Portable accelerometer
First Claim
1. A portable accelerometer unit for measuring excursions from a datum due to an applied load, comprising in combination;
- an accelerometer device mounted by suspension in a housing, and operable to generate an output signal in response to displacement from said datum due to the applied load;
an electrical circuit connectible to said accelerometer device to receive the output signal therefrom, said circuit including at least one operational amplifier stage containing an operational amplifier, the operational amplifier having input terminals and an output terminal;
one of said input terminals being connected through a first variable resistance to a power supply, with the other input terminal being connected to the accelerometer to receive the output signal therefrom, the other input terminal having a feedback circuit operatively associated with it, said feedback circuit being controlled by a second variable resistance, said variable resistances being adjustable to zero the accelerometer output due to gravity; and
an output device connected to said output terminal to provide a readout of said applied load.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A portable accelerometer unit is described for measuring deviations or excursions from a datum due to an applied load or force. The portable accelerometer unit includes an accelerometer device mounted by suspension means in a housing, and is operable to generate an output signal in response to the applied load. An electrical circuit is also provided connectible to the accelerometer device to receive the output signal therefrom. This circuit includes at least one operational amplifier stage containing an operational amplifier. This amplifier has two input terminals and an output terminal. One of the input terminals is connected through a first variable resistance to a power supply. The other input terminal is connected to the accelerometer to receive the output signal therefrom. This other input terminal also has a feedback circuit operatively connected to it. The feedback circuit is controlled by a second variable resistance, whereby to effect zeroing of an accelerometer output signal due to gravity. An output device in the form of a meter, strip chart recorder or the like is driven from the output terminal to provide a readout of the applied load. A more preferred form of accelerometer unit includes a second operational amplifier stage to provide for isolation of the output device from the accelerometer device. In a still more preferred form, the portable accelerometer unit includes a third operational amplifier stage. The third operational amplifier has a feedback circuit connected between an input terminal and its output terminal, controlled by a variable resistance. This provides sensitivity control of the output signal.
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Citations
6 Claims
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1. A portable accelerometer unit for measuring excursions from a datum due to an applied load, comprising in combination;
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an accelerometer device mounted by suspension in a housing, and operable to generate an output signal in response to displacement from said datum due to the applied load; an electrical circuit connectible to said accelerometer device to receive the output signal therefrom, said circuit including at least one operational amplifier stage containing an operational amplifier, the operational amplifier having input terminals and an output terminal;
one of said input terminals being connected through a first variable resistance to a power supply, with the other input terminal being connected to the accelerometer to receive the output signal therefrom, the other input terminal having a feedback circuit operatively associated with it, said feedback circuit being controlled by a second variable resistance, said variable resistances being adjustable to zero the accelerometer output due to gravity; andan output device connected to said output terminal to provide a readout of said applied load. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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Specification