Leveling Device

• US 20060123643A1
• Filed: 12/14/2004
• Published: 06/15/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/14/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Wada, Joan D., Campbell, Ray F.
• Granted Patent: US 7,137,208 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 33/366.130
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 15/01 Arrangements thereon for guidance or control steering arrangements F42B10/60; aircraft flight control B64C; guidance systems other than those installed aboard F41G7/00, F41G9/00; locating by use of radio or other waves G01S; flight control in general G05D1/00; computer aspects G06]
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 9/00 Measuring inclination, e.g. by clinometers, by levels
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 15/125 by capacitive pick-up
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 15/18 in two or more dimensions
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/107 specially adapted for missiles

Abstract

A leveling system for a missile system includes a holder defining an xz-plane. Four flexure plate accelerometers are coupled to the holder at angles such that they are sensitive to movement in an xy-plane. The accelerometers all generate signals in response to movements of the flexure plates. An actuator activates an object control device in response to a platform control signal. A processor receives the accelerometer signals and generates the platform control signal in response thereto.

Claims

1. A leveling device comprising:

a holder defining an xz-plane;

a first accelerometer coupled to said holder at an angle such that said first accelerometer is sensitive to movement of said first accelerometer in an xy-plane, said first accelerometer comprising a first flexure plate generating a first accelerometer signal in response to movement of said first flexure plate;

a second accelerometer coupled to said holder at an angle such that said second accelerometer is sensitive to movement of said second accelerometer in said xy-plane, said second accelerometer comprising a second flexure plate generating a second accelerometer signal in response to movement of said second flexure plate; and

a processor generating a platform control signal in response to the first accelerometer signal and the second accelerometer signal.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said first accelerometer and said second accelerometer are equidistant from or a known variable distance from an intersection of said xy-plane and a yz-plane.

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising a third accelerometer coupled to said holder at an angle such that said third accelerometer is sensitive to movement of said third accelerometer in a yz-plane, said third accelerometer comprising a third flexure plate generating a third accelerometer signal in response to movement of said third flexure plate.

4. The system of claim 3, further comprising a fourth accelerometer coupled to said holder at an angle such that said fourth accelerometer is sensitive to movement of said fourth accelerometer in said yz-plane, said fourth accelerometer comprising a fourth flexure plate generating a fourth accelerometer signal in response to movement of said fourth flexure plate.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein said third accelerometer and said fourth accelerometer are equidistant from or a known variable distance from an intersection of an x-axis, a y-axis and a z-axis.

6. The system of claim 5,

the processor receives said first accelerometer signal, said second accelerometer signal, said third accelerometer signal and said fourth accelerometer signal and generates the platform control signal in response thereto.

7. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

an actuator activating a system component in response to said platform control signal.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein said system component comprises a thruster or an attitude control device.

9. A method for operating a leveling system comprising:

generating a first accelerometer signal from a first flexure plate accelerometer;

generating a second accelerometer signal from a second flexure plate accelerometer;

rotating a platform clockwise when said first accelerometer signal is greater than said second accelerometer signal;

rotating said platform counter-clockwise when said second accelerometer signal is greater than said first accelerometer signal;

generating a third accelerometer signal from a third flexure plate accelerometer;

generating a fourth accelerometer signal from a fourth flexure plate accelerometer;

rotating said platform clockwise when said third accelerometer signal is greater than said fourth accelerometer signal; and

rotating said platform counter-clockwise when said fourth accelerometer signal is greater than said third accelerometer signal.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising calibrating the leveling system in relation to the earth by rotating the system about an x-axis or a z-axis.

11. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

calibrating the leveling system in relation to a rotation of the earth by rotating the system about a y-axis;

measuring effects of said rotation; and

calibrating said effects out of future leveling calculations.

12. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

generating a level acquired indicator signal, and

locking said level acquired indicator signal as a reference plane.

13. A leveling system for a missile system comprising:

a missile housing;

a holder coupled to said missile housing and defining an xz-plane;

a first accelerometer coupled to said holder at an angle such that said first accelerometer is sensitive to movement of said first accelerometer in an xy-plane, said first accelerometer comprising a first flexure plate generating a first accelerometer signal in response to movement of said first flexure plate;

a second accelerometer coupled to said holder at an angle such that said second accelerometer is sensitive to movement of said second accelerometer in said xy-plane, said second accelerometer comprising a second flexure plate generating a second accelerometer signal in response to movement of said second flexure plate;

a processor coupled to said first accelerometer and said second accelerometer, said processor receiving said first accelerometer signal, said second accelerometer signal and generating a platform control signal in response thereto; and

an actuator activating an obiect control device in response to the platform control signal.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein said object control device comprises at least one of a thruster, an attitude control device, a missile steering nozzle, or a vane actuator.

15. The system of claim 19, wherein said second accelerometer and said third accelerometer are arranged with said first accelerometer to receive cross axis thrust data.

16. The system of claim 15, further comprising a serial data bus receiving accelerometer signals from said first accelerometer, said second accelerometer and said third accelerometer, said serial data bus further exchanging information with said processor.

17. The system of claim 13, wherein said processor calibrates the leveling system in relation to the earth by generating a rotation signal to rotate the leveling system about an x-axis or a z-axis, said processor further generating a signal to rotate the leveling system about a y-axis in response to a rotation of the earth, said processor further measuring effects of said rotation about said x-axis, said y-axis, or said z-axis, said processor still further calibrating said effects out of future leveling calculations.

18. The system of claim 20, wherein said processor further generates a level acquired indicator signal in response to said first accelerometer, said second accelerometer, said third accelerometer, and said fourth accelerometer, said processor further locking said level acquired indicator signal as a reference plane.

19. The system of claim 13, further comprising a third accelerometer coupled to said holder at an angle such that said third accelerometer is sensitive to movement of said third accelerometer in a yz-plane, said third accelerometer comprising a third flexure plate generating a third accelerometer signal in response to movement of said third flexure plate.

20. The system of claim 19, further comprising a fourth accelerometer coupled to said holder at an angle such that said fourth accelerometer is sensitive to movement of said fourth accelerometer in said yz-plane, said fourth accelerometer comprising a fourth flexure plate generating a fourth accelerometer signal in response to movement of said fourth flexure plate.

21. The system of claim 13, wherein said first accelerometer and said second accelerometer are flexure plate dual capacitance accelerometers.