New Sensor Concepts: Low Cost Vibrating Beam Accelerometer

摘要

Engineering model accelerometers have been assembled and tested to assess their potential for use in future strapped down inertial systems. The accelerometer concept investigated uses vibrating quartz crystal beams as the basic force sensing element. This concept has an inherent digital output and the potential for meeting the performance goals of bias stability of less than 100ug, scale factor stability less than 100ppm, input range at least 10g, bias temperature sensitivity on the order of lug/deg C and scale factor temperature sensitivity on the order of lppm/deg C. The accelerometer mechanization utilizes two force sensing crystals in a push pull arrangement to enhance the scale factor and cancel non-linear and thermal effects. Test, data on engineering units is presented and recommendations for future development tasks are made. (Author)