CA1135072A - Movable element with position sensing means for transducers - Google Patents
Movable element with position sensing means for transducersInfo
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- CA1135072A CA1135072A CA000386082A CA386082A CA1135072A CA 1135072 A CA1135072 A CA 1135072A CA 000386082 A CA000386082 A CA 000386082A CA 386082 A CA386082 A CA 386082A CA 1135072 A CA1135072 A CA 1135072A
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- support member
- pick
- assembly
- centroid
- stator
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Abstract
ABSTRACT
In an assembly, for use in transducer type instruments such as accelerometers, having a position sensing movable member including a pick-off element, wherein the movable member is secured to a support member by a flexure or hinge and the support member in turn is cantilevered between two stator members, instrument bias errors resulting from the securing of the non-cantilevered portion of the support member between the stator members can be reduced by aligning the edges of the surfaces of the stators that contact the support member with the centroid of the pick-off element so that the axis of cantilever rotation passes through the centroid of the pick-off area.
In an assembly, for use in transducer type instruments such as accelerometers, having a position sensing movable member including a pick-off element, wherein the movable member is secured to a support member by a flexure or hinge and the support member in turn is cantilevered between two stator members, instrument bias errors resulting from the securing of the non-cantilevered portion of the support member between the stator members can be reduced by aligning the edges of the surfaces of the stators that contact the support member with the centroid of the pick-off element so that the axis of cantilever rotation passes through the centroid of the pick-off area.
Description
1~L35~
1 lhis application :is a divisional of Canadi.an Patent application serial number 327r592 filed May 15~ 1979.
TEC~INICAL FIELD
The invention relates to the field of transducers such as accelerometers and the like and more particularly to the structure for supporting a sensing element with position detecting means within the instrument.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In prior art structures, an example of which is repre-sented by an accelerometer seismic assembly of the type dis-closed in Jaco~s, U S. Patent No~ 3,702,073 assigned to the assignee of this application, the transducing assembly, in this case a seismic assembly, is supported on a flexure connected to a support ring outer member supported between the upper and lower stator assemblies of the accelerometer, The seismic element, in this particular example, includes a force restoring coil and an arcuate pick-off capacitor plate, and is connected by means of one or more flexures to the annular outer support ring In this instrument the seismic assembly including the support ring and flexures is configured out of a unitary piece of fused quartz~
One of the objectives in designing instrument assem-blies and their associated support structures, such as shown in U.S. Patent 3,702,073, is to minimize the effect of
1 lhis application :is a divisional of Canadi.an Patent application serial number 327r592 filed May 15~ 1979.
TEC~INICAL FIELD
The invention relates to the field of transducers such as accelerometers and the like and more particularly to the structure for supporting a sensing element with position detecting means within the instrument.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In prior art structures, an example of which is repre-sented by an accelerometer seismic assembly of the type dis-closed in Jaco~s, U S. Patent No~ 3,702,073 assigned to the assignee of this application, the transducing assembly, in this case a seismic assembly, is supported on a flexure connected to a support ring outer member supported between the upper and lower stator assemblies of the accelerometer, The seismic element, in this particular example, includes a force restoring coil and an arcuate pick-off capacitor plate, and is connected by means of one or more flexures to the annular outer support ring In this instrument the seismic assembly including the support ring and flexures is configured out of a unitary piece of fused quartz~
One of the objectives in designing instrument assem-blies and their associated support structures, such as shown in U.S. Patent 3,702,073, is to minimize the effect of
2-stress on the flexure elements connecting the moving element or mass to the outer support structure. Strain in ~he flexures supporting the seismic mass resulting from stresses in the support structure can result in significant bias errors. In the example of U.S. Patent 3,702,073 which discloses a servoed accelerometer seismic assembly, the pick-off elements are used to produce signals indicating the position of the assembly within instrument which in turn are used to generate a current in a restoring coil attached to the seismic assembly so as to restore the seismic mass to a predetermined position within the instrument. Stress in the flexures in the servoed position can result in an undesired bias in the output signal since the instrument will be attempting to overcome any forces generated in the flexure.
In the case of an open-loop instrument the stress in the flexure is free to cause a motion of the pick-off, also producing a bias error in the output. One source of stress forces that can be transmitted to the flexures results from the method for securing support member to the stator elements of tne assembly. Since the surface of the stator elements abutting the annular support ring cannot as a practical matter be made perfectly flat, the securing of the support ring, which is also not perfectly flat, to the stator element will in most cases produce stress forces in both the outer support member and the flexures.
One approach to reducing the stress transmitted to flexures in a transducer assembly is disclosed in U.S.
Patent 3,702,073. The annular outer support member is clamped between stator elements where spacer elements or pads are interposed between the faces of the stator members and the support ring. In this approach three pairs of pads are spaced approximately 120 around the support member.
However, even with this approach undesired stress forces can be generated in the annular support ring which are transmitted to the seismic mass support flexures.
A second approach to reducing the effect of mounting 1~35~7Z
stress is shown in Wilcox U.S. Patent No. 3,339,419. The Wilcox patent discloses a design wherein the support member is cantilevered, in turn supporting a cantilever mounted movable elernent with essentially one half of a circular movable element and circ~lar pick-off means on each side of the cantilever support edge. This approach reduces sensitivity to strain rotation by having essentially equal areas of the movable element and a circular pick-off means on each side of the line of mounting of the support member.
It is not, however, usually either practical or even desirable to use a circular pick-off area. It is indeed more efficient to concentrate the pick-off area at a maximum radius from the plVOt axis in a pendulous transducer, to maximize pick-off angular gain.
SU~M~Y OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore an object of the invention to provide an assembly for use in a transducer having at least one stator member wherein the assembly includes a support member which flexurally supports a movable member that includes a noncircular pick-off area and at least one support element interposed between the stator and the support member such that edges of the support element or elements are in substantial alignment with the centroid of the pick-off area.
It is an additional object of the invention to provide a proof mass assembly for use within an accelerometer having first and second stator members wherein the assembly includes an annular support member secured between said stator members, a movable member including a noncircular pick-off area flexurally suspended from the support member and a number of spacer elements secured between the stators and support member located so as to permit the portion of the support member that is flexurally connected to the movable member to move with respect to the stators and wherein the edges of the spacers over which the support 1~3507Z
member fiexes or rotates are aligned with the centroid of the pick-o~f area in order to mlnimize stress in the support member.
It is another object of the invention to provide a support structure for use within transducers having a stator member, a movable element including pick-off means, supported by means of a flexure co~nected to a circular support member a portion of which is secured to the stator wherein the support member additionally includes flexure portions that permit the support member to flex in a radial direction locate~ at a maximum distance from the portion secureà to the stator in order to minimize stress in the support member resulting from securing the support member to the stator.
In the invention as illustrated, a majority of the support member is cantilevered from the transducer stators in such a manner that the resulting mounting strain at the cantilever axis of rotation occurs about an axis that includes the centroid of the pick-off means. The centroid of a body of homogeneous material is defined as the center of gravity of that body. Also, mounting stress sensitivity in the instrument is reduced by maximizing the separation of the flexures connecting the movable member to the support member from the cantilever point where mounting stress is induced. This approach has the additional advantage of not having to use a symmetrical pick-off area configuration or to have the pick-off area centered on the movable element.
It should be noted that most pick-offs are sensitive not - simply to the angie of rotation of the pick-off area, but to the linear motion of the pick-off centroid as well.
In cases where the pick-off area is essentially circular, as is the case of Wilcox U.S. Patent 3,339,419 rotation about an equal area line will produce a significantly reduced pick-off output sensitivity to such angular motion. However, in the area of precision transducers, complete elimination of all such transducer 1135~ 7~ ' ~
I
error sources is a continuinq goal. Thus the rotation of the support member about an axis including the pick-off centroid will produce the maximum reduction in angular f motion sensitivity in cases where the pick-off area is not circular, nor`even necessarily symmetrical.
If it were possible to place the centroid of the pick-off area exactly on the a~is of rotation of the support member, a transducer pick-off with sensitivity only to linear motion, would have zero error induced by angular 10 rotation of the support member about said axis. For example, a theoretical reduction of up to 10 or more to 1 in rotation induced errors is possible in a one inch diameter circular acceleration transducer of the type disclosed in Jacobs U.S. Patent 3,702,073. The improvement would resu~t from locating the axis of rotation of the support member on the centroid of the arcuate pick-off area, as opposed to center of the circular pick-off area as described in Wilcox U.S. Patent 3,339,419. The actual error reduction would, of course, as a practical matter be dependent on the fabrication tolerances use in manufacturing the instrument.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Fig. 1 is an exploded view of an accelerometer including a prior art means of supporting a movable element in conjunction with pick-off means, in the form of a seismic mass;
Fig. 2 is a top view of a proof mass assembly representing the preferred embodiment of the invention for use in an accelerometer.
Fig. 3 is a top view of a portion of a proof mass assembly representing an additional embodiment of the invention; and 11~5e~7'~ , Fig. 4 is a top view of a portion of a proof mass assembly representing another embodiment of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
In Fig. 1 a movable element in conjunction with pick-off means is illustrated in an exploded view in the form of an acceleration transducer of the type disclosed in detail in the aforementioned U.S. Patent 3,702,073. In this embodiment, for descriptive purposes, the accelerometer includes an upper magnet or stator structure 10 and a lower magnet or stator structure 12. Included in each of the upper 10 and lower 12 stator structures are permanent magnets as illustrated by a magnet 14 shown in the lower stator structure 12. In addltion the lower stator structure includes support posts for electrical leads as illustrated at 16 and 18. Also shown in Fig. 1 is a movable element assembly in form of a proof mass assembly, generally indicated at 20, of the prior art type. Included in the - proof mass assembly is an outer annular support member 22 which is su~ported between opposed planar surfaces 19 and 21 of the upper stator structure 10 and the lower stator str-ucture 12 by pairs of spacer elements or mounting paus 24 on the member 22. The lower pad of each pair of mounting pads is not shown in the drawings. ~s shown in Fig. 1 the prior art location of each pair of mounting pads 24 is approximately 120 degrees from each other around the support ring 22. Included in the proo mass assembly 20 is a movable flapper or reed 26 extending radially inwardly from the outer support ring 22. Deposited on each side of the flapper 26 is an electrically conductive material 28 of arcuate shape that serves as a capacitive pick-off area or plate. The capacitive pick-off plates 28 on the upper and lower surfaces of the flapper 26 cooperate with the opposed surfaces 19 and 21 of the upper and lower stator structures ~13~1)7Z
~7-10 and 12 to provide a capacitive pick-off system.
Mounted on each side of the flapper 26 is a force restoring coil 30. As is well understood in the art, the force restoring or torquer coils 30 cooperate with the permanent magnets 14 to retain the 1apper 26 within a predetermined position with respect to the support ring 22.
The flapper element 26 including the force coils 30 is connecte~ to tne support ring 22 by means of a pair of flexure elements 32 and 34v The flexures 32 and 34 permit the seismic element inlcuding the flapper 26 and the coil 30 to move in a rotational pendulous manner with respect to the annular support ring 22. Flapper 26 will move in response to forces along the sensitive axis 35 of the accelerometer.
~lso deposited on the support ring 22 and flexures 32 and 34 are thin film pick-off leads 36 and 38 which provide electrical connections to the capacitor plates 28 and the force coils 30O
As previously discussed, the securing of support ring 22 to the stator members 10 and 12 can result in excessive stress in the outer support ring 22 and as a result strain can be transmitted to the flexures 32 and 34. The resulting strain in the flexures 32 and 34 can require current to be transmitted through the ~orce coils in a servo accelerometer thus introducing a significant bias error into the signal output of the accelerometer.
Illustrated in Fig. 2 is the preferred embodiment of the invention, shown in the form of a seismic assembly configured in a oircular form of the type illustrated in Fig. 1 indicated generally at 20, wherein pairs of pads or spacer elements are arranged on the annular support member 22 so as to reduce the effects of stress in the support ring 22 when the upper stator 10 and the lower stator 12 are clamped together. It is to be noted that the concept of the invention applies equally to noncircular forms o~ the structures and equally to continuous surface as well as pad mountings. The concept of the invention would also apply to 1~3S07Z
transd~cers wherein the outer support member 22 is secured to a single stator either by clamping, adhesive or other means. This invention applies also to use of other types of pick-off means, including optical types which might not require a pickoff element as such on the movable element.
In Fig. 2 the reference numerals 22, 26, 28, 30, 32 and 34 correspond to similar elements as described in connection with Fig. 1. In particular a first pair of support elements or pads 40 are located, one on the upper face and one (not shown) on the lower face of the circular support member 22, with each of the pads 40 and 44 and preferably the edges of the pads essentially in alignment with the centroid of the pick-off element 28 as indicated by the line 42. The centroid of the pick-off element is indicated at 41 in Fig. 2. When the pick-off is a planar element of uniform thickness such as a thin deposit of conductive metal to form capacitor plates, the centroid 41 of the pick-off element will be the centroid oF the pick-off area. With respect to the centroid of the pick-off area 28 of Fig. 2 the area of the pick-off on one side of the axis 42 times the radius of the centroid of that area is equal to the same quantity on the other side of the axis.
Similarly a second pair of spacer elements or members 44 are located on the other side of the support ring 22 essentially in alignment with the axis 42. A third pair of spacer elements 46 is located on the flexure support ring 22 on a side opposite the flexures 32 and 34. Although it is normally considered desirable to make the spacer elements ~0, 44 and 46 as small as possible in order to reduce stress in the flexure support ring 22, there may be circumstances in which it would be desirable to combine spacer elements 40, 44 and 46 into a single member~ In any event whether separate spacer elements as illustrated in Fig. 2 are used or a single arcuate spacer member is used extending from the position of spacer 40 to the position of spacer 44, discussed above, it is considered most desirable 5~7Z
to have the el~ective axis of rotation of the cantilevered section of the support ring 22 essentially coincident with a line or axis 42 through the centroid 41 of the pick-off element 28. ~ locating the spacer elements or pads in this manner, motion of the centroid 41 of the pick-off element 28 parallel to the sensitive axis 35 of the instrument as shown in Fig. 1 due to stress induced in the support ring by clamping the stator members 10 and 12 together will be significantly reduced. This is due to the fact that rotation about the centroid of the pick-off area will produce equal pick-off effects on either side of the axis of rotation thus tending to cancel pick-off errors due to stress in the flexures.
Also, as shown in the embodiment of Fig. 2 it is desirable to have the hinge, as illustrated by flexures 32 and 34, supporting the flapper or movable element 26 located as far as possible from the axis 42 in order to minimize strain in the flexures 32 and 34. The pick-of~ plate 28 should be located on the movable member 26 as far as possible from the flexures 32 and 34 in order that they can receive the maximum benefit from the angular rotation of the flapper 26. The sensitivity of the pick-off is increased as a function of the distance of the pick-off area from the point of rotation of the flapper 26. Thus by configuring the pick-off area in an arcuate shape as shown in Fig. 2 the maximum pick-off area can be located as far as possible from the flexures 32 and 34.
Iliustrated in Fig. 3 is an embodiment of the invention with additional flexing sections 48 and 50 provided by arcuate recesses in the annular support member 22 preferably located at a maximum distance from the mounting pads 40 and 44. The additional flexures 48 and 50 permit a portion of the support ring 22 to flex in a radial direction. Even when a continuous mounting surface from the pad 40 to pad 44 is used, this arrangement would be desirable. The combination of the flexing sections 48 and 50 together with a maximum separation of the flexures 32 and 34 from the axis of rotation 42 of the support ring 22 results in a decreased sensitivity to radial strain in the support ring 22 in terms of stress or strain produced in the flexure type pivot 32 and 34.
Illustrated in Fig. 4 is an embodiment of the invention in a form wherein a movable member 60 is designed for linear motion as compared to the rotational pendulous .
motion of the flapper 26 as shown in Figures 2 and 3. In this embodiment a pair of translational flexures 70 and 72 connected between the support member 62 and the movable member 60 permit the movable member 60 to move in a linear .
direction perpendicular to the plane of the support member 62 along the sensitive axis 35, as shown in Fig. 1, of the .
instrument. The same principles of the invention apply to this em~odiment in that strain in a support member 62 results in reduced motion of the centroid 63 of a position sensing or pick-off element 66 by aligning the support pads or elements 40 and 44 along an axis 64 that includes the centroid 63 of the pick-off element 66. This concept is not limited to circular pick-off con~igurations, nor to capacitive type pick-offs and could also be combined with the radial strain relief configuration shown in Fig. 3..
Additionally, the two translational flexures 70 and 72 could lie in positions other than shown relative to the support ring 62. Also, the support member 62 is configured with an arcuate slot 74 which can enhance the effects of the placement of the spacer elements 40 and 44 for this particula~ embodiment.
In the case of an open-loop instrument the stress in the flexure is free to cause a motion of the pick-off, also producing a bias error in the output. One source of stress forces that can be transmitted to the flexures results from the method for securing support member to the stator elements of tne assembly. Since the surface of the stator elements abutting the annular support ring cannot as a practical matter be made perfectly flat, the securing of the support ring, which is also not perfectly flat, to the stator element will in most cases produce stress forces in both the outer support member and the flexures.
One approach to reducing the stress transmitted to flexures in a transducer assembly is disclosed in U.S.
Patent 3,702,073. The annular outer support member is clamped between stator elements where spacer elements or pads are interposed between the faces of the stator members and the support ring. In this approach three pairs of pads are spaced approximately 120 around the support member.
However, even with this approach undesired stress forces can be generated in the annular support ring which are transmitted to the seismic mass support flexures.
A second approach to reducing the effect of mounting 1~35~7Z
stress is shown in Wilcox U.S. Patent No. 3,339,419. The Wilcox patent discloses a design wherein the support member is cantilevered, in turn supporting a cantilever mounted movable elernent with essentially one half of a circular movable element and circ~lar pick-off means on each side of the cantilever support edge. This approach reduces sensitivity to strain rotation by having essentially equal areas of the movable element and a circular pick-off means on each side of the line of mounting of the support member.
It is not, however, usually either practical or even desirable to use a circular pick-off area. It is indeed more efficient to concentrate the pick-off area at a maximum radius from the plVOt axis in a pendulous transducer, to maximize pick-off angular gain.
SU~M~Y OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore an object of the invention to provide an assembly for use in a transducer having at least one stator member wherein the assembly includes a support member which flexurally supports a movable member that includes a noncircular pick-off area and at least one support element interposed between the stator and the support member such that edges of the support element or elements are in substantial alignment with the centroid of the pick-off area.
It is an additional object of the invention to provide a proof mass assembly for use within an accelerometer having first and second stator members wherein the assembly includes an annular support member secured between said stator members, a movable member including a noncircular pick-off area flexurally suspended from the support member and a number of spacer elements secured between the stators and support member located so as to permit the portion of the support member that is flexurally connected to the movable member to move with respect to the stators and wherein the edges of the spacers over which the support 1~3507Z
member fiexes or rotates are aligned with the centroid of the pick-o~f area in order to mlnimize stress in the support member.
It is another object of the invention to provide a support structure for use within transducers having a stator member, a movable element including pick-off means, supported by means of a flexure co~nected to a circular support member a portion of which is secured to the stator wherein the support member additionally includes flexure portions that permit the support member to flex in a radial direction locate~ at a maximum distance from the portion secureà to the stator in order to minimize stress in the support member resulting from securing the support member to the stator.
In the invention as illustrated, a majority of the support member is cantilevered from the transducer stators in such a manner that the resulting mounting strain at the cantilever axis of rotation occurs about an axis that includes the centroid of the pick-off means. The centroid of a body of homogeneous material is defined as the center of gravity of that body. Also, mounting stress sensitivity in the instrument is reduced by maximizing the separation of the flexures connecting the movable member to the support member from the cantilever point where mounting stress is induced. This approach has the additional advantage of not having to use a symmetrical pick-off area configuration or to have the pick-off area centered on the movable element.
It should be noted that most pick-offs are sensitive not - simply to the angie of rotation of the pick-off area, but to the linear motion of the pick-off centroid as well.
In cases where the pick-off area is essentially circular, as is the case of Wilcox U.S. Patent 3,339,419 rotation about an equal area line will produce a significantly reduced pick-off output sensitivity to such angular motion. However, in the area of precision transducers, complete elimination of all such transducer 1135~ 7~ ' ~
I
error sources is a continuinq goal. Thus the rotation of the support member about an axis including the pick-off centroid will produce the maximum reduction in angular f motion sensitivity in cases where the pick-off area is not circular, nor`even necessarily symmetrical.
If it were possible to place the centroid of the pick-off area exactly on the a~is of rotation of the support member, a transducer pick-off with sensitivity only to linear motion, would have zero error induced by angular 10 rotation of the support member about said axis. For example, a theoretical reduction of up to 10 or more to 1 in rotation induced errors is possible in a one inch diameter circular acceleration transducer of the type disclosed in Jacobs U.S. Patent 3,702,073. The improvement would resu~t from locating the axis of rotation of the support member on the centroid of the arcuate pick-off area, as opposed to center of the circular pick-off area as described in Wilcox U.S. Patent 3,339,419. The actual error reduction would, of course, as a practical matter be dependent on the fabrication tolerances use in manufacturing the instrument.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Fig. 1 is an exploded view of an accelerometer including a prior art means of supporting a movable element in conjunction with pick-off means, in the form of a seismic mass;
Fig. 2 is a top view of a proof mass assembly representing the preferred embodiment of the invention for use in an accelerometer.
Fig. 3 is a top view of a portion of a proof mass assembly representing an additional embodiment of the invention; and 11~5e~7'~ , Fig. 4 is a top view of a portion of a proof mass assembly representing another embodiment of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
In Fig. 1 a movable element in conjunction with pick-off means is illustrated in an exploded view in the form of an acceleration transducer of the type disclosed in detail in the aforementioned U.S. Patent 3,702,073. In this embodiment, for descriptive purposes, the accelerometer includes an upper magnet or stator structure 10 and a lower magnet or stator structure 12. Included in each of the upper 10 and lower 12 stator structures are permanent magnets as illustrated by a magnet 14 shown in the lower stator structure 12. In addltion the lower stator structure includes support posts for electrical leads as illustrated at 16 and 18. Also shown in Fig. 1 is a movable element assembly in form of a proof mass assembly, generally indicated at 20, of the prior art type. Included in the - proof mass assembly is an outer annular support member 22 which is su~ported between opposed planar surfaces 19 and 21 of the upper stator structure 10 and the lower stator str-ucture 12 by pairs of spacer elements or mounting paus 24 on the member 22. The lower pad of each pair of mounting pads is not shown in the drawings. ~s shown in Fig. 1 the prior art location of each pair of mounting pads 24 is approximately 120 degrees from each other around the support ring 22. Included in the proo mass assembly 20 is a movable flapper or reed 26 extending radially inwardly from the outer support ring 22. Deposited on each side of the flapper 26 is an electrically conductive material 28 of arcuate shape that serves as a capacitive pick-off area or plate. The capacitive pick-off plates 28 on the upper and lower surfaces of the flapper 26 cooperate with the opposed surfaces 19 and 21 of the upper and lower stator structures ~13~1)7Z
~7-10 and 12 to provide a capacitive pick-off system.
Mounted on each side of the flapper 26 is a force restoring coil 30. As is well understood in the art, the force restoring or torquer coils 30 cooperate with the permanent magnets 14 to retain the 1apper 26 within a predetermined position with respect to the support ring 22.
The flapper element 26 including the force coils 30 is connecte~ to tne support ring 22 by means of a pair of flexure elements 32 and 34v The flexures 32 and 34 permit the seismic element inlcuding the flapper 26 and the coil 30 to move in a rotational pendulous manner with respect to the annular support ring 22. Flapper 26 will move in response to forces along the sensitive axis 35 of the accelerometer.
~lso deposited on the support ring 22 and flexures 32 and 34 are thin film pick-off leads 36 and 38 which provide electrical connections to the capacitor plates 28 and the force coils 30O
As previously discussed, the securing of support ring 22 to the stator members 10 and 12 can result in excessive stress in the outer support ring 22 and as a result strain can be transmitted to the flexures 32 and 34. The resulting strain in the flexures 32 and 34 can require current to be transmitted through the ~orce coils in a servo accelerometer thus introducing a significant bias error into the signal output of the accelerometer.
Illustrated in Fig. 2 is the preferred embodiment of the invention, shown in the form of a seismic assembly configured in a oircular form of the type illustrated in Fig. 1 indicated generally at 20, wherein pairs of pads or spacer elements are arranged on the annular support member 22 so as to reduce the effects of stress in the support ring 22 when the upper stator 10 and the lower stator 12 are clamped together. It is to be noted that the concept of the invention applies equally to noncircular forms o~ the structures and equally to continuous surface as well as pad mountings. The concept of the invention would also apply to 1~3S07Z
transd~cers wherein the outer support member 22 is secured to a single stator either by clamping, adhesive or other means. This invention applies also to use of other types of pick-off means, including optical types which might not require a pickoff element as such on the movable element.
In Fig. 2 the reference numerals 22, 26, 28, 30, 32 and 34 correspond to similar elements as described in connection with Fig. 1. In particular a first pair of support elements or pads 40 are located, one on the upper face and one (not shown) on the lower face of the circular support member 22, with each of the pads 40 and 44 and preferably the edges of the pads essentially in alignment with the centroid of the pick-off element 28 as indicated by the line 42. The centroid of the pick-off element is indicated at 41 in Fig. 2. When the pick-off is a planar element of uniform thickness such as a thin deposit of conductive metal to form capacitor plates, the centroid 41 of the pick-off element will be the centroid oF the pick-off area. With respect to the centroid of the pick-off area 28 of Fig. 2 the area of the pick-off on one side of the axis 42 times the radius of the centroid of that area is equal to the same quantity on the other side of the axis.
Similarly a second pair of spacer elements or members 44 are located on the other side of the support ring 22 essentially in alignment with the axis 42. A third pair of spacer elements 46 is located on the flexure support ring 22 on a side opposite the flexures 32 and 34. Although it is normally considered desirable to make the spacer elements ~0, 44 and 46 as small as possible in order to reduce stress in the flexure support ring 22, there may be circumstances in which it would be desirable to combine spacer elements 40, 44 and 46 into a single member~ In any event whether separate spacer elements as illustrated in Fig. 2 are used or a single arcuate spacer member is used extending from the position of spacer 40 to the position of spacer 44, discussed above, it is considered most desirable 5~7Z
to have the el~ective axis of rotation of the cantilevered section of the support ring 22 essentially coincident with a line or axis 42 through the centroid 41 of the pick-off element 28. ~ locating the spacer elements or pads in this manner, motion of the centroid 41 of the pick-off element 28 parallel to the sensitive axis 35 of the instrument as shown in Fig. 1 due to stress induced in the support ring by clamping the stator members 10 and 12 together will be significantly reduced. This is due to the fact that rotation about the centroid of the pick-off area will produce equal pick-off effects on either side of the axis of rotation thus tending to cancel pick-off errors due to stress in the flexures.
Also, as shown in the embodiment of Fig. 2 it is desirable to have the hinge, as illustrated by flexures 32 and 34, supporting the flapper or movable element 26 located as far as possible from the axis 42 in order to minimize strain in the flexures 32 and 34. The pick-of~ plate 28 should be located on the movable member 26 as far as possible from the flexures 32 and 34 in order that they can receive the maximum benefit from the angular rotation of the flapper 26. The sensitivity of the pick-off is increased as a function of the distance of the pick-off area from the point of rotation of the flapper 26. Thus by configuring the pick-off area in an arcuate shape as shown in Fig. 2 the maximum pick-off area can be located as far as possible from the flexures 32 and 34.
Iliustrated in Fig. 3 is an embodiment of the invention with additional flexing sections 48 and 50 provided by arcuate recesses in the annular support member 22 preferably located at a maximum distance from the mounting pads 40 and 44. The additional flexures 48 and 50 permit a portion of the support ring 22 to flex in a radial direction. Even when a continuous mounting surface from the pad 40 to pad 44 is used, this arrangement would be desirable. The combination of the flexing sections 48 and 50 together with a maximum separation of the flexures 32 and 34 from the axis of rotation 42 of the support ring 22 results in a decreased sensitivity to radial strain in the support ring 22 in terms of stress or strain produced in the flexure type pivot 32 and 34.
Illustrated in Fig. 4 is an embodiment of the invention in a form wherein a movable member 60 is designed for linear motion as compared to the rotational pendulous .
motion of the flapper 26 as shown in Figures 2 and 3. In this embodiment a pair of translational flexures 70 and 72 connected between the support member 62 and the movable member 60 permit the movable member 60 to move in a linear .
direction perpendicular to the plane of the support member 62 along the sensitive axis 35, as shown in Fig. 1, of the .
instrument. The same principles of the invention apply to this em~odiment in that strain in a support member 62 results in reduced motion of the centroid 63 of a position sensing or pick-off element 66 by aligning the support pads or elements 40 and 44 along an axis 64 that includes the centroid 63 of the pick-off element 66. This concept is not limited to circular pick-off con~igurations, nor to capacitive type pick-offs and could also be combined with the radial strain relief configuration shown in Fig. 3..
Additionally, the two translational flexures 70 and 72 could lie in positions other than shown relative to the support ring 62. Also, the support member 62 is configured with an arcuate slot 74 which can enhance the effects of the placement of the spacer elements 40 and 44 for this particula~ embodiment.
Claims (13)
1. An assembly for use within a transducer having first and second stator members comprising:
a movable member including at least one non circular pick-off area;
a support member, including means for pendulously supporting said movable member, interposed between and supported by the first and second stator members; and at least one spacer member interposed between at least one of the stator members and said support member wherein said spacer member is located so as to provide for cantilevered support of one portion of said support member wherein the axis of cantilever rotation passes through the centroid of the pick-off area.
a movable member including at least one non circular pick-off area;
a support member, including means for pendulously supporting said movable member, interposed between and supported by the first and second stator members; and at least one spacer member interposed between at least one of the stator members and said support member wherein said spacer member is located so as to provide for cantilevered support of one portion of said support member wherein the axis of cantilever rotation passes through the centroid of the pick-off area.
2. The assembly of Claim 1 wherein said pendulous support means is located on said support member at a maximum distance from said axis of rotation.
3. The assembly of Claim 1 wherein one of said spacer members is interposed between each of the stator members and said support member and wherein said spacer members are sub-stantially aligned with the centroid of said pick-off areas.
4. The assembly of Claim 3 wherein one edge of each of said spacer members is substantially aligned with the centroid of said pick-off elements.
5. The assembly of Claim 1, 2, or 3 wherein said support member is of generally circular configuration and includes two flexure portions to permit radial flexing of said support member.
6. An assembly for use within a force sensitive transducer having first and second stator members configured with opposed surfaces comprising:
a movable member of generally circular configuration including at least one non circular pick-off area;
an annular support member concentric with and connected to said movable member by means of at least one flexure wherein said annular support member is interposed and supported by said opposed surfaces of said first and second stator members; and a plurality of spacer elements interposed between said support member and said opposed surfaces of said stator members wherein said spacer elements are located in substantial alignment with the centroid of said pick-off area effective to provide a cantilevered support for said annular support member wherein the axis of cantilever rotation passes through the centroid of the pick-off area.
a movable member of generally circular configuration including at least one non circular pick-off area;
an annular support member concentric with and connected to said movable member by means of at least one flexure wherein said annular support member is interposed and supported by said opposed surfaces of said first and second stator members; and a plurality of spacer elements interposed between said support member and said opposed surfaces of said stator members wherein said spacer elements are located in substantial alignment with the centroid of said pick-off area effective to provide a cantilevered support for said annular support member wherein the axis of cantilever rotation passes through the centroid of the pick-off area.
7. The assembly of Claim 6 wherein said flexures are connected to the cantilevered portion of said support member a maximum distance from said axis of rotation.
8. The assembly of Claim 7 wherein one edge of each of said spacer elements is substantially aligned with the centroid of said pick-off elements.
9. The assembly of Claim 8 additionally including two other spacer elements interposed between said support member and said opposed surfaces of said stator members wherein said additional spacer elements are located on said support member remote from said flexure connection.
10. The assembly of Claim 6, 7 or 8 wherein said annular support member includes two flexure portions, one located on each side of said flexures on the same side of the axis of rotation as said flexures.
11. A proof mass assembly for use within an accelermeter having a stator structure including first and second stator members configured with opposed surfaces aligned perpendicularly to a sensitive axis of the accelerometer comprising:
an annular support member interposed between said opposed surfaces of the stator;
a flapper concentric with and flexurally suspended from inside said annular support member for movement in response to acceleration along the sensitive axis;
11. A proof mass assembly for use within an accelermeter having a stator structure including first and second stator members configured with opposed surfaces aligned perpendicularly to a sensitive axis of the accelerometer comprising:
an annular support member interposed between said opposed surfaces of the stator;
a flapper concentric with and flexurally suspended from inside said annular support member for movement in response to acceleration along the sensitive axis;
Claim 11 cont.
a non-circular pick-off capacitor plate deposed on said flapper; and at least three pairs of spacer elements interposed between said annular support member and each of the opposed surfaces of the stator structure wherein a first two of said pairs of spacer elements are essentially aligned with the centroid of said capacitor plate and the remaining pair of said spacer elements is located on said annular support member oppo-site said flexure suspension,
a non-circular pick-off capacitor plate deposed on said flapper; and at least three pairs of spacer elements interposed between said annular support member and each of the opposed surfaces of the stator structure wherein a first two of said pairs of spacer elements are essentially aligned with the centroid of said capacitor plate and the remaining pair of said spacer elements is located on said annular support member oppo-site said flexure suspension,
12. The assembly of Claim 11 wherein one edge of each of said first two pairs of said spacer elements is essentially aligned with the centroid of said pick-off capacitor plate.
13. The assembly of Claim 11 or 12 wherein said annular support member includes two flexure portions one on each side of said flexure suspension.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000386082A CA1135072A (en) | 1978-05-15 | 1981-09-16 | Movable element with position sensing means for transducers |
Applications Claiming Priority (4)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US90592778A | 1978-05-15 | 1978-05-15 | |
| CA327,592A CA1122431A (en) | 1978-05-15 | 1979-05-15 | Movable element with position sensing means for transducers |
| CA000386082A CA1135072A (en) | 1978-05-15 | 1981-09-16 | Movable element with position sensing means for transducers |
| US905,927 | 1992-06-26 |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1135072A true CA1135072A (en) | 1982-11-09 |
Family
ID=27166240
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000386082A Expired CA1135072A (en) | 1978-05-15 | 1981-09-16 | Movable element with position sensing means for transducers |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA1135072A (en) |
-
1981
- 1981-09-16 CA CA000386082A patent/CA1135072A/en not_active Expired
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