Ultrasonic sensing device
Granted: October 29, 2019
Patent Number:
10461124
An electronic device comprises a CMOS substrate having a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface. A plurality of ultrasonic transducers is provided having a transmit/receive surface. A contact surface is piezoelectrically associated with the plurality of ultrasonic transducers and is formed on the first surface of the CMOS substrate. The plurality of ultrasonic transducers is disposed on the second surface of the CMOS substrate, with the transmit/receive side…
Sensor output configuration
Granted: October 29, 2019
Patent Number:
10458812
In a method of sensor output configuration, sensor output specifications for a plurality of sensor clients of a sensor are acquired. A first sensor output specification for a first of the sensor clients defines a first value for a sensor parameter. A second sensor output specification for a second of the sensor clients defines a second value for the sensor parameter. The first value and the second value are different. A sensor processing unit, which includes the sensor, is configured…
Operating a fingerprint sensor comprised of ultrasonic transducers
Granted: October 22, 2019
Patent Number:
10452887
In a method for operating a fingerprint sensor comprising a plurality of ultrasonic transducers, a first subset of ultrasonic transducers of the fingerprint sensor are activated, the first subset of ultrasonic transducers for detecting interaction between an object and the fingerprint sensor. Subsequent to detecting interaction between an object and the fingerprint sensor, a second subset of ultrasonic transducers of the fingerprint sensor are activated, the second subset of ultrasonic…
MEMS gyroscope amplitude control via quadrature
Granted: October 22, 2019
Patent Number:
10451418
A system and/or method for utilizing quadrature signals, for example in a MEMS gyroscope, to control drive signal characteristics (e.g., amplitude, etc.). As a non-limiting example, a quadrature signal in a MEMS gyroscope may be isolated and/or processed to generate a drive signal that is used to drive a proof mass. Such a quadrature signal may, for example, be obtained passively as part of general Coriolis signal processing. Also for example, such a quadrature signal may be actively…
Device mountable packaging of ultrasonic transducers
Granted: October 15, 2019
Patent Number:
10445547
An electronic device including an array of ultrasonic transducers for generating and receiving ultrasonic signals, and an acoustic coupling layer overlying the array of ultrasonic transducers, where the ultrasonic signals are propagated through the acoustic coupling layer.
Supplemental sensor modes and systems for ultrasonic transducers
Granted: October 15, 2019
Patent Number:
10441975
A Piezoelectric Micromachined Ultrasonic Transducer (PMUT) device is provided. The PMUT includes a substrate and an edge support structure connected to the substrate. A membrane is connected to the edge support structure such that a cavity is defined between the membrane and the substrate, where the membrane configured to allow movement at ultrasonic frequencies. The membrane comprises a piezoelectric layer and first and second electrodes coupled to opposing sides of the piezoelectric…
Method and apparatus for cart navigation
Granted: October 1, 2019
Patent Number:
10429196
An apparatus and method are disclosed for cart navigation using a portable device that is conveyed by the cart, but may be tethered or untethered and wherein mobility of the portable device may be constrained or unconstrained within the cart. The cart may be any apparatus propelled by on foot motion of a user. The portable device may have an integrated sensor assembly integrated with at least one sensor outputting data representing motion of the portable device. From the motion sensor…
MEMS sensor with high voltage switch
Granted: October 1, 2019
Patent Number:
10427930
A system and/or method for utilizing microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) switching technology to operate MEMS sensors. As a non-limiting example, a MEMS switch may be utilized to control DC and/or AC bias applied to MEMS sensor structures. Also for example, one or more MEMS switches may be utilized to provide drive signals to MEMS sensors (e.g., to provide a drive signal to a MEMS gyroscope).
Systems and methods for determining engagement of a portable device
Granted: October 1, 2019
Patent Number:
10426407
A portable device is provided having a motion sensor and an engagement sensor. A determination may be made whether the portable device is engaged with the platform. The data being output by the sensor may be used accordingly.
MEMS sensor compensation for off-axis movement
Granted: September 24, 2019
Patent Number:
10421659
A microelectromechanical system (MEMS) sensor includes a MEMS layer that includes fixed and movable electrodes. In response to an in-plane linear acceleration, the movable electrodes move with respect to the fixed electrodes, and acceleration is determined based on the resulting change in capacitance. A plurality of auxiliary electrodes are located on a substrate of the MEMS sensor and below the MEMS layer, such that a capacitance between the MEMS layer and the auxiliary loads changes in…
Sensor with enhanced linearity and acoustic overload point
Granted: September 17, 2019
Patent Number:
10419857
Facilitating an enhanced linearity and acoustic overload point of a sensor is presented herein. A system can comprise a first conductive component that is biased at a first direct current (DC) voltage; a second conductive component that is biased at a second DC voltage that is opposite in polarity to the first DC voltage; a third conductive component that is capacitively coupled to the first conductive component and the second conductive component; and a feedback component that generates…
High voltage circuitry with drift mitigation
Granted: September 17, 2019
Patent Number:
10416242
A device includes a plurality of high voltage cells (HVC) coupled to a plurality of resistors, and a controller. The plurality of HVC generates an output voltage that is higher than an input voltage to the plurality of HVC. The controller receives a reference voltage and an output voltage from a resistor of the plurality of resistors. The controller generates a signal responsive to a difference between the reference voltage and the output voltage. The controller forms a closed feedback…
Gyroscope self test by applying rotation on Coriolis sense mass
Granted: September 17, 2019
Patent Number:
10415994
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…
Sensing device with a temperature sensor
Granted: September 10, 2019
Patent Number:
10408797
An electronic device including an array of ultrasonic transducers, a temperature sensor for determining a temperature of the array of ultrasonic transducers, and a control module communicatively coupled to the array of ultrasonic devices and the temperature sensor. The control module is for receiving the temperature and for controlling operation of the array of ultrasonic transducers based at least in part on the temperature.
Transducer with enlarged back volume
Granted: September 3, 2019
Patent Number:
10399850
A packaged integrated device includes a package substrate having a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface, and the package substrate has a hole therethrough. The integrated device package also includes a first lid mounted on the first surface of the package substrate to define a first cavity, and a second lid mounted on the second surface of the package substrate to define a second cavity. A microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) die can be mounted on the first…
Device and method for a threshold sensor
Granted: September 3, 2019
Patent Number:
10399849
A device with a first MEMS device and a second MEMS device is disclosed. The first MEMS device is configured to sense at least one external influence. The second MEMS device is responsive to the at least one external influence. The first MEMS device is configured to change a state when the at least one external influence exceeds a threshold value. The first MEMS device is configured to retain the state below the threshold value, wherein the change in state of the first MEMS device is…
MEMS device to selectively measure excitation in different directions
Granted: August 27, 2019
Patent Number:
10393768
A method and system for a sensor system of a device is disclosed. The sensor system includes a first MEMS sensor (FMEMS), a second MEMS sensor (SMEMS) and a signal processor (SP). An excitation is imparted to the device along a first axis (FA). The FMEMS has a first primary sense axis (FPSA), moves in response to a component of the excitation along the FA aligned with the FPSA and outputs a first signal proportional to an excitation along the FPSA. The SMEMS has a second primary sense…
Sensor with low power with closed-loop-force-feedback loop
Granted: August 27, 2019
Patent Number:
10393522
A device includes a proof mass of a sensor, capacitive elements, an electrode circuitry, a time multiplexing circuitry, a sense circuitry, and a force feedback circuitry. The proof mass moves from a first position to a second position responsive to an external actuation. The capacitive elements change capacitive charge in response thereto. The electrode circuitry coupled to the capacitive elements generates a charge signal. The time multiplexing circuitry pass the charge signal during a…
Substance sensing with tracers
Granted: August 20, 2019
Patent Number:
10383967
Emission of a scented substance, which is mixed with a tracer substance, is controlled based on an amount of the tracer substance sensed during the emission of the scented substance. The scented substance can be mixed with the tracer substance in a known defined ratio. When the mixture of the scented substance and tracer substance is being emitted by a device, a substance sensor component can sense the amount of the tracer substance being emitted. An emission management component can…
Systems and methods for providing getters in microelectromechanical systems
Granted: August 20, 2019
Patent Number:
10384930
Systems and methods are provided that provide a getter in a micromechanical system. In some embodiments, a microelectromechanical system (MEMS) is bonded to a substrate. The MEMS and the substrate have a first cavity and a second cavity therebetween. A first getter is provided on the substrate in the first cavity and integrated with an electrode. A second getter is provided in the first cavity over a passivation layer on the substrate. In some embodiments, the first cavity is a gyroscope…
