Litton Systems, Inc.

The Charles Stark Draper Laboratory, Inc.

Richard S Anderson

Thomas F Marinis

Joseph W Soucy

David S Hanson

Jed C Ludlow

Devadas E Dorai-Raj

Frederick J Kasparian

Roger Francis Burlingame

James H Connelly

Arthur D Lang

Brian Norling

David M Gilbreath

A sensor isolation system including a sensor, a package for the sensor, and a compliant interposer disposed between the sensor and the package and interconnecting the sensor to the package to isolate the sensor from thermal and mechanical stresses and yet at the same time providing a physical interconnect between the sensor and the package.

Sensor isolation system

A coplanar mounting member for a MEM sensor includes a first surface coplanar with a connection pad on the surface of a MEM sensor board containing the MEM sensor control circuit; a second surface inclined to the surface of the board for mounting a MEM sensor and an electrical conductor array for interconnecting the MEM sensor with the connection pad on the board.

Coplanar mounting member for a MEM sensor

A spool (), for supporting a fiber optic coil () and a shield () surrounding the spool and fiber optic coil, includes a centrally placed, bolt-receiving opening (). The shield includes a lower shield portion (), which supports the spool and the fiber optic coil, and an upper shield portion (). The upper and lower shield portions are arranged to interfit with each other at an interface (). The upper shield portion has a centrally placed fastener-receiving opening () which is alignable with the centrally placed, bolt-receiving opening of the spool. A bolt () has a head (), a shank () and a threaded end (). The bolt head is engageable with the spool through intermediary structure (). The shank is insertable through the centrally placed, bolt-receiving opening () and the lower shield opening (), for radially centering the assembly and its components. The threaded end is disposed to engage a threaded opening () in a gyroscope assembly support (). A threaded, centrally placed opening () is located in the bolt head. A screw () is couplable with the upper shield portion and screwable into the bolt head threaded opening for securing the upper shield portion both to the lower shield portion and to the bolt.

Reusable, high stiffness, magnetic shield for fiber optic gyroscopes

An integrated sensor and electronics package wherein a micro-electromechanical sensor die is bonded to one side of the package substrate, one or more electronic chips are bonded to an opposite side of the package substrate, internal electrical connections run from the sensor die, through the package substrate, and to the one or more electronic chips, and input/output connections on the package substrate are electrically connected to one or more of the electronic chips.

Integrated sensor and electronics package

A suspension for a gyroscopic float assembly in a floating gyroscope system comprises a pair of flexures that each have an outer rim and a plurality of flexure beams extending from the outer rim. A plurality of flexure tabs extend outward from outer perimeter portions of the rims for mounting the flexure assembly to a pair of end caps. A plurality of strain relief passages formed in the rims is arranged to provide relief from thermally induced stresses. A plurality of angular stops formed in inner perimeter portions of the rims is arranged to constrain the flexure against rotation about a selected axis.

Silicon flexure suspension for single degree or freedom floated gyroscope

The invention utilizes a sensing body having a non-zero product of inertia to sense acceleration when oscillated about the y'-axis of an x'-y'-z' Cartesian coordinate system. The product of inertia is computed with respect to an x-y-z coordinate system fixed in the sensing body, the z-axis being in the x'-z' plane, the y and y' axes being aligned in the absence of acceleration. The sensing body is pivotally attached to a platform and pivots about an axis parallel to the z-axis. A torquing device applies a torque about the z-axis to the sensing body sufficient to cause the angle between the y-axis and the y'-axis to be zero in the absence of acceleration when the sensing body is being oscillated at a predetermined rate. The accelerometer also includes an orientation sensor which provides a measure of the average angle between the y-axis and the y'-axis. A drive assembly oscillates the platform about the y'-axis. A control circuit receives the output of the orientation sensor and causes the drive assembly to drive the platform at an oscillation rate or at an oscillation amplitude which causes the average orientation angle to be near zero. The invention can also use an assembly of N individually-pivoting sensing bodies to sense acceleration.

Centripetal opposed pendulous accelerometer

The invention utilizes a sensing body having a non-zero product of inertia to sense acceleration when spun about the y'-axis of an x'-y'-z' Cartesian coordinate system. The product of inertia is computed with respect to an x-y-z coordinate system fixed in the sensing body, the z-axis being in the x'- z' plane, they and y' axes being aligned in the absence of acceleration. The sensing body is pivotally attached to a platform and pivots about an axis parallel to the z-axis. A torquing device applies a torque about the z-axis to the sensing body sufficient to cause the angle between the y-axis and the y'-axis to be zero in the absence of acceleration when the sensing body is being spun at predetermined rate. The accelerometer also includes an orientation sensor which provides a measure of the angle between the y-axis and the y'-axis. A drive assembly rotates the platform about the y'-axis. A control circuit receives the output of the orientation sensor and causes the drive assembly to drive the platform at a rate which causes the orientation angle to be near zero. A rotation sensor provides a measure of either the angle of rotation of the platform or the angular velocity of the platform. The acceleration is determinable from the angular velocity of the platform and the velocity is determinable from the angle of rotation. The invention can also use an assembly of N individually-pivoting sensing bodies to sense acceleration.

Growing community of inventors

Seabrook, NH, United States of America

Richard S Anderson