Electronically tunable resonant accelerometer
First Claim
1. An electronically tunable resonant accelerometer for measuring applied reciprocating motion within a predetermined frequency range comprising:
- piezoelectric generating means for generating an output signal in response to said motion, said piezoelectric generating means having a resonant frequency;
means for amplifying said output signal;
feedback loop including means for adjusting gain of said feedback loop, and means for adjusting phase of a feedback signal from said amplifying means;
piezoelectric feedback means mechanically coupled to said piezoelectric generating means and receiving said feedback signal from said feedback loop, said gain adjusting means and said phase adjusting means being adapted to vary said feedback signal and thereby tune said resonant frequency of said piezoelectric generating means over said predetermined frequency range;
means for mounting said piezoelectric generating means and said feedback means and applying said reciprocating motion thereto.
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Abstract
An electronically tunable resonant accelerometer is shown wherein the frequency of a resonant peak may be adjusted over a range of frequencies. A piezoelectric element of the accelerometer is used with a seismic mass to generate an output voltage in response to reciprocating motion of the accelerometer. In a compression mode, a feedback loop applies a feedback voltage to a second piezoelectric element mechanically coupled to the first mentioned piezoelectric element. In a cantilever mode, a feedback loop applies a feedback voltage to another location along the first mentioned piezoelectric element which is formed from two bonded piezoelectric elements. By adjusting gain and phase of the feedback loop, first, the resonant frequency of the accelerometer may be varied over a wide range of frequencies to give increased sensitivity to reciprocating motion occurring at a frequency within a narrow band width centered on the resonant frequency, and, second, damping of the resonance may be varied to control the band width of the resonance.
33 Citations
16 Claims
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1. An electronically tunable resonant accelerometer for measuring applied reciprocating motion within a predetermined frequency range comprising:
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piezoelectric generating means for generating an output signal in response to said motion, said piezoelectric generating means having a resonant frequency; means for amplifying said output signal; feedback loop including means for adjusting gain of said feedback loop, and means for adjusting phase of a feedback signal from said amplifying means; piezoelectric feedback means mechanically coupled to said piezoelectric generating means and receiving said feedback signal from said feedback loop, said gain adjusting means and said phase adjusting means being adapted to vary said feedback signal and thereby tune said resonant frequency of said piezoelectric generating means over said predetermined frequency range; means for mounting said piezoelectric generating means and said feedback means and applying said reciprocating motion thereto. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method of tuning resonant frequency of an accelerometer over a frequency range consisting of the following steps:
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mechanically coupling a first piezoelectric means to a second piezoelectric means; amplifying an output signal generated by said first piezoelectric means in response to motion thereof; connecting a feedback signal from said output signal through a feedback loop to said second piezoelectric means; adjusting gain of said feedback loop and simultaneously varying phase of said feedback signal through said feedback loop; said adjusting gain and varying phase tuning said resonant frequency over said frequency range. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16)
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Specification