Miniaturized Inertial Measurement Unit and Associated Methods

• US 20130173207A1
• Filed: 07/31/2012
• Published: 07/04/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/19/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Jaymart Sensors, LLC
• Original Assignee: Jaymart Sensors, LLC
• Inventors: Tanenhaus, Martin E.
• Application Number:
  US13/562,970
• Publication Number:
  US 20130173207A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 702/141
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/1654 with electromagnetic compass
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/166 Mechanical, construction or arrangement details of inertial navigation systems
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/188 for accumulated errors, e.g. by coupling inertial systems with absolute positioning systems
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 15/00 Measuring acceleration; Measuring deceleration; Measuring shock, i.e. sudden change of acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 3/00 Measuring linear or angular speed; Measuring differences of linear or angular speeds G01P5/00 - G01P11/00 take precedence; direction and speed indication G01P13/045; counting mechanisms G06M

Abstract

An inertial measurement unit includes a base having a plurality of physically distinct sectors, upon which are positioned thereon groups of orthogonally oriented angle rate sensors, each group positioned on a different sector of the base. High-G and Low-G orthogonally oriented accelerometers are also positioned on the base. A processor is positioned on the base having software resident thereon for receiving signals from the angle rate sensors and the accelerometers. Software is also resident on the processor for calculating from the received signals one or more of the following: a change in attitude, a change in position, a change in angular rate, a change in velocity, and a change in acceleration of the unit over a plurality of finite time increments.

Claims

1. An inertial measurement unit comprising:

a base comprising a plurality of physically distinct sectors;

orthogonally oriented angle rate sensors positioned on preselected sectors of the base;

a plurality of high-G orthogonally oriented accelerometers positioned on the base;

a plurality of low-G orthogonally oriented accelerometers positioned on the base; and

a processor positioned on the base, wherein the processor receives signals from the angle rate sensors and the high-G and low-G accelerometers for calculating therefrom at least one of a change in attitude, a change in position, a change in angular rate, a change in velocity, and a change in acceleration of the unit over a plurality of finite time increments.

2. A method of making an inertial measurement unit comprising:

providing a base having a plurality of sectors defined thereon;

positioning orthogonally oriented angle rate sensors on a different sector of the base;

positioning high-G orthogonally oriented accelerometers on the base;

positioning low-G orthogonally oriented accelerometers on the base;

positioning a processor on the base;

receiving signals from the angle rate sensors and the high-G and three low-G accelerometers into the processor; and

calculating from the received signals at least one of a change in attitude, a change in position, a change in angular rate, a change in velocity, and a change in acceleration of the unit over a plurality of finite time increments.