Three axis accelerometer with variable axis sensitivity
First Claim
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1. A sensor for measuring acceleration in three dimensions, comprising:
- an inertial mass and a support system for the inertial mass, said support system including a base and a plurality of support members extending between said base and said inertial mass, and sufficient in number to suspend the inertial mass in orthogonal directions and to provide a statically indeterminate structure; and
stress sensors for measuring the acceleration induced stress in the support members thereby affording a measure of acceleration of the mass.
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Abstract
The accelerometer includes an inertial mass, a fixed base and at least one or more supports/sensors for supporting the mass from the base rendering the support system statically indeterminate. The supports/sensors are preferably double-ended dual beam tuning forks suspended between mounting pads and vibrated by an oscillator. By adding one or more supports/sensors beyond those supports/sensors necessary for a statically determinate support system, the support system is rendered statically indeterminate and therefore sensitive in one or more directions.
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18 Claims
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1. A sensor for measuring acceleration in three dimensions, comprising:
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an inertial mass and a support system for the inertial mass, said support system including a base and a plurality of support members extending between said base and said inertial mass, and sufficient in number to suspend the inertial mass in orthogonal directions and to provide a statically indeterminate structure; and
stress sensors for measuring the acceleration induced stress in the support members thereby affording a measure of acceleration of the mass. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. An accelerometer comprising:
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an inertial mass and a support system for the inertial mass, said support system including a base and a plurality of support members extending between said base and said inertial mass, and sufficient in number to suspend the inertial mass in orthogonal directions and to provide a statically indeterminate structure; and
at least six of said support members constituting respective stress sensors for measuring the acceleration induced stress in the support members to provide a measure of acceleration of the mass. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification