Piezo-optic measuring transducer and accelerometer, pressure gauge, dynamometer, and thermometer based thereon
First Claim
1. A piezo-optic measuring transducer comprising:
- at least one light source;
a first polarization-optical channel having a first optical axis, with a first portion of a luminous flux produced by said light source passing therethrough;
a second polarization-optical channel having a second optical axis, with a second portion of the luminous flux produced by said light source passing therethrough;
a first polarizer of said first polarization-optical channel, arranged therein so that said first portion of said luminous flux is incident thereupon;
a second polarizer of said second polarization-optical channel, arranged therein so that said second portion of said luminous flux is incident thereupon;
an elastic element sensitive to a stress variation therein caused by a variation in the measurand, said elastic element forming part of both first and second polarization-optical channels and being arranged therein downstream of said first and second polarizers with respect to said luminous flux;
a first analyzer of said first polarization-optical channel, arranged therein downstream of said elastic element with respect to said first portion of said luminous flux;
a second analyzer of said second polarization-optical channel, arranged therein downstream of said elastic element with respect to said second portion of said luminous flux;
a means of varying the intensity of said second portion of said luminous flux in said second polarization-optical channel, said intensity variation being opposite in polarity to that in said first portion of said luminous flux in said first polarization-optical channel, said luminous flux passing through said means;
a first photocell of said first polarization-optical channel, arranged therein downstream of said first analyzer with respect to said first portion of said luminous flux and converting the light incidient thereupon into an electrical signal;
a second photocell of said second polarization-optical channel, arranged therein in a differential relationship with said first photocell downstream of said second analyzer with respect to said second portion of said luminous flux, and converting the light incident thereupon into an electrical signal;
the difference in said electrical signals at the outputs of said first and second photocell being representative of the measurand.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A piezo-optic measuring transducer is disclosed herein and an accelerometer, a pressure gauge, a dynamometer, and a thermometer based thereon.
The piezo-optic measuring transducer comprises two polarization-optical channels. Each of these channels includes the following components arranged in series downstream the luminous flux produced by a light source: a polarizer, an elastic element which is common to both channels and sensitive to stress variations therein caused by a variation in the measurand, an analyzer, and a photocell. Both channels are provided with a means for varying the intensity of the luminous flux incident upon one of the photocells which intensity variation is opposite in polarity to that in the luminous flux incident upon the other photocell. Both photocells are arranged in a differential relationship with the difference in the electrical signals produced thereby being representative of the measurand. An accelerometer, a pressure gauge, a dynamometer, and a thermometer can be provided on the basis of said transducer.
50 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A piezo-optic measuring transducer comprising:
- at least one light source;
a first polarization-optical channel having a first optical axis, with a first portion of a luminous flux produced by said light source passing therethrough;
a second polarization-optical channel having a second optical axis, with a second portion of the luminous flux produced by said light source passing therethrough;
a first polarizer of said first polarization-optical channel, arranged therein so that said first portion of said luminous flux is incident thereupon;
a second polarizer of said second polarization-optical channel, arranged therein so that said second portion of said luminous flux is incident thereupon;
an elastic element sensitive to a stress variation therein caused by a variation in the measurand, said elastic element forming part of both first and second polarization-optical channels and being arranged therein downstream of said first and second polarizers with respect to said luminous flux;
a first analyzer of said first polarization-optical channel, arranged therein downstream of said elastic element with respect to said first portion of said luminous flux;
a second analyzer of said second polarization-optical channel, arranged therein downstream of said elastic element with respect to said second portion of said luminous flux;
a means of varying the intensity of said second portion of said luminous flux in said second polarization-optical channel, said intensity variation being opposite in polarity to that in said first portion of said luminous flux in said first polarization-optical channel, said luminous flux passing through said means;
a first photocell of said first polarization-optical channel, arranged therein downstream of said first analyzer with respect to said first portion of said luminous flux and converting the light incidient thereupon into an electrical signal;
a second photocell of said second polarization-optical channel, arranged therein in a differential relationship with said first photocell downstream of said second analyzer with respect to said second portion of said luminous flux, and converting the light incident thereupon into an electrical signal;
the difference in said electrical signals at the outputs of said first and second photocell being representative of the measurand. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
- at least one light source;
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15. An accelerometer comprising:
- a housing;
an elastic element accommodated in said housing and sensitive to a stress variation therein caused by a variation in the measurand, i.e. in linear acceleration;
a mass also accommodated in said housing, which is coupled with said elastic element and causing a stress variation therein following a variation in said measurand;
a piezo-optic measuring transducer accommodated in said housing, which measures said stress variation in said elastic element;
at least one light source in said piezo-optic measuring transducer;
a first polarization-optical channel of said transducer, having a first optical axis, with a first portion of a luminous flux produced by said light source passing therethrough;
a second polarization-optical channel of said transducer, having a second optical axis, with a second portion of the luminous flux produced by said light source passing therethrough;
a first polarizer of said first polarization-optical channel, arranged therein so that said first portion of said luminous flux is incident thereupon;
a second polarizer of said second polarization-optical channel, arranged therein so that said second portion of said luminous flux is incident thereupon;
said elastic element sensitive to a stress variation therein caused by a variation in the measurand forming part of both first and second polarization-optical channels and being arranged therein downstream of said first and second polarizers with respect to said luminous flux;
a first analyzer of said first polarization-optical channel, arranged therein downstream of said elastic element with respect to said first portion of said luminous flux;
a second analyzer of said second polarization-optical channel, arranged therein downstream of said elastic element with respect to said second portion of said luminous flux;
a means for varying the intensity of said second portion of said luminous flux in said second polarization-optical channel, said intensity variation being opposite in polarity to that in said first portion of said luminous flux in said first polarization-optical channel, said luminous flux passing through said means;
a first photocell of said first polarization-optical channel, arranged therein downstream of said first analyzer with respect to said first portion of said luminous flux and converting the light incident thereupon into an electrical signal;
a second photocell of said second polarization-optical channel, arranged therein in a differential relationship with said first photocell downstream of said second analyzer with respect to said second portion of said luminous flux and converting the light incident thereupon into an electrical signal;
the difference in said electrical signals at the outputs of said first and second photocells being representative of the measurand.
- a housing;
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16. A pressure gauge comprising:
- a housing;
an elastic element accommodated in said housing and sensitive to a stress variation therein caused by a variation in the measurand, i.e. in pressure;
a diaphragm also accommodated in said housing, which is coupled with said elastic element and causing a stress variation therein following a variation in said measurand;
a piezo-optic measuring transducer accommodated in said housing, which measures said stress variation in said elastic element;
at least one light source in said piezo-optic measuring transducer;
a first polarization-optical channel of said transducer, having a first optical axis, with a first portion of a luminous flux produced by said light source passing therethrough;
a second polarization-optical channel of said transducer, having a second optical axis, with a second portion of the luminous flux produced by said light source passing therethrough;
a first polarizer of said first polarization-optical channel, arranged therein so that said first portion of said luminous flux is incident thereupon;
a second polarizer of said second polarization-optical channel, arranged therein so that said second portion of said luminous flux is incident thereupon;
said elastic element sensitive to a stress variation therein caused by a variation in the measurand forming part of both first and second polarization-optical channels and being arranged therein downstream of said first and second polarizers with respect to said luminous flux;
a first analyzer of said first polarization-optical channel, arranged therein downstream of said elastic element with respect to said first portion of said luminous flux;
a second analyzer of said second polarization-optical channel, arranged therein downstream of said elastic element with respect to said second portion of said luminous flux;
a means for varying the intensity of said second portion of said luminous flux in said second polarization-optical channel, said intensity variation being opposite in polarity to that in said first portion of said luminous flux in said first polarization-optical channel, said luminous flux passing through said means;
a first photocell of said first polarization-optical channel, arranged therein downstream of said first analyzer with respect to said first portion of said luminous flux and converting the light incident thereupon into an electrical signal;
a second photocell of said second polarization-optical channel, arranged therein in a differential relationship with said first photocell downstream of said second analyzer with respect to said second portion of said luminous flux and converting the light incident thereupon into an electrical signal;
the difference in said electrical signals at the outputs of said first and second photocells being representative of the measurand.
- a housing;
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17. A dynamometer comprising:
- a housing;
an elastic element accommodated in said housing and sensitive to a stress variation therein caused by a variation in the measurand, i.e. in force;
a journal also accommodated in said housing, which is coupled with said elastic element and causing a stress variation therein following a variation in said measurand;
a piezo-optic measuring transducer accommodated in said housing, which measures said stress variation in said elastic element;
at least one light source in said piezo-optic measuring transducer;
a first polarization-optical channel of said transducer, having a first optical axis, with a first portion of a luminous flux produced by said light source passing therethrough;
a second polarization-optical channel of said transducer, having a second optical axis, with a second portion of the luminous flux produced by said light source passing therethrough;
a first polarizer of said first polarization-optical channel, arranged therein so that said first portion of said luminous flux is incident thereupon;
a second polarizer of said second polarization-optical channel, arranged therein so that said second portion of said luminous flux is incident thereupon;
said elastic element sensitive to a stress variation therein caused by a variation in the measurand forming part of both first and second polarization-optical channels and being arranged therein downstream of said first and second polarizers with respect to said luminous flux;
a first analyzer of said first polarization-optical channel, arranged therein downstream of said elastic element with respect to said first portion of said luminous flux;
a second analyzer of said second polarization-optical channel, arranged therein downstream of said elastic element with respect to said second portion of said luminous flux;
a means for varying the intensity of said second portion of said luminous flux in said second polarization-optical channel, said intensity variation being opposite in polarity to that in said first portion of said luminous flux in said first polarization-optical channel, said luminous flux passing through said means;
a first photocell of said first polarization-optical channel, arranged therein downstream of said first analyzer with respect to said first portion of said luminous flux and converting the light incident thereupon into an electrical signal;
a second photocell of said second polarization-optical channel, arranged therein in a differential relationship with said first photocell downstream of said second analyzer with respect to said second portion of said luminous flux and converting the light incident thereupon into an electrical signal;
the difference in said electrical signals at the outputs of said first and second photocells being representative of the measurand.
- a housing;
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18. A thermometer comprising:
- a housing;
an elastic element accommodated in said housing and sensitive to a stress variation therein caused by a variation in the measurand, i.e. in temperature;
said housing having a thermal expansion coefficient different from that of said elastic element and being coupled therewith and causing a stress variation therein following a variation in said measurand;
a piezo-optic measuring transducer accommodated in said housing, which measures said stress variation in said elastic element;
at least one light source in said piezo-optic measuring transducer;
a first polarization-optical channel of said transducer, having a first optical axis, with a first portion of a luminous flux produced by said light source passing therethrough;
a second polarization-optical channel of said transducer, having a second optical axis, with a second portion of the luminous flux produced by said light source passing therethrough;
a first polarizer of said first polarization-optical channel, arranged therein so that said first portion of said luminous flux is incident thereupon;
a second polarizer of said second polarization-optical channel, arranged therein so that said second portion of said luminous flux is incident thereupon;
said elastic element sensitive to a stress variation therein caused by a variation in the measurand forming part of both first and second polarization-optical channels and being arranged therein downstream of said first and second polarizers with respect to said luminous flux;
a first analyzer of said first polarization-optical channel, arranged therein downstream of said elastic element with respect to said first portion of said luminous flux;
a second analyzer of said second polarization-optical channel, arranged therein downstream of said elastic element with respect to said second portion of said luminous flux;
a means for varying the intensity of said second portion of said luminous flux in said second polarization-optical channel, said intensity variation being opposite in polarity to that in said first portion of said luminous flux in said first polarization-optical channel, said luminous flux passing through said means;
a first photocell of said first polarization-optical channel, arranged therein downstream of said first analyzer with respect to said first portion of said luminous flux and converting the light incident thereupon into an electrical signal;
a second photocell of said second polarization-optical channel, arranged therein in a differential relationship with said first photocell downstream of said second analyzer with respect to said second portion of said luminous flux and converting the light incident thereupon into an electrical signal;
the difference in said electrical signals at the outputs of said first and second photocells being representative of the measurand.
- a housing;
Specification