Patent ID: 8217789
Filing Date: 2012-07-10
Classification: G01P,G08B

Abstract:
1. An inertial sensor comprising a piezoelectric transducer having a support diaphragm carrying a piezoelectric element and a defined periphery, said inertial sensor further including a mass having a rounded mass surface configured for inherent rolling motion, said rounded mass surface being secured to a mass-carrying surface of either said support diaphragm or said piezoelectric element for restrained rolling on said mass-carrying surface, so that said mass flexes said piezoelectric element as said mass rolls in response to an acceleration that induces said rolling motion, a substantial portion of said mass being disposed within said periphery of said piezoelectric transducer, and said rounded mass surface being secured to said mass-carrying surface at a location on said mass-carrying surface that lies along a central orthogonal axis that extends through a center of gravity of said mass and is orthogonal to said mass-carrying surface.