Position detection system for a suspended particle accelerometer

摘要

An accelerometer having a charged particle electro­statically suspended between opposed field plates initially in a null position when the sum of the forces on the accelerometer equals zero, the accelerometer comprising LEDs projecting light beams for defining opposed boundaries of the null position between the opposed plates, light detectors for detecting occlusion of the light beams by the particle when the particle moves from the null position into the paths of the light beams, and a particle control system responsive to the light detectors for varying the electrostatic field generated by the opposed plates to return the particle to the null position.