Methods and systems for segregating sensors within a housing

• US 7,661,312 B2
• Filed: 06/30/2006
• Issued: 02/16/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: Dukich, Peter J., Miller, Gregory A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Williams; Hezron
• Assistant Examiner(s): Shabman; Mark
• Application Number:
  US11/427,937
• Publication Number:
  US 20080000294A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,327 Days
• Field of Search: 734/93, 123/319, 361/735, 439/49
• US Class Current: 73/493
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 19/00 Gyroscopes; Turn-sensitive devices using vibrating masses; Turn-sensitive devices without moving masses; Measuring angular rate using gyroscopic effects
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 11/24 Housings ; Casings for instruments
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 1/023 for acceleration measuring devices

Abstract

An inertial measurement unit is described that includes a first subassembly comprising one or more inertial sensors, a second subassembly comprising support electronics for the one or more inertial sensors, and at least one pair of mating connectors configured to provide an interface between the first subassembly and the second subassembly.

Claims

1. A method for rebuilding an inertial measurement unit, said method comprising:

selecting a first subassembly having one or more inertial sensors mounted therein, the first subassembly having a first set of connectors, the one or more inertial sensors having previously calibrated settings;

selecting a second subassembly having support electronics for processing signals originating from the one or more inertial sensors, the second subassembly having a second set of connectors configured to complementarily engage the first set of connectors;

electronically de-coupling the first subassembly from the second subassembly by disengaging the first and second sets of connectors; and

maintaining a position of the one or more inertial sensors with respect to the first subassembly, while disengaging the first and second sets of connectors.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

interconnecting the first subassembly and the second subassembly by re-attaching the first and second subassemblies together.

3. The method according to claim 1 wherein selecting the first subassembly having one or more inertial sensors mounted therein includes having at least one gyroscope mounted in the first subassembly.

4. The method according to claim 1 wherein selecting the first subassembly having one or more inertial sensors mounted therein includes having at least one accelerometer mounted in the first subassembly.