Abstract: A method and device for measuring a motion of a rigid body, using the least possible accelerometers that are simply arranged. One-axis uni-directional accelerometers 1 through 6 are each fixed to the rigid body through a base 12. Thus, no Coriolis force is developed even though an external force is applied thereto. The six one-axis uni-directional accelerometers 1 through 6 are mounted to three or more different positions relative to the rigid body. Consequently, a processing unit 21 can perform processing so that centrifugal and angular effects included in each one-axis uni-directional accelerometer may be separated. As the one-axis uni-directional accelerometers 1 through 6 are arranged on the same plane, you have only to consider two-dimensional positional relationship among the accelerometers for the accuracy of the arrangement thereof.

Abstract: In a three-dimensional coordinate space of X, Y, and Z, there are provided a vibrator having a vibrator base extending in the X-direction on the XY plane, a first vibrating bar projecting in the positive Y direction from the vibrator base and having a first natural frequency in the X-directions, and a second vibrating bar projecting in the negative Y direction from the vibrator base and having a second natural frequency in the X-directions, different from the first natural frequency; excitation means for exciting either the first or second vibrating bar in the Z-directions or in the X-directions; detection means for detecting the amplitude of vibration orthogonal to the Y-directions and to the directions of excitation of vibration caused in the first or second vibrating bar by the excitation means; and angular velocity calculating means for calculating an angular velocity of rotation about an axis in the Y-direction from the magnitude of the amplitude detected by the detection means, and the geometric dimensi

Abstract: An improved high temperature electromagnetic acoustic transducer (EMAT) for conducting inspections of materials with elevated temperatures, which has cooling means using gas cooling, such as air or nitrogen, for cooling the transducer RF coil, the onboard circuitry and magnets, while also providing for the easy removal of the coil and onboard circuitry. Prior art EMAT's are susceptible to failure since high temperatures reduces the signal quality of the electronics components, degrades the insulation of the RF coils, and permanent magnets can loose field strength.

Abstract: The invention concerns a device for balancing a wheel comprising a rim and a tire. This device comprises a unit for measuring the wheel imbalance and a unit for scanning the rim dimensions. The scanner unit and the imbalance-measuring unit are connected to a computer which determines a rim contour from the scanner unit output signals and then the optimum positions and dimensions for the balance weights from the contour determined in conjunction with values supplied by the imbalance-measuring unit.

Abstract: An ultrasonic transducer with a piezoceramic disk in radial resonance operation is created to produce a narrow main cone angle with suppresion of secondary cones. This is accomplished with the help of a ring surrounding the piezoceramic disk on its lateral face with a form fit and frictional engagement, this ring being made of a material whose longitudinal wave velocity is higher than that of aluminum.

Abstract: An ultrasonic probe includes an ultrasonic transducer; a delay line acoustically coupled to said transducer so that ultrasonic vibrations may be transmitted into said delay line from said ultrasonic transducer in a first direction, said delay line includes a first section and a second section; the first and second sections forming an interface that is substantially perpendicular to said first direction; and the second section including a surface for coupling with a material to be investigated. The probe can be used to measure a thickness of a coating on a substrate by transmitting a signal in a first direction from the transducer into the delay line; measuring a time t.sub.1 for a first portion of the signal to travel round trip from the transducer and the interface; using the measured time t.sub.1 to calculate an expected time t.sub.2 for a second portion of the signal to travel round trip from the transducer to an opposite face of the delay line; measuring a time t.sub.

Abstract: Micromechanical comb structure includes a first comb device having a plurality of prongs and a second comb device having a plurality of prongs. The prongs of the first comb device and the prongs of the second comb device mesh with one another so that they are arranged side-by-side in pairs to form measuring capacitors. The prongs of at least one of the comb devices are designed to produce a variation in the mechanical natural frequencies of the prongs.

Abstract: A system for measuring acceleration in three axes comprises four individual sensors arranged in a rectangle on a common substrate with each having one main sensitivity axis. Each individual sensor has a seismic mass in the form of a cantilevered paddle connected by a bending beam to an outer frame and having a center of gravity. Each beam is arranged parallel to the substrate surface and each contains means for measuring the bending that occurs when acceleration forces act upon the system. The actual acceleration occurring on each axis can then be determined as a function of the error angle formed between the sensitivity axis and the normal to the substrate surface.

Abstract: The invention relates to an angular velocity sensor used in posture control of a moving element or navigation system, and is intended to realize higher sensitivity, lower offset, lower offset drift, lower translation acceleration sensitivity, and higher impact resistance in a small size and at low cost.

Abstract: An angular velocity sensor includes a tuning-fork oscillator having a pair of arms jointed by a trunk, the pair of arms extending in parallel to each other, first and second driving piezoelectric elements arranged only on one surface of the trunk with a gap therebetween in an extending direction of the arms, and angular velocity detecting piezoelectric elements arranged on surfaces of the arms in parallel with the one surface of the trunk on which the first and second piezoelectric elements are arranged.

Abstract: Strictly out-of-phase stimulation of the two oscillators of a micro-mechanical rate-of-rotation sensor based on the Coriolis principle, having two-plate like oscillators arranged in layers one above another in two parallel planes and capable of being stimulated to oscillate perpendicular to the planes by means of an electrostatic drive, is achieved by the oscillators each being connected via at least one spring to a couple element formed, in each case, in the same wafer layer. The couple elements are mirror-symmetrically configured with respect to a mid-plane between the oscillators and connected to each other by a coupling web arranged therebetween to form a couple structure for the oscillators.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for stress relieving workpieces, having the steps of causing the workpiece to vibrate due to selected revolution values of a vibrator and making the selection of the revolution values on the basis of a measurement revealing the vibration behavior of the work piece. The workpiece is excited with revolutions of predetermined frequencies in a limited operating range and the respective response behavior associated with the excitation vibrations is measured and evaluated. In so doing, an efficiency value is determined for each excitation frequency and, with the aid of a correlation between the calculated efficiency values and conventionally selected excitation frequencies, further frequencies are selected for stress relieving the workpiece.

Abstract: The present invention provides an acoustical microscope which has a plurality of acoustical transducers, each generating an independent beam of acoustic energy. Each acoustical transducer is positioned in an adjacent relationship with the others such that each beam of acoustic energy intersects a different point on a target.

Abstract: A piezoelectric resonance type knock sensor that is highly responsive and easy to assemble, wherein a bulged round seat section (washer 7) arranged under the lower surface of a thin metal plate 5 and coaxally with a support bolt 9 in such a way that the outer diameter of the bulged round seat section exceeds the inner diameter of an annular piezoelectric element 5, the lower end of a resilient connector member 11a arranged between a rod-shaped output terminal 11 and the vibration sensing member 4 is resiliently held in contact with an upper electrode 5a of the annular piezoelectric element 5 at a position located inside the outer periphery of the bulged round seat section, and the resonance frequency of its vibration sensing member can be regulated very easily to make itself a highly responsive and effective knock sensor.

Abstract: A shaker table assembly for a test chamber is provided. The test chamber has side walls defining an enclosure with the enclosure receiving a product to be tested. The shaker table assembly comprises a table top plate having a first side and a second side with the product being releasably secured to the first side of the table top plate. An insulation layer is provided having a first side and a second side with the first side of the insulation layer being secured to the second side of the table top plate. An understructure support member is provided having a first side and a second side with the first side of the understructure support member being secured to the second side of the insulation layer. At least one vibrator assembly is mounted to the second side of the understructure support member.

Abstract: A spindle motor rotational unbalance correction mechanism has a stand onto which the magnetic disk apparatus is placed, a mounting device for fixing the magnetic disk apparatus to the stand, and a base plate onto which the stand is placed, with an intervening resilient material therebetween. An acceleration sensor detects the vibration of the magnetic disk apparatus when it is operated. A vibrator applies a mechanical shock to the magnetic disk apparatus. A control circuit calculates from a detection signal from the acceleration sensor any shift in position of the magnetic recording medium mounted on the magnetic disk apparatus and controls the supply of electrical driving power to the vibrator in order to correct for the position shift of the magnetic recording medium, thereby providing a high-performance magnetic disk apparatus in which the position shift of the magnetic disk is corrected.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an acoustic prodding implement for the detection of land mines which provides an indication of the material an object buried in the ground. An indication of mineral material such as rock allows the operator to confidently classify the object as safe, without carefully excavating it. This saves significant time in mine clearing. The device includes a piezoelectric crystal as an acoustic transducer acoustically coupled to a transmitting probe. The piezoelectric transducer generates an acoustic wave into the probe which contacts the object and tranmits the reflected wave. A signal processor compares a signal generated by the transducer with characteristic signatures of known materials to determine a match within predetermined limits. The implement includes a shock resistant coupler to maintain acoustic coupling between the transducer and the probe in response to shock or vibration.

Abstract: A system for superimposing data in which data are represented by a constituted analog signal. The analog signal periodically has two presettable levels (high, low), with the data being represented with the time duration of the analog signal. The presettable levels (high, low) of the analog signal can be realized in this context by two different current or voltage values. Other data are present in the form of a constituted digital signal which represents the data in the form of a digital data word. In order to constitute a superimposed signal, a digital signal is superimposed on the analog signal.

Abstract: A wide bandwidth, ultrasonic transducer to generate nondispersive, extensional, pulsed acoustic pressure waves into concrete reinforced rods and tendons. The wave propagation distance is limited to double the length of the rod. The transducer acoustic impedance is matched to the rod impedance for maximum transfer of acoustic energy. The efficiency of the transducer is approximately 60 percent, depending upon the type of active elements used in the transducer. The transducer input energy is, for example, approximately 1 mJ. Ultrasonic reflections will occur at points along the rod where there are changes of one percent of a wavelength in the rod diameter. A reduction in the rod diameter will reflect a phase reversed echo, as compared with the reflection from an incremental increase in diameter. Echo signal processing of the stored waveform permits a reconstruction of those echoes into an image of the rod.

Abstract: A highly sensitive oscillatory gyroscope that includes an elastic metal body in the form of a rectangular column having first to fourth sides. The elastic metal body includes a pair of end segments located at its ends and a pair of middle segments located at an upper middle portion and a lower middle portion of the elastic metal body. Each end segment has an opening extending from the second side to the fourth side, and each middle segment has an opening extending from the first side to the third side. A first ferroelectric substance film is provided on each of the first and third sides at the end segments. A second ferroelectric substance film is provided on each of the second and fourth sides at the middle segments. First and second electrodes are provided on each first ferroelectric substance film at each end segment. Third and fourth electrodes are provided on each second ferroelectric substance film at each middle segment.