The Boeing Company

Systron Donner

Sundstrand Data Control, Inc.

Romeal F Asmar

Harold D Morris

Raymond W Huggins

Glen E Miller

Henry J Lukes

Charles R Porter

Nicholas Albion

Walter Kamphorst

A three-phase angular position sensor is described in which three beams of light having polarization directions rotated 60.degree. to each other are passed through a polarizer, the rotational position of the polarizer representing an angle to be measured. The intensities of the beams transmitted through the polarizer uniquely encode its angle over a 180.degree. range. This range may be doubled, for example, by including a binary track. A two-phase angular position sensor is also described in which two beams have polarization directions oriented 45.degree. with respect to one another.

Optical angle sensor using polarization techniques

An accelerometer includes a mass, a spring diaphragm, a collimating lens, and an optical interferometer formed between the mass and collimating lens. The mass and spring diaphragm are preferably formed from stainless steel, but the spring diaphragm may be formed from silicon and the mass from amorphous quartz. The interferometer exists between a mirrored surface of the mass, and a partially reflective surface of the collimating lens.

Optical resonance accelerometer

Disclosed is an optical sensor readhead (10) which includes a glass substrate (14) that contains buried ion diffused optical transmission channels (12) for supplying light to and receiving reflected light from optical encoder bands (22) of an optical encoder (20). In the disclosed arrangements, each optical transmission channel (12) is associated with a specific optical encoder band (22) and includes fourteen spaced apart optical waveguides (36) which are located along one edge (18) of the substrate (14) and which are dimensioned and positioned to supply light to and receive light from the associated optical encoder band (22). Located at the oppositely disposed edge (16) of the substrate (14) are input and output optical waveguides (40, 42, and 44), which couple optical energy into and out of the optical transmission channel (12). Intermediate the optical waveguides (36) and the input and output waveguides (40 and 42) is an optical mixer section (38), which is in optical communication with the optical waveguides (36) and the input and output optical waveguides.

Optical encoder reading device

A charge amplifier having minimum offset voltage such as for use in processing a signal from a capacitive transducer. The amplifier is arranged to minimize the offset voltage and drift. The amplifier is arranged to be reset to zero upon application of supply voltage thereto, and the resetting circuit is arranged to reset the amplifier automatically during an adjustable interval after application of the supply voltage. The charge amplifier is further compensated for temperature variation and is arranged at minimum offset voltage notwithstanding strong background noise.The amplifier is arranged to have a drift of no more than a fraction of a millivolt per second. The amplifier circuit includes an improved switching arrangement and may utilize a second amplifier circuit for effecting temperature compensation.

Charge amplifier with minimum offset voltage

A two axis rate gyro for sensing angular velocity about two input axes includes a rotating disc which is bearing mounted in a framework. A motor is provided for driving the disc rotationally in the bearing mounts. Pickoffs are mounted in the framework which are spaced from the faces of the rotor and oriented along axes which are orthogonal to the two angular velocity input axes. Circuitry is provided for receiving the outputs from each of the orthogonally oriented pickoffs, including circuit means for removing noise in the outputs due to variation caused therein by spacing variation between the rotor faces and the pickoffs resulting from departure of the rotor faces from a flat condition.

Two axis rate gyro

A velocity sensor which may be modified to perform a sensing function for either angular velocity or linear velocity. The sensor has a base member which is split into upper and lower halves which are shaped to form internal walls defining an internal channel when joined together. A fluid is disposed in the internal channel and a paddle member is placed in communication with the fluid. Sensing means are present to detect the position of the paddle member as it is urged into motion by the inertia of the fluid mass in the angular embodiment and by the inertia of the paddle member in the linear. An electrical output is provided which is related to the urge to move imparted to the paddle member. The output is used to electrically restrain the motion of the paddle member. The output related to paddle member motion is also integrated to provide a signal related to velocity. Saturation of the integrated output unrelated to velocity is prevented by additional electrical means. AC input, DC internal operation, and AC output is provided as well as fast automatic nulling after application of power, self test means and an inhibited output in the event of electrical failure within the unit. The fluid mass flow path being integral with the base member substantially eliminates thermal gradients within the fluid mass, removing error arising from fluid flow due to thermal gradients. Linear acceleration sensitivity in the angular velocity sensor embodiment is eliminated by paddle member balance about the pivot axis within the fluid mass during assembly. Pivot stabilization during shock and vibration loads is provided by adjustable leaf spring supports disposed between the paddle and the base member. The AC output phase shift relative to the AC input is substantially eliminated over the operational temperature range as compared with conventional instruments of this type.

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Bellevue, WA, United States of America

Romeal F Asmar