United Technologies Corporation

Essex Group, Inc.

James P Waters

Mark R Fernald

Bruce D Hockaday

George R Wisner

Robert K Thornton

Walter L Glomb

Leroy G Puffer

Orvey P Lowrey, Jr

Frederick P Molden

Earl D Hasselmark

Rudolf J Rexer

A micromachined silicon pressure transducer employs a vibrating bridge that is formed from the same silicon slab as the pressure responsive diaphragm. The resonant frequency of the bridge is a temperature insensitive representation of the pressure.

Optical pressure transducer

An arrangement for smoothing a coherent laser beam of a limited yet substantial coherence length due to the presence of several discrete optical frequencies therein is operative for subdividing the coherent laser beam into a plurality of partial beams of substantially the same intensity. Each of the partial beams is then conducted in a different path, the length of at least one of which differs from that of another path by a distance amounting to a fraction of the coherence length. At least some of the partial beams are subsequently combined into a coherent output beam in which the partial beam issued from the one path is shifted by the distance relative to that issued from the other path.

Fringe visibility enhancement arrangement and method

The movement of a predetermined zone of a surface of a vibrating object is measured by separating a laser beam having a predetermined coherence length into a probe beam and a reference beam. The reference beam is then delayed relative to the probe beam by a predetermined time interval sufficient for the probe beam to travel through a predetermined distance at least corresponding to the coherence length, before being combined with the probe beam to form a combination beam. The combination beam is then subdivided into a plurality of substantially equal component beams each of which is conducted along a separate path to a location spaced from the predetermined zone substantially by one-half of the distance traveled by light in the predetermined time interval between the above location and the predetermined zone. A predetermined portion of each component beam is reflected at the respective location back into the respective path, while the remainder of each component beam is directed to the predetermined zone for return therefrom at least predominantly back toward the respective location and into the respective path with attendant coherent interference of the returned probe beam part with the reflected reference beam part of the same component beam. The return light beam are demodulated to obtain an indication of the movement of the predetermined zone.

Method of and arrangement for measuring vibrations

A common optical path interferometric gauge comprises an optical beam that is split into two beams. Both beams are modulated and recombined after introducing an optical path length difference greater than the coherence length of the optical source. The combined beam is guided along a common optical path and is subsequently split into reference and measurement beams. The measurement beam is guided along a measurement optical path that includes a moving workpiece surface. Both beams are recombined after interposing an optical path length difference therebetween so as to reestablish coherence between portions thereof, producing optical interference indicative of the surface movement.

Common optical path interferometric gauge

A focused optical input signal is applied to an optically absorbent wall portion of a supply nozzle 40 in a fluidic device to cause boundary layer separation of flow therein. The boundary layer separation turns the flow to achieve a desired output from the device.

Fluidic device

A linear magnetostrictive actuator with feedback compensation including a force train that has at least one magnetostrictive element, an excitation component disposed on or within the actuator, a feedback apparatus whose output signal is proportional to the magnetic induction within the magnetostrictive element, and actuator control circuitry for providing the difference signal resultant between the feedback output signal and the external signal, such that positional displacement error is compensated by closed loop operation of the actuator.

Magnetostrictive actuator with feedback compensation

Apparatus and method for optically scanning the circumference of a generally circular section of a test object, and especially for monitoring the surface character of cables and the like. An optical system has its apparent axis substantially concentric with the centerline of the path along which the cable moves relative to the scanning optics. A beam of radiation is caused to rotate or orbit about that axis and is then directed into near-normal incidence with the surface of the test object such that it is specularly reflected by the surface. The optical system redirects the reflected beam toward one or more detectors, the intensity of outputs of which provide an indication of the surface character of the object. In a preferred embodiment, a radiation source beam offset from the actual cable path is rotated by a pair of oscillating mirrors such that it describes a divergent conical shape. Certain optics direct a 180.degree. portion of that rotating beam along one path to intersect with a corresponding 180.degree. segment of the cable and a dividing mirror and similar optics direct the other 180.degree. portion of the beam along another path to intersect with the remaining or complementary 180.degree. segment of the cable. By so dividing the beam paths, a full 360.degree. scan of the cable surface is obtained without the cable 'shadowing' any part of the incoming beam. The reflected radiation is 'returned' along two respective paths to a respective pair of detectors. Some of the optical elements may be movable relative to others to facilitate coupling and uncoupling the apparatus with the cable.

Apparatus and method for monitoring the surface character of circular

A laser beam is focused to a spot on the surface of an object whose contour is to be measured. The spot is projected from the surface onto a detector by a reciprocating mirror which scans the spot across the detector. The detector produces two output signals consisting of sequential pulses at the frequency scan. The relative duration of these pulses or duty cycle reflects the change in contour dimension with respect to the scan centerline or mid point that corresponds to the base or zero dimension of the contour surface. The duty cycle is utilized to compute the change in contour dimension and to move the optics in such a way as to allow the spot to be continually scanned across the detector. The movement of the optics is made whenever there is a certain contour dimension change and by correlating the movement in the position of the optics and the instantaneous computed contour change reflected in the scan, the actual contour dimension is obtained.

Noncontact optical gauging system

An optical position detector is provided for optically locating a seam between two abutting parts having reflective surfaces and features means for producing a continuous laser beam having a predetermined focus spot for scanning the workpiece and a photodetector. The photodetector is positioned to receive radiation reflected from the workpiece upon relative movement of the workpiece.

Optical position detector

A system for measuring the surface contour of an object by tracking the image of a spot of radiation focused on the surface is disclosed. The radiation spot is imaged on a plurality of suitable detectors which are remote to the surface and connected electrically in parallel. Continuous data on the contour of the surface is provided even though irregularities on the surface interfere with the scattered radiation propagating along the line of sight to one of the detectors. This highly accurate system is servocontrolled and can be automated for recording, storing or displaying data.

Gauging surfaces by remotely tracking multiple images

An apparatus for focusing a beam of collimated radiation at various locations over a wide area is disclosed. The apparatus includes a focus head having an offaxis parabolic section in combination with a flat turning mirror. The head is capable of rotating the beam about two orthogonal axes and is mounted in a gantry which permits three dimensional movement of the entire head.

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Ellington, CT, United States of America

James P Waters