Multisensor assembly with angular rate piezoelectric crystal beam
First Claim
1. In a navigation sensor having a gyroscopic element rotatable about an axis and at least one flexure hinge for resiliently mounting the gyroscopic element to a base, the gyroscopic element including an aperture concentric to the axis, the navigation sensor further having a torque sensing assembly comprising:
- a piezoelectric beam aligned in coaxial relationship with the axis;
first restraining means for fixing orthogonal to the axis one edge portion of the beam to the gyroscopic element;
second restraining means for fixing orthogonal to the axis an opposite edge portion of the beam to the base;
third restraining means intermediate to the first and second restraining means for fixing to the gyroscopic element opposite midsection portions of the beam orthogonal to the axis;
whereby the restrained beam converts an angular rate of the gyroscopic element to a corresponding electrical signal.
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Accused Products
Abstract
In a multisensor assembly for detecting angular rates and linear accelerations, a diamond-shaped piezoelectric crystal beam is used to restrain a gyroscopic element to a base of the multisensor assembly. The diamond-shaped piezoelectric crystal is fixed to both the gyroscopic element and the base of the assembly by means of wires in an orientation orthogonal to the hinge axis and the spin axis of the assembly. This allows the piezoelectric crystal to experience only one degree of freedom. To improve the accuracy of the output electrical signal, oblong electrodes are placed on opposite surfaces of the piezoelectric crystal beam.
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Citations
13 Claims
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1. In a navigation sensor having a gyroscopic element rotatable about an axis and at least one flexure hinge for resiliently mounting the gyroscopic element to a base, the gyroscopic element including an aperture concentric to the axis, the navigation sensor further having a torque sensing assembly comprising:
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a piezoelectric beam aligned in coaxial relationship with the axis; first restraining means for fixing orthogonal to the axis one edge portion of the beam to the gyroscopic element; second restraining means for fixing orthogonal to the axis an opposite edge portion of the beam to the base; third restraining means intermediate to the first and second restraining means for fixing to the gyroscopic element opposite midsection portions of the beam orthogonal to the axis; whereby the restrained beam converts an angular rate of the gyroscopic element to a corresponding electrical signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A navigation sensor comprising:
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a gyroscopic element rotatable about an axis, the gyroscopic element having an aperture concentric to the axis; a base; at least one flexure hinge for resiliently mounting the gyroscopic element to the base; a torque sensing assembly engaged to the gyroscopic element and the base, the torque sensing assembly including; (a) a first piezoelectric beam aligned in coaxial relationship with the axis; (b) first restraining means for fixing orthogonal to the axis one edge portion of the beam to the gyroscopic element; (c) second restraining means for fixing orthogonal to the axis an opposite edge portion of the beam to the base; and (d) third restraining means intermediate to the first and second restraining means for fixing to the gyroscopic element opposite midsection portions of the beam orthogonal to the axis; whereby the first restrained beam converts an angular rate of the gyroscopic element to a first corresponding electrical signal; and second piezoelectric beams mounted in uniform spaced relation to the axis for generating a second electric signal proportional to a linear acceleration of the sensor in a direction perpendicular to the axis. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13)
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Specification