Patent · US Expired

Low stress magnet interface for a force rebalance accelerometer

US5587530A · kind A · utility

3Cited by
25References
3Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateApr 12, 1995
Grant dateDec 24, 1996
Priority date
Expiry dateApr 12, 2015

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG01P15/132
  • WIPO fieldMeasurement
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A force rebalance accelerometer includes a proof mass suspended by one or more flexures between stationary mounted upper and lower excitation rings. Pick-off capacitance plates formed on opposing sides of the proof mass form capacitance elements whose capacitance varies in response to displacement of the proof mass to provide a displacement signal. The displacement signal is applied to one or more electromagnets, used to force the proof mass back to a null or at-rest position. The drive current applied to the electromagnets thus represents the force or acceleration applied to the accelerometer. The electromagnets include a magnet and a pole piece which forms a magnetic return path. In order to relieve stresses due to thermal expansion, the magnet is spaced apart from the pole piece to enable the bonding area to be constrained to a minimum which, in turn, reduces the overall stress on the accelerometer.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.