Determining force applied to an ultrasonic sensor
Granted: May 21, 2019
Patent Number:
10296145
In a method for determining force applied to an ultrasonic sensor, ultrasonic signals are emitted from an ultrasonic sensor. A plurality of reflected ultrasonic signals from a finger interacting with the ultrasonic sensor is captured. A first data based at least in part on a first reflected ultrasonic signal of the plurality of reflected ultrasonic signals is compared with a second data based at least in part on a second reflected ultrasonic signal of the plurality of reflected…
Offset rejection electrodes
Granted: May 21, 2019
Patent Number:
10295558
A MEMS sensor includes a sensing reference plane, an anchor, a proof mass, and sensing elements. The anchor is coupled to the sensing reference plane and to the proof mass that moves under an external excitation. The sensing elements detect motion normal to the sensing reference plane. A summation of a product of polarity for each sensing element, its area, and its distance to the anchor on one side of an axis line is unequal to a summation of a product of a polarity associated with each…
Integrated motion processing unit (MPU) with MEMS inertial sensing and embedded digital electronics
Granted: May 14, 2019
Patent Number:
10288427
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…
Multi-path signal processing for microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) sensors
Granted: May 7, 2019
Patent Number:
10281485
Multi-path signal processing for microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) sensors is described. An exemplary MEMS sensor apparatus can comprise a single MEMS sensor element and an associated integrated circuit (IC) that facilitates generating multiple output signals having different output signal electrical characteristics required by a host system. Provided implementations can minimize cost and IC die area of associated MEMS sensor apparatuses and systems by employing one or more signal…
Method and system for global shape matching a trajectory
Granted: May 7, 2019
Patent Number:
10281279
The positioning/navigation solution of a portable device may be enhanced by obtaining motion sensor data, estimating a trajectory for the portable device from the motion sensor data, obtaining map information for an environment encompassing locations of the portable device, representing the estimated trajectory using a set of connected vectors and performing global shape matching for the set of connected vectors as an aggregate whole from start to end of the trajectory to the map…
Method and apparatus for determination of misalignment between device and vessel using radius of rotation
Granted: April 30, 2019
Patent Number:
10274317
The present disclosure relates to a method and apparatus for determining the misalignment between a device and a platform (such as for example a vessel or vehicle) using radius of rotation of the device, wherein mobility of the device may be constrained or unconstrained within the platform. The device may be moved or tilted to any orientation within the platform and still provide a seamless navigation solution without degrading the performance of this navigation solution. This method can…
Demodulation phase calibration
Granted: April 23, 2019
Patent Number:
10267650
A method includes receiving a signal from a sensor. The signal includes a first in-phase component and a first quadrature component. The first in-phase and quadrature components are identified. A rate signal is applied to the sensor and the sensor generates a sensed rate signal. A second in-phase and quadrature components associated with the sensed rate signal are determined. A phase error based on the first and the second in-phase components, and the first and the second quadrature…
Method and system for varying step length estimation using nonlinear system identification
Granted: April 23, 2019
Patent Number:
10267646
The present disclosure relates to a method and system for estimating varying step length for on foot motion (such as for example walking or running). The present method and apparatus is able to be used in anyone or both of two different phases depending on the embodiment. The first phase is a model-building phase done offline to obtain the nonlinear model for the step length as a function of different parameters that represent human motion dynamics, the model is built using a nonlinear…
Trajectory estimation system
Granted: April 16, 2019
Patent Number:
10260871
A system and method for efficiently determining trajectory and/or location of a device (or user thereof). In a non-limiting example, rotation matrix coefficients may be analyzed in conjunction with stepping information to determine device trajectory and/or location. The system and method may, for example, be implemented in a MEMS sensor system, for example comprising a MEMS gyroscope, MEMS accelerometer, MEMS compass and/or MEMS pressure sensor.
Microphone module with sound pipe
Granted: April 9, 2019
Patent Number:
10257610
A microphone module has a substrate with an aperture to allow sound waves to pass through the substrate, a lid mounted to the substrate to define a first interior volume, a microphone mounted to the substrate within the first interior volume, and a housing coupled to the substrate and covering the aperture. The housing forms a second interior volume and includes an acoustic port configured to allow sound to enter the second interior volume. The module further includes a pipe extending…
Method of forming a packaged microphone
Granted: April 9, 2019
Patent Number:
10257609
A packaged microphone has a lid structure with an inner surface having a concavity, and a microphone die secured within the concavity. The packaged microphone also has a substrate coupled with the lid structure to form a package having an interior volume containing the microphone die. The substrate is electrically connected with the microphone die. In addition, the packaged microphone also has aperture formed through the package, and a seal proximate to the microphone die. The seal…
Pressure sensor
Granted: April 9, 2019
Patent Number:
10254185
A sensor includes a deformable membrane that deflects in response to a stimuli. The sensor further includes a capacitive element coupled to the deformable membrane. The capacitive element is disposed within an enclosed cavity of the sensor. The capacitive element changes capacitance in response to the deformable membrane deflecting. The capacitive element comprises a getter material for collecting gas molecules within the enclosed cavity.
Method to reduce data rates and power consumption using device based attitude generation
Granted: April 2, 2019
Patent Number:
10247748
A method includes generating motion data by receiving a gyroscope data from a gyroscope sensor, performing integration using the gyroscope data and generating an integrated gyroscope data using a first processor. The method further includes receiving a data from one or more sensors, other than the gyroscope sensor, and performing sensor fusion using the integrated gyroscope data and the data to generate motion data using a second processor.
Round robin sensing device and method of use
Granted: April 2, 2019
Patent Number:
10247555
A round-robin sensing device is disclosed. The round-robin sensing device comprises a MEMS device, wherein the MEMS device includes first and second sense electrodes. The round-robin sensing device also comprises a multiplexer coupled to the first and second sense electrodes, at least one sense amplifier coupled to the multiplexer, a demodulator coupled to the at least one sense amplifier, and an integrate and dump circuit coupled to the demodulator. Finally, the round-robin sensing…
Inferring ambient atmospheric temperature
Granted: March 26, 2019
Patent Number:
10239750
In a method of inferring ambient atmospheric temperature, an acoustic signal is emitted from a speaker. A first sample of the acoustic signal is captured with a first microphone spaced a first distance from the speaker. A second sample of the acoustic signal is captured with a second microphone spaced a second distance from the speaker. The second distance is greater than the first distance, and a difference between the first distance and the second distance is a known third distance. A…
Sensor component with enhanced acoustic overload point and electrostatic discharge protection
Granted: March 19, 2019
Patent Number:
10237650
A feedback signal is employed to facilitate enhancing an acoustic overload point and electrostatic discharge protection of a sensor component and associated circuit. The sensor component comprises a backplate component and a diaphragm component. The backplate component is biased to a low-level voltage associated with a ground. The diaphragm component is biased to a defined high-voltage associated with a charge pump. The diaphragm component generates a signal based on movement of the…
Method and apparatus for using multiple filters for enhanced portable navigation
Granted: March 12, 2019
Patent Number:
10228252
An apparatus and method are disclosed for enhancing a navigation solution of a portable device and a platform. Motion sensor data may be obtained corresponding to motion of the portable device, such that a first filter may be configured to output a navigation solution and at least one second filter may be configured to use the motion sensor data to generate at least one value. The at least one generated value may then be used with the first filter to enhance the navigation solution…
Duty-cycled gyroscope
Granted: March 12, 2019
Patent Number:
10228249
A gyroscope system comprises a MEMS gyroscope coupled to a drive system and a sense system. The drive system maintains the MEMS gyroscope in a state of oscillation and the sense system for receiving, amplifying, and demodulating an output signal of the MEMS gyroscope that is indicative of the rate of rotation. The gyroscope system further includes a phase-locked look (PLL) which receives a reference clock (REFCLK) from the drive system and produces a system clock (CLK). Finally, the…
CMOS-MEMS integrated device including multiple cavities at different controlled pressures and methods of manufacture
Granted: March 5, 2019
Patent Number:
10221065
An integrated MEMS device comprises two substrates where the first and second substrates are coupled together and have two enclosures there between. One of the first and second substrates includes an outgassing source layer and an outgassing barrier layer to adjust pressure within the two enclosures. The method includes depositing and patterning an outgassing source layer and a first outgassing barrier layer on the substrate, resulting in two cross-sections. In one of the two…
Systems and methods for thermally controlling sensors
Granted: March 5, 2019
Patent Number:
10222394
A sensor is compensated by selectively activating a temperature element to drive temperature within the thermal envelope encompassing the sensor towards an operating temperature and applying a compensation to output of the sensor based at least in part on the operating temperature. The initial ambient temperature is estimated and the operating temperature is selected from a set of predetermined temperatures based on the estimate. The current ambient temperature is estimated and a new…
