A method of manufacturing an inertial measurement unit (IMU) comprises fabricating a plurality of individual MEMS inertial sensor packages at a package level as sealed packages containing a MEMS inertial sensor chip and an integrated circuit electrically connected together. Fabricating the individual MEMS inertial sensor packages comprises forming mechanical interconnect features in each package and assembling the IMU by mechanically interconnecting each individual MEMS inertial sensor package with another individual MEMS inertial sensor package in a mutually orthogonal orientation.

An inertial sensor includes a substrate, a first detection movable body and a second detection movable body which overlap the substrate in a direction along the Z-axis and are disposed side by side in a direction along the X-axis, a first detection spring that supports the first detection movable body to be displaceable in the direction along the X-axis, a second detection spring that supports the second detection movable body to be displaceable in the direction along the X-axis, a first drive portion that drives the first detection movable body with a drive component in the direction along the X-axis, a second drive portion that drives the second detection movable body with the drive component in the direction along the X-axis, and a first and second fixed detection electrodes disposed on the substrate and facing the first and second detection movable bodies. The first and second detection springs are provided with a first thin portion thinner than a thickness of the first and second detection movable bodies in the direction along the Z-axis.

The invention is related to a method and an inertial navigation system for combining continuous signal output from a first inertial sensor (14) with discontinuous signal output from a second inertial sensor (12). The first inertial sensor (14) acquires continuous data with respect to a navigation frame of reference for a parameter used in inertial navigation and the continuous data is processed to produce estimated values of the parameter. The second inertial sensor (12) acquires discontinuous data with respect to a case frame of reference indicative of the parameter with respect to a case (25) containing the second inertial sensor (12). The discontinuous data is processed to produce measurements of the parameter at selected times, —and the estimated values of the parameter and the measurements of the parameter are processed at selected times with a Kalman filter to provide corrections to the estimated values of the parameter at the selected times.

A method and apparatus are provided for determining the orientation of an object relative to a platform likely to be exposed to buffeting. The object may be a helmet worn by a pilot in which orientation of the helmet relative the aircraft while in flight may usefully be known, in particular when determining the position of space-stabilised symbols being displayed in an associated helmet-mounted digital display system. According to the method, not only may orientation of an object may be predicted at some time ahead of a time point of validity of source sensor data, but the prediction may be dynamically configured to according to a detected severity of buffeting to reduce the effects of the buffeting upon the quality of data output by the system. The method includes measuring the severity of any buffeting using the same source data as used to determine orientation of the object.

An inertia measure unit (IMU) includes a main circuit board, and first and second weight blocks. A first surface of the first weight block contacts the main circuit board. The first weight block includes a recess formed on a second surface thereof opposite to the first surface, and an opening formed on a side surface thereof. The second weight block is coupled to the first weight block on the second surface to cover the recess. The first and second weight blocks jointly form an inner chamber in communication with the opening. The IMU further includes a circuit board disposed in the inner chamber, and a signal line coupled to an edge of the circuit board and extending out of the opening. The signal line bends over an outer surface of the first weight block or the second weight block to connect to the main circuit board.

Technologies for tracking and locating underground assets include a survey instrument having an asset tracking device. The asset tracking device determines a current geographic location of the survey instrument and a heading of a sensor group of the survey instrument when aimed at a target measurement point of an underground asset. The asset tracking device measures the distance between the sensor group and the target measurement point of the underground asset. The asset tracking device also determines the pitch of the sensor group when aimed at the target measurement point of the underground asset. The effective height of the sensor group relative to the elevation at the survey location is also determined. The asset tracking device determines the geographic location and a corresponding depth of the target measurement point on the underground asset based on the determined and measured information.

A physical quantity sensor includes a sensor element (acceleration sensor element) and a substrate (package) to which the sensor element is attached using a bonding material (resin adhesive), in which, when an elastic modulus of the bonding material is e, 2.0 GPa<e<7.8 GPa is satisfied.

A sensor tag which in use will be affixed to a vehicle for obtaining vehicle telematics data includes a battery for powering the tag and a processor running executable code to process accelerometer data. An accelerometer measures the acceleration of the tag and thereby of the vehicle, and also controls the operation of the processor. A memory is used for storing a unique tag identifier of the tag and for storing trip data including information about trips and acceleration data. Finally, a communication module is used for short range wireless communication with a mobile communications device located in the vehicle via a short range wireless communications protocol, the communication module transmitting the tag's unique identifier and a sequence of time stamped acceleration data. The mobile communications device obtains GPS data, combines this with the acceleration date and transmits this to a server for analysis.

The present invention relates to a method for estimating the movement of a walking pedestrian (1), the method being characterised in that it comprises the following steps: (a) Acquisition, by inertial-measurement means (20) rigidly connected to a lower limb (10) of said pedestrian (1) and positioned in such a way as to have substantially a movement of rotation with respect to a distal end (11) of said lower limb (10) at least when said distal end (11) of the lower limb (10) is in contact with the ground, of an acceleration and of an angular speed of said lower limb (10); (b) Estimation, by data-processing means (21, 31, 41), of a speed of said lower limb (10) according to said measured acceleration and said measured angular speed. (c) Determination of a time interval of said walking of the pedestrian (1) during which said distal end (11) of said lower limb (10) is in contact with the ground according to the measured acceleration, the measured angular speed, and a moment arm between the inertial-measurement means (20) and said distal end (11); (d) In said determined time interval: calculation of an expected speed according to said measured angular speed and said moment arm; Correction of the estimated speed according to the expected speed; (e) Estimation of the movement of the pedestrian (1) according to the estimated speed.

Systems and methods for generating composite depth images are disclosed. Exemplary implementations may: capture, by a depth sensor, a set of depth images over a capture period of time; generate, by an inertial sensor, inertial signals that convey values of one or more inertial parameters characterizing motion of the depth sensor during the capture period of time; select a target capture position based on one or more of the capture positions of the set of depth images; generate, using the values of the one or more inertial parameters during the capture period of time, re-projected depth images; and generate a composite depth image by combining multiple depth images, such multiple depth images including a first re-projected depth image and a second re-projected depth image.