Methods and apparatus for improving sensor performance
First Claim
1. A method for operating a sensor having a sensor proof mass elastically suspended at an initial equilibrium position by a suspension force, comprising in combination:
- providing a tunable force opposing said suspension force;
presetting said proof mass with said tunable force to a second equilibrium position less stable than said initial equilibrium position; and
operating said sensor from the preset second equilibrium position of said proof mass short of instability.
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Abstract
Methods and apparatus for improving performance of a sensor having a sensor proof mass elastically suspended at an initial equilibrium position by a suspension force, provide a tunable force opposing that suspension force and preset the proof mass with that tunable force to a second equilibrium position less stable than the initial equilibrium position. The sensor is then operated from that preset second equilibrium position of the proof mass short of instability. The spring constant of the elastic suspension may be continually monitored, and such continually monitored spring constant may be continually adjusted to maintain the sensor at a substantially constant sensitivity during its operation.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A method for operating a sensor having a sensor proof mass elastically suspended at an initial equilibrium position by a suspension force, comprising in combination:
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providing a tunable force opposing said suspension force; presetting said proof mass with said tunable force to a second equilibrium position less stable than said initial equilibrium position; and operating said sensor from the preset second equilibrium position of said proof mass short of instability. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. Apparatus for operating a sensor having a sensor proof mass elastically suspended at an initial equilibrium position by a suspension force, comprising in combination:
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means for providing a tunable force opposing said suspension force; means connected to said means for providing a tunable force for presetting said proof mass with said tunable force to a second equilibrium position less stable than said initial equilibrium position; and means for operating said sensor from the preset second equilibrium position of said proof mass short of instability. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. Apparatus for operating a sensor having a sensor proof mass elastically suspended at an initial equilibrium position by a suspension force, comprising in combination:
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means for monitoring a spring constant of an elastic suspension of said proof mass; and means connected to said monitoring means for continually adjusting the monitored spring constant to maintain said sensor at a substantially constant sensitivity during operation of said sensor. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21)
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Specification