Surface‐acoustic‐wave digitized angular accelerometer

Abstract

An angular accelerometer utilizing a sensing element 10 comprising a strain member 18 and a crosswise torsion member 24, both substantially comprising flat beams 18 and 25, respectively. The strain member 18 is affixed at each end to the object whose angular acceleration is to be measured, the angular acceleration vector lying along the axis of the strain member 18. The torsion member 24 is formed with an end mass 26,26' at each end. The strain member 18 is formed from a material such as quartz whose elasticity changes in proportion to the torque it experiences. A high-frequency surface acoustic wave is sent along the strain member and the change in its frequency due to the torque in the strain member 18 is measured.