Abstract: An external-force detecting sensor includes a sensor unit for commonly detecting angular velocity and acceleration; an angular-velocity/acceleration mix signal outputting unit for outputting an angular-velocity/acceleration mix signal comprised of an angular-velocity component in accordance with the magnitude of angular velocity and an acceleration component in accordance with the magnitude of acceleration that are detected by the sensor unit; and a signal separating unit for separating and extracting the angular-velocity component and the acceleration component from the angular velocity/acceleration mix signal to output as an angular-velocity signal and an acceleration signal.

Abstract: An integrated rate and accelerometer sensor includes two counter vibrating tuned accelerometers formed in a single substantially planar silicon body to form the sensing element. The two vibrating accelerometers are interleaved in a manner that places their respective centers of mass in the same line parallel to the direction of the vibration and has the centers of percussion of the two (pendulum) proof masses coincident. A phase insensitive quadrature nulling method is utilized for each of the two vibrating accelerometers. The sensor structure utilizes Pyrex for the top and bottom covers. Metalized electrodes, feedthrus and contact pads are also utilized for the sensing element, instead of interlayer wire bonds.

Abstract: A system that senses proximity includes a magnet producing a magnetic field and a sensor having a switch. The switch includes a cantilever supported by a supporting structure. The cantilever has a magnetic material and a longitudinal axis. The magnetic material makes the cantilever sensitive to the magnetic field, such that the cantilever is configured to move between first and second states. The switch also includes contacts supported by the support structure. The switch can be configured as a reed switch. When the magnet moves relative to the sensor, the cantilever interacts with a respective one of the contacts based on the position of the magnet during movement.

Abstract: A system for monitoring the operation of a press machine employs a sensor to measure the peak acceleration levels of a slide assembly. The sensor measurement data represents peak load levels being developed within the press machine. A data means provides load level capacity data representing the maximum allowable compressive and tensile load levels for the press machine. The capacity data is provided in the form of plural press machine operating zones each representing a corresponding range of load values and having a respective rating factor which indicates the relationship of the particular operating zone to a respective one of the maximum allowable compressive/tensile load levels. A processor evaluates the peak load levels in relation to the operating zone data to determine which respective ones of the plural press machine operating zones encompass each respective one of the peak load levels.

Abstract: A method for measuring motion of a user, which is adapted to apply to output signals proportional to rotation and translational motion of the carrier, respectively from angular rate sensors and acceleration sensors, is more suitable for emerging MEMS angular rate and acceleration sensors. Compared with a conventional IMU, said processing method utilizes a feedforward open-loop signal processing scheme to obtain highly accurate motion measurements by means of signal digitizing, temperature control, sensor error and misalignment calibrations, attitude updating, and damping control loops, and dramatically shrinks said size of mechanical and electronic hardware and power consumption, meanwhile, obtains highly accurate motion measurements.

Abstract: An apparatus for measuring the speed of an object includes a first laser source for emitting a first laser plane at an intended path, and a second laser source for emitting a second laser plane at the intended path, with the second laser source positioned from the first laser source at a known distance. The apparatus further includes a detector system positioned to receive a first laser light and a second laser light that have been reflected from the first laser plane and the second laser plane, respectively, upon reflection of the first and second laser planes off the object. The detector system generates a first pulse signal and a second pulse signal, respectively, in response to the receipt of the first and second laser lights, respectively. The apparatus also includes a signal processing circuit coupled to the detector system for calculating the speed of an object passing through the intended path based on the first and second pulse signals generated by the detector system.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system which calculates vehicle speeds from distance pulses utilizing vehicle acceleration. More particularly, the present invention calculates vehicle speed through a system comprising a speed input task and a speed output task. The speed input task generates a speed value and an acceleration value from a pulse train delivered by a distance sensor or electronic transmission. The acceleration, deceleration or steady state of the motor vehicle is determined in the input task through use of the distance sensor tolerance. The output task drives the speedometer according to the new speed value from the input task if a new speed value has been generated since the last execution of the output task. If no new speed value has been generated since the last execution of the output task, the output task drives the speedometer according to the acceleration value. Thus, the output task is executed periodically regardless of the sequence of pulses received in the input task.

Abstract: A simple, novel and reliable two-dimensional, cantilever based fiber optic acceleration and vibration sensor, able to measure constant and/or variable acceleration, velocity, displacement, and frequency spectrum simultaneously in two perpendicular directions is presented. The sensor has a long live-span, high sensitivity, wide dynamic range and linear response in both directions. According to one aspect of the present invention, the two-dimensional fiber optic accelerometer includes an elongated light conducting elastic member with a round cross-section which first end is coupled to a light emitting source. The elastic member can be an optical fiber, and is mounted on a support structure in such a way that its second end forms a cantilever. A lens focuses the light irradiated from the elastic member onto a dual axis position photosensor. Thus, the lens, the elastic member and the photosensor form an optical lever.

Abstract: An angular velocity sensor has a flexible substrate and an opposed, fixed substrate supported at their peripheries by a sensor casing. An oscillator is fixed on the lower surface of the flexible substrate. Five lower electrodes are formed on the upper surface of the flexible substrate. Five upper electrodes are formed on the lower surface of the fixed substrate so as to oppose the lower electrodes. For sensing an angular velocity about the X-axis, an a.c. voltage is applied across a predetermined pair of the opposed electrodes to cause the oscillator to oscillate in the Z-axis direction, whereby a Coriolis force proportional to the angular velocity is applied to the oscillator to displace it in the Y-axis direction.

Abstract: A high accuracy laser accelerometer has a differential pathlength element having an outer annulus and a combined acceleration sensing proof mass with a laser mirror, a closed cavity including a cathode, anode and a movable pathlength control mirror, a lens prismatic readout, a photodetector and associated electronics. When the laser accelerometer is subjected to linear acceleration, the acceleration sensing proof mass moves relative to the outer annulus of the differential pathlength element causing a differential pathlength change in the cavity which is readily detected by the photodetector.

Abstract: An apparatus for measuring the rate of rotation and linear acceleration of a moving body in two perpendicular axis (X and Y). The rate of rotation is determined by measuring the force resulting from the Coriolus effect and the linear acceleration is determined by measuring the resulting force in the axis of acceleration. The apparatus includes an integral flexing unit which during rest extends in the Z axis, having a flexure zone with two degrees of flexing freedom. A proof mass is resiliently mounted on the flexing unit remote from the flexure zone with one degree of oscillation in parallel to the Z axis. The proof mass is caused to oscillate at constant amplitude by suitable electric means whereby, upon rotation of the body or linear acceleration thereof, the flexure unit oscillates by periodic bending of the flexure zone and the extent of flexure which is proportionate to the rate of rotation and/or linear acceleration, is determined by suitable electro optical means.

Abstract: A solid state speed indicator for railroad locomotives is provided with a plurality of indications in addition to speed. These include an acceleration indicator and an overspeed indicator. In addition, the speed indicator is provided with a dual range speed function having at least one particular use in drag operations. A variation of the solid state speed indicator is a retrofit design that replaces the meter movement in existing speed indicator equipment with a solid state display.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining a change in velocity of a body following a power disruptive event. An accelerometer (10, 50) includes quartz crystals (16 and 18, 60 and 62), which produce output signals indicative of the acceleration to which a body connected to the accelerometer is subjected. The acceleration measured is directed along the sensitive axis of the accelerometer. The quartz crystals are selected to have different scale factors, K.sub.1 and K.sub.2, which define the change in frequency of the quartz crystal from its no-load resonant frequency as a force is applied to it. The quartz crystals are connected between a supporting case (14) and a proof mass (12) so that a given acceleration applied to the proof mass along its sensitive axis causes one of the crystals to experience a tension force and the other to experience a compression force.

Abstract: An apparatus for the automatic release of passenger protection devices in motor vehicles in the event of an accident has a sensor (35) having a mass (10) secured outside the center of mass (11). This mass (10) generates a comparably high torque in the suspension in the event of both positional change and rotational acceleration. These torques are detected with known measuring methods and split, with the aid of a high-pass filter (36) and a low-pass filter (40), into a high-frequency and a low-frequency portion. The high frequency portion corresponds to the rotational acceleration, from which the rotational velocity is obtained by means of an integrator (38). The low-frequency portion corresponds to the position of the motor vehicle. Thus both measurement variables that must be detected for releasing a roll bar are obtained with a single sensor (35).

Abstract: The Inertial Dynamometer System measures and indicates the gross horsepower being produced by a vehicle's prime mover at any instant, accounting for aerodynamic, frictional and viscous drag in addition to gravitational and inertial acceleration factors. The system is adjustable and self calibrating to adapt it to the characteristics of the vehicle in which it is installed. The system allows indication of as many as 21 of the variables involved in measuring and indicating instantaneous gross horsepower. The method for determining gross horsepower is to sum the power used for accelerating the vehicle and the power used for overcoming aerodynamic viscous and frictional losses.

Abstract: A shutoff mechanism for a pneumatic tool such as a nut runner senses both the instantaneous speed and the instantaneous rate of change of speed of the drive components of the tool. The mechanism controls the flow of air to the motor and terminates such flow as the drive speed decreases while approaching a stall condition. The mechanism comprises a main air valve operated by a centrifugal governor having a plurality of pivoted weights with their pivot axes oriented at acute angles to radial lines intersecting the centers of the weights rather than oriented at right angles to such radial lines as in conventional governor assemblies. So oriented, the weights sense both instantaneous speed and instantaneous rate of change of speed of the drive components.

Abstract: Apparatus provided for measuring slippage of locomotive wheels and for preventing excessive sliding of the wheels and which produces a control signal for governing the locomotive speed uses as a basic criteria the variation in velocity between the translatory speed of the locomotive and the circumferential velocity of sliding wheels. Variation in velocity is measured by integrating acceleration differences between the effective acceleration of the locomotive and the wheel acceleration.

Abstract: A device for measuring the stopping time of working machines is provided with first and second switches for synchronically breaking the current to the working machine and starting a time meter, and a third switch for stopping the time meter when the working movement of the working machine has ceased. For the actuation of the first and second switches, the measuring device is provided with a first abutment entrained by the working machine and, in its turn, entraining a second abutment which is provided with its own power source for releasing the second abutment from the first abutment, thereby to actuate the third switch when the working movement of the working machine has ceased.There is a regulation, with particular regard to presses such as edging presses, eccentric presses and similar working machines, that the press should be provided with information concerning the braking time corresponding to the maximum stopping distance of the press.

Abstract: Spin coupled angular rate sensitive inertial sensors of the tuned suspension system type, and method of fabricating such sensors whereby the twice spin frequency linear and angular vibration sensitivity characteristic of tuned sensors may be eliminated. The twice spin frequency angular vibration sensitivity characteristic of other tuned inertial sensors is eliminated by creating an equal and opposite torque component dependent on the same vibrational input. This is done by angularly offsetting the rotor suspension system from a plane orthogonal to the spin axis, and by providing the shaft assembly with an effective product of inertia of controlled magnitude and orientation. The product of inertia modulates any twice spin frequency angular vibration of the shaft about an axis orthogonal to the spin axis with the spin frequency of the shaft to provide an angular disturbance of the shaft about the spin axis.