Vibrating Inertial Sensor Housing With Electroplated Magnetic Shielding

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing vibrating mechanical resonator sensors, such as gyroscopic and accelerometer sensors, are adversely affected by external magnetic fields, leading to performance degradation due to electromagnetic interference, and conventional shielding methods are bulky, expensive, and unsuitable for small sensors, affecting their measurement accuracy and stability.

Innovation Solution

A manufacturing process involving electroplating a ferromagnetic material on the sensor housing to create a magnetic shield, combined with a vacuum or dry gas environment, reduces magnetic sensitivity and maintains performance in strong external magnetic fields while being compact and cost-effective.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If conventional magnetic shielding methods are used, then magnetic protection is provided, but the sensor becomes bulky and expensive

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemagnetic sensitivityVSAvoidsensor weight
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSWeight of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the physical state and material properties by using electroplating to deposit ferromagnetic material in a vacuum or inert atmosphere, creating a thin-film magnetic shield with optimized magnetic permeability and thickness parameters that provide effective shielding without bulk

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a composite structure by combining the sensor housing with an electroplated ferromagnetic layer, forming a hybrid material system that integrates structural support with magnetic shielding functionality in a single lightweight component

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Object-affected harmful factors

If conventional magnetic shielding methods are used, then magnetic protection is provided, but the sensor size increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemagnetic sensitivityVSAvoidsensor volume
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies a thin-film approach by electroplating ferromagnetic material directly onto the sensor housing surface, creating a flexible conformal coating that provides magnetic shielding without adding significant volume or requiring rigid bulky shielding structures

Inventive Principle:
Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The patent nests the magnetic shielding function within the existing sensor housing structure by electroplating the ferromagnetic layer directly onto the housing interior surface, integrating the shield within the existing volume rather than adding external shielding components

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

3Object-affected harmful factors

If electroplating ferromagnetic material is used, then magnetic sensitivity is reduced, but the process requires vacuum or dry gas environment

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemagnetic sensitivityVSAvoidmanufacturing process complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses vacuum or inert gas atmosphere during electroplating to prevent oxidation and contamination of the ferromagnetic layer, ensuring optimal magnetic properties without requiring complex post-processing or annealing steps that would increase device complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #39Inert atmosphere (Inert environment)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The process results in a lightweight, compact, and robust inertial sensor with reduced magnetic sensitivity across a wide frequency spectrum, maintaining high measurement accuracy without the need for annealing steps and being well-suited for industrial implementation.

Implementation Method 1

a first operation of depositing, by electroplating, a first layer of a first ferromagnetic material on at least a part of said housing

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectroplating: Electroplating

Implementation Method 2

a first layer of a first ferromagnetic material deposited by electroplating, to form a magnetic shielding of said housing

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFerromagnetism: Ferromagnetism

Implementation Method 3

a step of evacuating said housing or filling said housing with a dry gas

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectVacuum: Vacuum

Data Source

PatentEP4682466A1Method for manufacturing a vibrating mechanical inertial sensor, sensor obtained by such a method and inertial unit including such a sensor
Publication Date: 2026.01.21 HALLIBURTON ENERGY SERVICES INC
  • EP4682466A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4682466A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4682466A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

- Method for manufacturing a vibrating mechanical inertial sensor, sensor obtained by such a method, and inertial measurement unit including such a sensor - The invention relates to a method for manufacturing a vibrating inertial sensor (1), comprising a step of associating a sensing element (3) with a base (2), a step of assembling a cover (100) to said base (2) to form a housing in which said sensing element (3) is housed, a step of evacuating said housing or filling the latter with a dry gas, and a step of magnetically shielding said housing, which includes a first operation of depositing, by electroplating, a first layer of a first ferromagnetic material on at least a part of said housing. - Vibrating inertial sensors