Redundant rate sensor and method
First Claim
1. A redundant rate sensor, comprising an enclosure, a plurality of independent and separate vibratory rate sensing elements within the enclosure, an output connector accessible externally of the enclosure, and circuit means within the enclosure for processing signals from each of the sensing elements and delivering to the output connector an independent rate output signal for each of the sensing elements.
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Abstract
Redundant rate sensor and method in which inertial rate is monitored with a plurality of vibratory sensing elements mounted in a single enclosure, signals from the sensing elements are processed to provide an independent rate output signal for each of the sensing elements, and the independent rate output signals are delivered to a connector which is accessible externally of the enclosure.
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Citations
21 Claims
- 1. A redundant rate sensor, comprising an enclosure, a plurality of independent and separate vibratory rate sensing elements within the enclosure, an output connector accessible externally of the enclosure, and circuit means within the enclosure for processing signals from each of the sensing elements and delivering to the output connector an independent rate output signal for each of the sensing elements.
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9. In a method of sensing inertial rate, the steps of:
- monitoring inertial rate with a plurality of vibratory sensing elements mounted in a single enclosure, processing signals from the sensing elements to provide an independent rate output signal for each of the sensing elements, and delivering the independent rate output signals to a connector which is accessible externally of the enclosure.
- View Dependent Claims (10, 11)
- 12. A redundant rate sensor, comprising an enclosure, first and second vibratory rate sensing elements mounted in the enclosure with the input axes of the two sensing elements perpendicular to each other for sensing rotation about perpendicular axes, and a third vibratory rate sensing element mounted in the enclosure with the input axis of the third sensing element parallel to the input axis of the first sensing element to provide redundancy for the first sensing element.
- 15. A redundant rate sensor, comprising an enclosure, first and second vibratory rate sensing elements mounted in the enclosure with the input axes of the two sensing elements perpendicular to each other, and a third vibratory rate sensing element mounted in the enclosure with the input axis of the third sensing element at a non-orthogonal angle relative to the input axes of the first and second sensing elements to provide redundancy for the first and second sensing elements.
- 19. A redundant rate sensor, comprising an enclosure, three vibratory rate sensing elements mounted in the enclosure with the input axes of the three sensing elements perpendicular to each other for sensing rotation about perpendicular axes, and a fourth vibratory rate sensing element mounted in the enclosure to provide redundancy for at least one of the three sensing elements.
Specification