Measuring and testing – Speed – velocity – or acceleration – Acceleration determination utilizing inertial element
Patent
1986-02-04
1987-10-13
Chapman, John
Measuring and testing
Speed, velocity, or acceleration
Acceleration determination utilizing inertial element
G01P 1508
Patent
active
046990062
ABSTRACT:
An accelerometer transducer has a base holding a sheet normal to an input axis. The sheet is suspended from the base by a first spring arrangement for oscillatory motion in the way of limited angular excursions about a central axis lying in the sheet. A weight is spring-suspended from the sheet in a manner permitting displacement of the center of gravity of the weight along the input axis. Acceleration along the input axis varies the moment of inertia of the assembly consisting of the sheet and the weight about the central axis, altering the frequency of oscillatory motion by an amount functionally related to the magnitude of the acceleration. The sheet is driven at its characteristic frequency, and its frequency of oscillation is measured. In a preferred embodiment, a first transducer includes a weight suspended offset from the sheet in a first direction along the input axis, and a second transducer includes a weight offset from the sheet in the opposite direction along the input axis. The change of oscillatory frequency of the second transducer is subtracted from that of the first transducer to develop an output quantity linearly related to the acceleration. In a preferred embodiment, the sheets, springs and weights are micromechanical devices fabricated by semiconductor fabrication techniques. Electrostatic driving elements for driving the sheet, and a capacitive pick-off for sensing its vibration are also shown.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3498138 (1970-03-01), Stewart
patent: 4071838 (1978-01-01), Block
patent: 4182187 (1980-01-01), Hanson
patent: 4306456 (1981-12-01), Maerfeld
patent: 4454771 (1984-06-01), Shimazoe et al.
patent: 4483194 (1984-11-01), Rudolf
Chapman John
The Charles Stark Draper Laboratory Inc.
LandOfFree
Vibratory digital integrating accelerometer does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Vibratory digital integrating accelerometer, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Vibratory digital integrating accelerometer will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-404728