnostic information.

Multi-axis micromachined accelerometer and rate sensor having first and second generally planar masses disposed side-by-side and connected together along adjacent edge portions thereof for torsional movement about axes parallel to a first axis in response to acceleration along a second axis and for rotational motion about axes parallel to the second axis in response to acceleration along the first axis. The masses are driven to oscillate about the axes parallel to the second axis so that Coriolis forces produced by rotation about a third axis result in torsional movement of the masses about the axes parallel to the first axis. Sensors monitor the movement of the mass about the axes, and signals from the sensors are processed to provide output signals corresponding to acceleration along the first and second axes and rotation about the third axis.