Apparatus with mechanical and electric springs and method for its manufacture
US5852242A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 4, 1995 |
| Grant date | Dec 22, 1998 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 4, 2015 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01P15/131
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
Apparatus for measuring a characteristic of motion and methods for its manufacture are disclosed in which a sensor structure includes a support structure, and a mass suspended from such support structure by a spring connecting arrangement and electrical devices for measuring displacement of the mass which results from a force applied to the support structure. An apparatus is provided where the mechanical spring constant of the connecting arrangement of the sensor structure is provided to be a high value representative of a strong, stiff spring which resists breaking due to high forces applied to it, and where an electric spring constant is provided to yield a small effective sensor spring constant K.sub.eff =K.sub.m -K.sub.e. Methods are also provided to manufacturing the apparatus by specifying the mechanical spring constant and providing an electric spring constant which will yield a desired effective spring constant which produces a desired characteristic of the sensor structure. Alternatively, the apparatus may be manufactured by specifying the electric spring constant which, with a mechanical spring constant, provides a certain sensor structure characteristic, e.g., natural fr…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.