CHOPPER-STABILIZATION METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SIGMA DELTA MODULATORS
Granted: March 27, 2014
Application Number:
20140085120
An embodiment of the invention includes an analog to digital converter including a sigma delta modulator that generates a feedback signal. The sigma delta modulator includes a quantizer responsive to an input signal and the feedback signal and generates a quantizer output. The sigma delta modulator further includes a chopper-stabilized amplifier that provides a reference signal to the sigma delta modulator, and the chopper-stabilized amplifier is stabilized according to a combination of…
MEMS DEVICE OSCILLATOR LOOP WITH AMPLITUDE CONTROL
Granted: March 27, 2014
Application Number:
20140085017
A MEMS device and method for amplitude regulation of a MEMS device are disclosed. In a first aspect, the MEMS device comprises a MEMS resonator, a limiter coupled to the MEMS resonator, and a regulator coupled to the limiter. The MEMS device includes an amplitude control circuit coupled to the MEMS resonator. The amplitude control circuit controls a supply of the limiter via the regulator to regulate oscillation loop amplitude of the MEMS device. In a second aspect, the method includes…
METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR ESTIMATING OFFSET IN ENVIRONMENTS WITH LIMITED MEMORY SPACE
Granted: March 13, 2014
Application Number:
20140074420
A computer implemented method, system and computer program product for estimating an offset of at least one sensor is disclosed. The computer implemented method, system and computer program product comprise calculating combinations of running sums to define for computing /or one or more slopes for the sensor. At least one of the one or more slopes provides an indication of the sensor offset changes with temperature.
Dual Single-Crystal Backplate Microphone System and Method Of Fabricating Same
Granted: March 13, 2014
Application Number:
20140072152
A dual backplate MEMS microphone system includes a flexible diaphragm sandwiched between two single-crystal silicon backplates. Such a MEMS microphone system may be formed by fabricating each backplate in a separate wafer, and then transferring one backplate from its wafer to the other wafer, to form two separate capacitors with the diaphragm.
EXTENSION-MODE ANGULAR VELOCITY SENSOR
Granted: February 20, 2014
Application Number:
20140047921
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…
DEDUCED RECKONING NAVIGATION WITHOUT A CONSTRAINT RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN ORIENTATION OF A SENSOR PLATFORM AND A DIRECTION OF TRAVEL OF AN OBJECT
Granted: February 13, 2014
Application Number:
20140046586
Systems, methods, and apparatus for performing deduced reckoning navigation without a constraint relationship between orientation of a sensor platform and a direction of travel of an object are described herein. A sensor fusion component can be configured to receive data from sensors of a sensor platform coupled to a pedestrian; and generate world coordinate information based on the data. Further, a gait recognition component can be configured to record one or more walking patterns of…
MICROMACHINED GYROSCOPE INCLUDING A GUIDED MASS SYSTEM
Granted: January 30, 2014
Application Number:
20140026662
A gyroscope comprises a substrate and a guided mass system. The guided mass system comprises proof masses and guiding arms disposed in a plane parallel to the substrate. The proof masses are coupled to the guiding arm by springs. The guiding arm is coupled to the substrate by springs. At least one of the proof-masses is directly coupled to the substrate by at least one anchor via a spring system. The gyroscope also comprises an actuator for vibrating one of the proof-masses in the first…
METHOD AND SYSTEM PROVIDNG A SELF-TEST ON ONE OR MORE SENSORS COUPLED TO A DEVICE
Granted: September 19, 2013
Application Number:
20130246848
A method and system for providing a self-test configuration in a device is disclosed. The method and system comprise providing a self-test mechanism in a kernel space of a memory and enabling a hook in a user space of the memory, wherein the hook is in communication with the self-test mechanism. The method and system also include running the self-test driver and utilizing the results.
GYROSCOPE SELF TEST BY APPLYING ROTATION ON CORIOLIS SENSE MASS
Granted: September 12, 2013
Application Number:
20130233048
A self-test method by rotating the proof mass at a high frequency enables testing the functionality of both the drive and sense systems at the same time. In this method, the proof mass is rotated at a drive frequency. An input force which is substantially two times the drive frequency is applied to the actuation structures to rotate the proof mass of the gyroscope around the sensitive axis orthogonal to the drive axis. An output response of the gyroscope at the drive frequency is…
N-USE AUTOMATIC CALIBRATION METHODOLOGY FOR SENSORS IN MOBILE DEVICES
Granted: August 1, 2013
Application Number:
20130197845
A method, system and computer readable medium for calibrating an accelerometer in a portable device is disclosed. The method, system and computer readable medium comprises receiving data from the accelerometer, and providing accelerometer samples from the data based upon one or more selection rules that adaptively selects data that satisfy certain criteria. The method system and computer readable medium also includes fitting the accelerometer samples to a mathematical mode. The method…
ACTIVITY CLASSIFICATION IN A MULTI-AXIS ACTIVITY MONITOR DEVICE
Granted: July 11, 2013
Application Number:
20130179110
An activity classification device is disclosed. The activity classification device comprises one or more motion sensors and a memory configured to receive signals from the one or more motion sensors. The device further includes a processor in communication with the memory. Finally, the device includes a classification algorithm executed by the processor, the classification algorithm for identifying activities that a user is engaged in. The memory may also record a user's activity log,…
SIGNAL QUANTIZATION METHOD AND APPARATUS AND SENSOR BASED THEREON
Granted: April 25, 2013
Application Number:
20130099955
A signal quantizer includes a summing junction, a loop filter, a quantizer and a reconstruction filter. The summing junction is responsive to an input signal and to a modulated signal and is operative to combine the modulated signal and the input signal to generate a summing junction output. The loop filter is responsive to the summing junction output and is operative to generate a loop filter output and has a first regenerative gain associated therewith. The quantizer is responsive to…
GYROSCOPE WITH PHASE AND DUTY-CYCLE LOCKED LOOP
Granted: April 25, 2013
Application Number:
20130099836
A system and method in accordance with the present invention provides a gyroscope incorporating an improved PLL technique. The improved PLL auto-corrects its own reference low-frequency noise, thereby eliminating this source of noise, improving the noise performance of the gyroscope and allowing a compact implementation. The net result is a gyroscope with improved bias stability that can meet noise requirements with a smaller footprint.
SELECTABLE COMMUNICATION INTERFACE CONFIGURATIONS FOR MOTION SENSING DEVICE
Granted: March 21, 2013
Application Number:
20130069866
Selectable communication interface configurations for motion sensing devices. In one aspect, a module for a motion sensing device includes a motion processor connected to a device component and a first motion sensor, and a multiplexer having first and second positions. Only one of the multiplexer positions is selectable at a time, where the first position selectively couples the first motion sensor and the device component using a first bus, and the second position selectively couples…
MICROMACHINED GYROSCOPE INCLUDING A GUIDED MASS SYSTEM
Granted: March 21, 2013
Application Number:
20130068018
A gyroscope is disclosed. The gyroscope comprises a substrate; and a guided mass system. The guided mass system comprises proof-mass and guiding arm. The proof-mass and the guiding arm are disposed in a plane parallel to the substrate. The proof-mass is coupled to the guiding arm. The guiding arm is also coupled to the substrate through a spring. The guiding arm allows motion of the proof-mass to a first direction in the plane. The guiding arm and the proof-mass rotate about a first…
MAGNETOMETER BIAS AND ANOMALY DETECTOR
Granted: February 21, 2013
Application Number:
20130046489
The computer implemented method, system or computer program product comprises collecting magnetometer data from the device; and calculating a center of a shape of the magnetometer data as a result of minimization. The minimization of calculating the center of the shape further comprises calculating a plurality of running sums of the magnetometer data; storing the plurality of running sums; storing a count of the number of terms in each of the running sums; and calculating the center of…
HERMETICALLY SEALED MEMS DEVICE WITH A PORTION EXPOSED TO THE ENVIRONMENT WITH VERTICALLY INTEGRATED ELECTRONICS
Granted: January 3, 2013
Application Number:
20130001550
A system and method for providing a MEMS device with integrated electronics are disclosed. The MEMS device comprises an integrated circuit substrate and a MEMS subassembly coupled to the integrated circuit substrate. The integrated circuit substrate includes at least one circuit coupled to at least one fixed electrode. The MEMS subassembly includes at least one standoff formed by a lithographic process, a flexible plate with a top surface and a bottom surface, and a MEMS electrode…
INTEGRATED HEATER ON MEMS CAP FOR WAFER SCALE PACKAGED MEMS SENSORS
Granted: January 3, 2013
Application Number:
20130001765
A system and method for controlling temperature of a MEMS sensor are disclosed. In a first aspect, the system comprises a MEMS cap encapsulating the MEMS sensor and a CMOS die vertically arranged to the MEMS cap. The system includes a heater integrated into the MEMS cap. The integrated heater is activated to control the temperature of the MEMS sensor. In a second aspect, the method comprises encapsulating the MEMS sensor with a MEMS cap and coupling a CMOS die to the MEMS cap. The method…
PROCESS FOR A SEALED MEMS DEVICE WITH A PORTION EXPOSED TO THE ENVIRONMENT
Granted: January 3, 2013
Application Number:
20130001710
A method and system for providing a MEMS device with a portion exposed to an outside environment are disclosed. The method comprises bonding a handle wafer to a device wafer to form a MEMS substrate with a dielectric layer disposed between the handle and device wafers. The method includes lithographically defining at least one standoff on the device wafer and bonding the at least one standoff to an integrated circuit substrate to form a sealed cavity between the MEMS substrate and the…
METHODS FOR CMOS-MEMS INTEGRATED DEVICES WITH MULTIPLE SEALED CAVITIES MAINTAINED AT VARIOUS PRESSURES
Granted: December 27, 2012
Application Number:
20120326248
A Microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) structure comprises a MEMS wafer. A MEMS wafer includes a handle wafer with cavities bonded to a device wafer through a dielectric layer disposed between the handle and device wafers. The MEMS wafer also includes a moveable portion of the device wafer suspended over a cavity in the handle wafer. Four methods are described to create two or more enclosures having multiple gas pressure or compositions on a single substrate including, each enclosure…
