Abstract:
An improved technique for mounting a coil to a paddle in a force rebalance accelerometer so as to provide relief from temperature induced strains without increasing the mass of the proof mass. The coil (30) is mounted to the paddle (54, 104) at a plurality of mounting sites (60, 62, 64, 110, 112, 114) on the paddle, at least one (62, 64, 112, 114) of which is connected to the paddle by suspension means (76, 78, 86, 88, 120, 122, 130, 132) compliant for movement in the plane of the paddle. In a preferred arrangement, three mounting sites are used, two of which are moveable (62, 64, 112, 114) towards and away from the third, fixed mounting site (60, 110).
Abstract:
A transducer assembly includes first and second stators (14, 16) which are axially aligned with, and bear upon opposite sides of a proof mass (12). The stators (14, 16) and proof mass (12) are clamped together by means of a sleeve (100) having a side portion (102) with spaced apart upper and lower flanges (104, 106) extending therefrom. The flanges (104, 106) bear against receiving surfaces on the stators with the sleeve under elastic deformation such that a compression force tending to reduce the spacing between the flanges (104, 106) is transmitted to the stators (14, 16) and a proof mass (12) as a controlled compressive axial preload.
Abstract:
Prior detection circuits for measuring capacitance differences have commonly included error sources, such as P-N junctions, in the DC signal path. The present invention provides an improved detection circuit for measuring the capacitance difference between first (C1) and second (C2) capacitive elements. The detection circuit comprises a first capacitor (C3) serially connected to the first capacitive element at a first common node (36) to form a first series circuit, and a second capacitor (C4) serially connected to the second capacitive element at a second common node (38) to form a second series circuit. The detection circuit also includes a switch (means) circuit (32) connected between the common nodes and a reference potential, (drive means) a driver (30) for applying a drive signal across each series circuit, a line for activating the switch (activation means) circuit (48) and (means) a difference detector (34) for measuring the voltage difference between the common nodes. The switch circuit has a first state in which the common nodes are connected to the reference potential and a second state in which the common nodes are isolated from the reference potential and from one another. The drive signal comprises a series of first voltage transitions (104, 106) operative to vary the total voltage drop across each series circuit. The line for activating the switch circuit changes the switch circuit from the first state to the second state at or prior to each first voltage transition. Therefore after each first voltage transition, the difference between the voltages of the first and second common nodes is a measure of the difference between the capacitances of the first and second capacitive elements. A similiar technique may be applied to the measurement of the capacitance of a single capacitor.
Abstract:
A transducer assembly includes first and second stators (14, 16) which are axially aligned with, and bear upon opposite sides of a proof mass (12). The stators (14, 16) and proof mass (12) are clamped together by means of a sleeve (100) having a side portion (102) with spaced apart upper and lower flanges (104, 106) extending therefrom. The flanges (104, 106) bear against receiving surfaces on the stators with the sleeve under elastic deformation such that a compression force tending to reduce the spacing between the flanges (104, 106) is transmitted to the stators (14, 16) and a proof mass (12) as a controlled compressive axial preload.
Abstract:
Un ensemble transducteur comprend un premier et un deuxième stators (14, 16) qui sont alignés axialement par rapport aux côtés opposés d'une masse d'épreuve (12), s'appuyant contre ceux-ci. Les stators (14, 16) et la masse d'épreuve (12) sont serrés ensemble à l'aide d'un manchon (100) ayant une partie latérale (102) d'où s'étendent un rebord supérieur et un rebord inférieur (104, 106) espacés entre eux. Les rebords (104, 106) s'appuient contre les surfaces réceptrices sur les stators, le manchon étant soumis à une déformation élastique de sorte qu'une force de compression tendant à réduire l'espace entre les rebords (104, 106) est transmise aux stators (14, 16) et à la masse d'épreuve (12) en tant que pré-charge axiale de compression contrôlée.
Abstract:
L'invention concerne une technique améliorée permettant de monter une bobine sur une palette, dans un accéloromètre à rééquilibrage de force, pour éviter les contraintes induites par la température sans augmenter la masse de la masse d'essai. La bobine (30) est montée sur la palette (54, 104) par l'intermédiaire de plusieurs points de montage (60, 62, 64, 110, 112, 114) dont au moins un (62, 64, 112, 114) est relié à la palette par des moyens de suspension (76, 78, 86, 88, 120, 122, 130, 132) ayant une flexibilité leur permettant d'effectuer un mouvement dans le plan de la palette. Selon un mode de montage préféré, trois points de montage sont utilisés, dont deux (62, 64, 112, 114) peuvent se rapprocher ou s'éloigner du troisième point de montage fixe.