Optical accelerometer
US4592235A · kind A · utility
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 18, 1983 |
| Grant date | Jun 3, 1986 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 18, 2003 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01P15/093
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
An LED (18) is spaced from and directed toward a photosensitive member such as a photoresistor (16). A shutter plate (38) positioned between the photoresistor (16) and the LED (18) varies the amount of light received by the photoresistor from the LED. The shutter plate (38) is connected to one end of a cantilever beam (20) which deflects in response to acceleration forces. The shutter plate (38) variably interferes with the amount of light the photoresistor (16) receives as the cantilever beam (20) deflects. The photoresistor (16) has a plurality of photosensitive grid lines (58) which change the resistance of the photoresistor in proportion to the number of grid lines which receive light from the LED (18). The photoresistor (16), LED (18), and cantilever beam (20) are connected to electrically conductive mounting pins (14) which are inserted in a base member (12) and extend downwardly therethrough.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.