Acceleration pick-up device

• US 5,048,339 A
• Filed: 10/11/1989
• Issued: 09/17/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 10/11/1988
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Deutsche Telekom AG
• Original Assignee: Deutshe Forschungsanstalt Fur Luft-Und Raumfahrt EV
• Inventors: Neuhaus, Dietmar
• Primary Examiner(s): Williams, Hezron E.
• Assistant Examiner(s): NOT, DEFINED
• Application Number:
  US07/420,554
• Time in Patent Office: 706 Days
• Field of Search: 73/1 D, 73/1 DV, 73/515, 73/516 LM, 73/516 R, 73/517 B, 73/517 R, 73/651, 73/654
• US Class Current: 73/514.09
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 15/0894 by non-contact electron transfer, i.e. electron tunneling

Abstract

The acceleration pick-up device is provided with an elastic member to which an inert body is attached. Upon occurrence of an accelerative force, the elastic member is deformed. For measuring the absolute value of the acceleration, a calibration can be performed. In this calibration process, a measuring value of the acceleration is obtained on the basis of the deflection of the inert body. Subsequently, the inert body is loaded with a foreign medium so that its mass is changed, and then a further measuring value is obtained. In further measurement processes, the absolute acceleration value can be calculated from the differences of the masses and the measuring values.

Claims

1. An acceleration pick-up device having a body which is fastened to an elastic member, and a sensor for detecting the position of said inert body, characterized in that, for calibrating an absolute value of acceleration, the mass of the inert body is controllably changed by the addition or the receiving of a foreign medium, wherein the inert body, together with the elastic member and the sensor, is accommodated in a pressure-tight housing and wherein the foreign medium is introduced into said housing.

6. The acceleration pick-up device according to a claim 1, wherein the sensor is provided with a pointed tip which is directed towards the inert body and has a tunnel current flowing therethrough to the inert body, wherein the pointed tip is movable in the direction of the inert body, and a moving means for moving the pointed tip is controlled in such a manner that the distance between the pointed tip and the inert body remains constant.

7. The acceleration pick-up device according to claim 1, wherein a sensor is arranged on each side of the inert body and wherein the measuring signal is derived from the difference of the output signals of said two sensors.

10. A device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a housing for accommodating the inert body, the elastic member and the sensor, and

means for introducing the foreign medium into the housing.

2. An acceleration pick-up device having a body which is fastened to an elastic member, and a sensor for detecting the position of said inert body, characterized in that, for calibrating an absolute value of acceleration, the mass of the inert body is controllably changed by the addition or the receiving of a foreign medium, wherein the inert body consist of a gas-absorbing material and the foreign medium is a gas.

3. An acceleration pick-up device having a body which is fastened to an elastic member, and a sensor for detecting the position of said inert body, characterized in that, for calibrating an absolute value of acceleration, the mass of the inert body is controllably changed by the addition or the receiving of a foreign medium, wherein the inert body, together with the elastic member and the sensor, is accommodated in a pressure-tight housing and wherein the housing is connected to a vaporization means for vapor-deposition of a foreign medium onto the inert body.

4. An acceleration pick-up device having a body which is fastened to an elastic member, and a sensor for detecting the position of said inert body, characterized in that, for calibrating an absolute value of acceleration, the mass of the inert body is controllably changed by the addition or the receiving of a foreign medium, wherein the inert body contains a body consisting of vanadium.

5. The acceleration pick-up device according to claim 4, wherein the inert body is provided with a coating consisting of palladium.

8. An acceleration pick-up device having a body which is fastened to an elastic member, and a sensor for detecting the position of said inert body, characterized in that, for calibrating an absolute value of acceleration, the mass of the inert body is controllably changed by the addition or the receiving of a foreign medium, wherein the inert body is a hollow body the mass of which is variable by introducing a fluid.

9. The acceleration pick-up device according to claim 8, wherein the fluid is introduced to the interior of the hollow body and wherein outside the hollow body, there exists an atmosphere of a gas having a density being different from that of the fluid and having a pressure being equal to that of the fluid.

11. An acceleration pick-up device for determining acceleration values, comprising:

an elastic member,

a body fastened to the elastic member,

a sensor for detecting the position of the inert body,

means for adding a foreign medium to the inert body to thereby change the mass of the inert body for calibration, whereby an absolute value of acceleration is determined, and

wherein the inert body comprises a gas-absorbing material and the foreign medium comprises a gas.

15. A device according to claim 11, wherein the sensor comprises:

a substantially pointed tip directed toward the inert body,

means for establishing a tunnel current between the tip and the inert body,

means for moving the tip relative to the inert body, and means for maintaining a substantially constant distance between the tip and the inert body.

16. A device according to claim 11, further comprising

at least two sensors for detecting the position of the inert body and for generating an output signal in response thereto, the two sensors being arranged on opposite sides of the inert body, and

means for measuring a difference between the output signals generated by the two sensors and deriving a measuring signal in response thereto.

12. An acceleration pick-up device for determining acceleration values, comprising:

an elastic member,

a body fastened to the elastic member,

a sensor for detecting the position of the inert body,

means for adding a foreign medium to the inert body to thereby change the mass of the inert body for calibration, whereby an absolute value of acceleration is determined, and further comprising;

a housing for accommodating the inert body, the elastic member and the sensor, and

vaporization means for vapor-deposition of the foreign medium onto the inert body.

13. An acceleration pick-up device for determining acceleration values, comprising:

an elastic member,

a body fastened to the elastic member,

a sensor for detecting the position of the inert body,

means for adding a foreign medium to the inert body to thereby change the mass of the inert body for calibration, whereby an absolute value of acceleration is determined, and wherein the inert body comprises vanadium.

14. A device according to claim 13, wherein the inert body is provided with a coating of palladium.

17. An acceleration pick-up device for determining acceleration values, comprising:

an elastic member,

a body fastened to the elastic member,

a sensor for detecting the position of the inert body,

means for adding a foreign medium to the inert body to thereby change the mass of the inert body for calibration, whereby the absolute value of acceleration is determined, and wherein an inert body comprises a hollow body and the foreign medium comprises a fluid.

18. A device according to claim 17, wherein the fluid is added to the interior of the hollow body and the fluid has a density and a pressure and the hollow body is surrounded by a gas having a density different from that of the fluid and having a pressure equal to that of the fluid.