Patent ID: 7597002

Claim:
An inertial sensor based on diamagnetic levitation, said inertial sensor comprising a two dimensional array of permanent magnets and a diamagnetic element facing the said array, wherein said diamagnetic element constitutes an inertial mass, wherein the inertial sensor senses inertial forces, and wherein the inertial sensor further comprises a feed-back loop incorporating: at least 1 non contact position sensor to detect the movements of said inertial mass, at least 3 electrostatic actuators for keeping in place or moving said inertial mass, and computing means to derive the force exerted on a support and for moving or keeping in place said inertial mass accordingly; wherein said electrostatic actuators have one common electrode which is physically sealed to said inertial mass, the other electrode of each said electrostatic actuator facing and partly surrounding, or being partly surrounded by, said common electrode.