Angular base sensor utilizing parallel vibrating accelerometers
First Claim
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1. An apparatus for generating a signal representing the angular rate motion of a structure, comprising:
- a first accelerometer, carried by the structure, for generating a first output signal representing acceleration along a first force-sensing axis;
a second accelerometer, carried by the structure, for generating a second output signal representing acceleration along a second force-sensing axis;
alignment means for aligning said first and second accelerometers relative to the structure in a side by side relationship with said first force-sensing axis parallel to said second force-sensing axis;
vibration means, operatively connected to the structure and said alignment means, for vibrating said first and said second accelerometers in opposite directions toward and away from each other along collinear vibration axes which are normal to said force-sensing axes at a predetermined frequency, whereby the force and torque applied to the structure by said vibration means is balanced; and
signal processing means, responsive to said first and second output signals, for generating a rate signal representing the angular rate motion of the structure about an axis perpendicular to the plane defined by said force-sensing axes and said vibration axis and for generating a force signal representing the acceleration of the structure along said force-sensing axes.
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Abstract
Inertial measurement of the angular rotation and translational motion of a structure can be provided by a pair of vibrating accelerometers aligned in a side-by-side arrangement with their force sensing axes in the same direction and vibrated to and away from each other along an axis normal to their force sensing axes.
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Citations
11 Claims
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1. An apparatus for generating a signal representing the angular rate motion of a structure, comprising:
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a first accelerometer, carried by the structure, for generating a first output signal representing acceleration along a first force-sensing axis; a second accelerometer, carried by the structure, for generating a second output signal representing acceleration along a second force-sensing axis; alignment means for aligning said first and second accelerometers relative to the structure in a side by side relationship with said first force-sensing axis parallel to said second force-sensing axis; vibration means, operatively connected to the structure and said alignment means, for vibrating said first and said second accelerometers in opposite directions toward and away from each other along collinear vibration axes which are normal to said force-sensing axes at a predetermined frequency, whereby the force and torque applied to the structure by said vibration means is balanced; and signal processing means, responsive to said first and second output signals, for generating a rate signal representing the angular rate motion of the structure about an axis perpendicular to the plane defined by said force-sensing axes and said vibration axis and for generating a force signal representing the acceleration of the structure along said force-sensing axes. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. An angular rate sensing accelerometer structure comprising:
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a housing; a shaft rotatably mounted in said housing; a first support member; a first accelerometer secured to said first support member; a first flexure means for securing said first support member to said housing such that said first accelerometer can move in a substantially linear manner in a direction generally normal to the axis of said shaft and in a direction toward and away from said shaft; a second support member; a second accelerometer secured to said second support member; a second flexure means for securing said second support member to said housing such that said second accelerometer can move in a substantially linear manner in a direction generally normal to the axis of said shaft and in a direction toward and away from said shaft; vibrating means for rotationally vibrating said shaft; and linkage means connected to said shaft and first and second support members for vibrating said first and second accelerometers in callinear directions. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11)
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Specification