Abstract:
A method of protecting a micro-mechanical sensor structure embedded in a micro-mechanical sensor chip, in which the micro-mechanical sensor structure is fabricated with a protective membrane, the micro-mechanical sensor chip is arranged so that a surface of the protective membrane faces toward a second chip, and the micro-mechanical sensor chip is secured to the second chip.
Abstract:
A method for configuring a wireless network includes pointing a first end of a network configuration device at a wireless device and actuating the network configuration device to add the wireless device to the wireless network. The method may include positioning the first end in close proximity to the wireless device. A device is provided for configuring wireless networks that includes a transmitter configured to transmit at least one of an initiation signal and a connection table to a wireless device. The initiation signal is sent by the device to the wireless device to add or delete the wireless device from a network that is being configured. The connection table includes information about each wireless device that has previously been added to the network. A receiver is included in the device that is adapted to receive at least one of the connection table and a unique identifier from the wireless device. A memory is included in the device that is configured to store the connection table and electrically coupled to the transmitter and the receiver. The transmitter includes an infrared transmitter or a radio frequency transmitter and the receiver includes an infrared receiver or a radio frequency receiver. A system is provided that includes a pointing device including a connection table and a plurality of wireless network devices wirelessly couplable with the pointing device and with each other.
Abstract:
An intelligent local irrigation system includes one or more sprinklers and a controller coupled to the one or more sprinklers via a wired or wireless connection and enabled to control the sprinklers thereby. A controller arrangement establishes connectivity with an internet service portal which stores a profile of the local irrigation system and which obtains information from internet-based resources. The internet service portal determines an irrigation schedule based on the profile and on information obtained from the internet-based information resources and provides the irrigation schedule to the controller arrangement for implementation.
Abstract:
An rate-of-rotation sensor having a Coriolis element, which is arranged over a surface of a substrate, is described. The Coriolis element is induced to oscillate in parallel to a first axis. In response to a Coriolis force, the Coriolis element is deflected in a second axis, which is perpendicular to the first axis. A proof element is provided to prove the deflection.
Abstract:
A system for converting a voice input requested location to a destination location useable by a navigation device in a vehicle. The system includes a mobile communicator, preferably a mobile phone, in communication with a base station and a voice portal server. The voice portal server identifies through a voice recognition algorithm a destination location corresponding to a requested location verbally input by the vehicle occupant. The voice portal server may access the internet for additional information. The voice portal server may prompt the occupant to respond to interrogatories to narrow the possible matches for the requested location to one destination location. The destination location is transmitted from the voice portal server via the base station and via the mobile communicator to a decoder in an encoded format, preferably in DTMF (Dual Tone Multi-Frequency) format. The decoder decoding the destination location and transmitting the destination location to a navigation device. The navigation device plotting a selected route from the current location to the destination location. A method of using the system is provided. An in-vehicle apparatus using the system is also provided.
Abstract:
An integrated adjustable capacitor device and method for making such a device are provided. The adjustable capacitor includes an underlying electrode, a dielectric cavity, an upper electrode, and an etch cavity for removing sacrificial material from the dielectric cavity. The surface of the device is relatively flat due to epitaxal deposition of epi polysilicon and single crystal silicon. The adjustable capacitor system is capable of undergoing CMOS processes without requiring additional steps of covering the capacitor device to protect it and then removing the covering following the CMOS processes.
Abstract:
A structural body which, at least region-wise, has at least one area which is in contact with a liquid or a gas flowing past, and which, at least to a great extent, is provided with a surface patterning made of a plurality of randomly or irregularly distributed geometric forms, in particular pyramids. At least one such structural body be used in a capacitive sensor with which, in particular, the dielectric constants or the conductance of a liquid or a gas can be determined.
Abstract:
A gyroscope system including multiple rotating or oscillating disks filters out disturbance acceleration inputs such as vibrations or jarring while detecting and measuring external angular velocity. The gyroscope disks are decoupled from a substrate to decrease the impact of external vibrations on the gyroscope operation. The gyroscope disks are rotated in opposite directions or oscillated out of phase to decrease the impact of disturbance vibrations and jarring while more accurately measuring external angular velocities applied to the system.
Abstract:
A method of teaching pronunciation is provided which includes communicating by a voice portal server to a user a model word and detecting a response by the user to the voice portal server. The method also includes comparing the response word to the model word and determining a confidence level based on the comparison of the response word to the model word. The method further includes comparing an acceptance limit to the confidence level and confirming a correct pronunciation of the model word if the confidence level one of equals and exceeds the acceptance limit.
Abstract:
A method of protecting a micro-mechanical sensor structure embedded in a micro-mechanical sensor chip, in which the micro-mechanical sensor structure is fabricated with a protective membrane, the micro-mechanical sensor chip is arranged so that a surface of the protective membrane faces toward a second chip, and the micro-mechanical sensor chip is secured to the second chip.