Imation Corporation

Advanced Research Corporation

Vernon Michael Cottles

Gregory Lawrence Wagner

Mark R Drutowski

The present invention is system and method for providing a self-calibrating pressure sensor. A pressure sensor apparatus comprises a diaphragm, at least one driving element operably coupled to the diaphragm configured to induce deflection in the diaphragm, and at least one strain gauge coupled to the diaphragm. The at least one strain gauge measures the deflection of the diaphragm. Typically, the driving elements will be piezoelectric drivers and will be operably coupled to the diaphragm. A method for evaluating a pressure sensor comprises inducing deflection in a diaphragm, measuring the deflection, determining the frequency-dependent response, calculating mechanical characteristics of the diaphragm from the frequency-dependent response, and calculating a response coefficient for the diaphragm based in part on said mechanical characteristics. The response coefficient is used to evaluate the sensor. The sensor can then be re-calibrated or self-calibrated based on the response coefficient.

Self-calibrating pressure sensor

The position of one or both edges of tape, such as magnetic tape, can be determined using a light source, such as a solid-state laser with a collimated beam, and a detector, such as a photodiode. The tape, by blocking a portion of the light, affects the amount of light reaching the detector. The detector generates signals as a function of the position of the tape. In the case of two detectors cooperating to measure the positions of opposing edges of the tape, the signals from the detectors may be processed to produce at least four useful signals, including a signal that is a function of the tape width and a signal that is a function of the position of the tape centroid.

Growing community of inventors

Maplewood, MN, United States of America

Vernon Michael Cottles