EP0318152A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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Vibrating crystal type force sensing device
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1988-10-20
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2008-10-20
Abstract
Abstract A force sensing device (40) especially suitable for use in an accelerometer or a pressure transducer, depending upon its particular design, is disclosed herein. This device includes at least one and preferably two adjacent and parallel, elongate, vibratable tines (42) and means (44, 46) for vibrating the tines (42) back and forth in a direction normal to their axes of elongation (48). These tines (42) are supported for vibration by an arrangement (52) including an array of interconnected links (70A-70D) and mounting means (72AB, 72BC, 72CD, 72AD) adapted to be connected to an external member capable of applying a variable external force (Fs) to the support arrangement along an axis (62) normal to the axes (48) of elongation of the tines. The support arrangement (52) is configured so as to apply to the tines (42) its own internal force in response to and varying with the external force (Fs) in a way which causes the tines (42) to vibrate at a frequency that varies with the magnitude of the internal force and therefore the external force (Fs). In this way, the vibrating frequency of either or both tines (42) can be sensed for determining therefrom the magnitude of the external force (Fs) aoplied to the support arrangement (52).
Inventors
- 👤 Richard A. Hanson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 14:43
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01P; G01P15/00; G01P15/02; G01P15/08; G01P15/097; G01L; G01L1/00; G01L1/16; G01L1/162; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S73/00; Y10S73/01
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 31
Claim 1
Independent Claim
147 words
A force sensing device, comprising: (a) at least one elongate , vibratable tine; (b) means for vibrating said tine back and forth in a direction normal to its axis of elongation; (c) an arrangement supporting said tine for said vibration and including mounting means adapted for connection to an external member capable of applying a variable external force to the support arrangement along an axis not parallel to the axis of elongation of said tine, said support arrangement being configured so as to apply to said tine its own internal force in response to and varying with said external force in a way which causes the tine to vibrate at a frequency that varies with the magnitude of said internal force and therefore said external force; and (d) means for sensing the vibrating frequency of said tine and for determining therefrom the magnitude of said external force.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
147 words
A force sensing device, comprising: (a) at least one elongate , vibratable tine; (b) means for vibrating said tine back and forth in a direction normal to its axis of elongation; (c) an arrangement supporting said tine for said vibration and including mounting means adapted for connection to an external member capable of applying a variable external force to the support arrangement along an axis not parallel to the axis of elongation of said tine, said support arrangement being configured so as to apply to said tine its own internal force in response to and varying with said external force in a way which causes the tine to vibrate at a frequency that varies with the magnitude of said internal force and therefore said external force; and (d) means for sensing the vibrating frequency of said tine and for determining therefrom the magnitude of said external force.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
46 words
A device according to Claim 1 including a second substantially identical vibratable tine supported by said arrangement for vibration adjacent to and parallel with said first-mentioned tine and vibrated by said vibrating means such that its vibration frequency varies with the magnitude of said external force.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
48 words
A device according to Claim 2 wherein said vibrating means vibrates said tines at the same frequency but 180° out of phase with one another in a direction normal to the elongation axes of said tines and parallel with the axis along which said external force is applied.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
29 words
A device according to Claim 1 including only said one tine and wherein its direction of vibration is normal to the axis along which said external force is applied.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
81 words
A device according to any preceding claim said support arrangement includes four links of substantially equal lengths and means interconnecting the links to one another and to opposite ends of said tine or tines so as to form a parallelogram such that the elongation axis of the tine extends between a first pair of opposing corners of the parallelogram and said normal axis along which the external force is applied extends between a second pair of opposing corners of the parallelogram.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
46 words
A device according to Claim 5 including a second substantially identical vibratable tine supported by said arrangement for vibration adjacent to and parallel with said first-mentioned tine and vibrated by said vibrating means such that its vibration frequency varies with the magnitude of said external force.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
48 words
A device according to Claim 6 wherein said vibrating means vibrates said tines at the same frequency but 180° out of phase with one another in a direction normal to the elongation axes of said tines and parallel with the axis along which said external force is applied.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
29 words
A device according to Claim 5 including only said one tine and wherein its direction of vibration is normal to the axis along which said external force is applied.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
51 words
A device according to Claim 5 wherein the corners of said parallelogram containing the ends of said tine are each less than 90° such that said internal force is greater than its associated external force, thereby to make the device especially suitable for measuring small external forces such as acceleration forces.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
50 words
A device according to Claim 5 wherein the corners of said parallelogram containing the ends of said tine are each greater than 90° such that said internal force is less than its associated external force, thereby to make the device especially suitable for measuring large forces such as large pressures.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
28 words
A device according to any preceding claim wherein said tine, said links and said interconnecting means are integrally formed as of a single unit of quartz crystal material.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
138 words
A force sensing device, comprising: (a) at least one elongate , vibratable tine; (b) means for vibrating said tine in a particular way; (c) an arrangement including a plurality of links interconnected to one another and to said tine for supporting the latter for said vibration and further including means adapted for connection to an external member capable of applying a variable external force to the support arrangement which is configured so as to apply to the tine its own internal force in response to and varying with said external force in a way which causes the tine to vibrate at a frequency that varies with the magnitude of said internal force and therefore said external force; and (d) means for sensing the vibrating frequency of said tine and for determining therefrom the magnitude of said external force.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
138 words
A force sensing device, comprising: (a) at least one elongate , vibratable tine; (b) means for vibrating said tine in a particular way; (c) an arrangement including a plurality of links interconnected to one another and to said tine for supporting the latter for said vibration and further including means adapted for connection to an external member capable of applying a variable external force to the support arrangement which is configured so as to apply to the tine its own internal force in response to and varying with said external force in a way which causes the tine to vibrate at a frequency that varies with the magnitude of said internal force and therefore said external force; and (d) means for sensing the vibrating frequency of said tine and for determining therefrom the magnitude of said external force.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
40 words
A device according to Claim 12 wherein said support arrangement is configured such that the said external force is applied thereto along an axis which is normal to the axis of elongation of said tine and which bisects the tine.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
84 words
A device according to Claim 12 or Claim 13 wherein said support arrangement includes four links of equal lengths and means interconnecting the links to one another and to opposite ends of said tine so as to form a parallelogram such that the elongation axis of the tine extends between a first pair of opposing corners of the parallelogram and such that said external force is applied to the arrangement along an axis extending between a second pair of opposing corners of the parallelogram.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
30 words
A device according to any of Claims 12 to 14 wherein said tine, said links and said interconnecting means are integrally formed of a single unit of quartz crystal material.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
52 words
A device according to any of Claims 12 to 15 including a second substantially identical vibratable tine supported by said arrangement of links for vibration adjacent to and parallel with said first-mentioned tine and vibrated by said vibrating means such that its vibration frequency varies with the magnitude of said external force.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
224 words
A force sensing device, comprising: (a) a pair of substantially identical, adjacent and parallel, elongate, vibratable tines; (b) means for vibrating said tines back and forth at the same frequency but 180° out of phase with one another in a common plane and in a direction normal to the elongation axis of the tines; (c) an arrangement including four substantially identical links located in said common plane and means interconnecting the links to one another and two opposite ends of said tines so as to form a parallelogram such that the elongation axes of said tines extend between a first pair of opposing corners of the parallelogram, said arrangement including mounting means located at a second pair of opposing corners of said parallelogram for connecting the arrangement to an external member capable of applying a variable external force to the support arrangement along an axis extending through the second pair of corners of said parallelogram such that the arrangement applies to said tines its own internal force in response to and varying with said external force and causes the tines to vibrate at a frequency that varies with the magnitude of said internal force and therefore said external force; and (d) means for sensing the vibrating frequency of at least one of said tines and for determining there-from the magnitude of said external force.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
224 words
A force sensing device, comprising: (a) a pair of substantially identical, adjacent and parallel, elongate, vibratable tines; (b) means for vibrating said tines back and forth at the same frequency but 180° out of phase with one another in a common plane and in a direction normal to the elongation axis of the tines; (c) an arrangement including four substantially identical links located in said common plane and means interconnecting the links to one another and two opposite ends of said tines so as to form a parallelogram such that the elongation axes of said tines extend between a first pair of opposing corners of the parallelogram, said arrangement including mounting means located at a second pair of opposing corners of said parallelogram for connecting the arrangement to an external member capable of applying a variable external force to the support arrangement along an axis extending through the second pair of corners of said parallelogram such that the arrangement applies to said tines its own internal force in response to and varying with said external force and causes the tines to vibrate at a frequency that varies with the magnitude of said internal force and therefore said external force; and (d) means for sensing the vibrating frequency of at least one of said tines and for determining there-from the magnitude of said external force.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
26 words
A device according to Claim 17 wherein said tines, said links and said interconnecting means are integrally formed as a single unit of quartz crystal material.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
42 words
A device according to Claim 17 or Claim 18 wherein the corners of said parallelogram containing the ends of said tine are each less than 90°, whereby to make the device especially suitable for measuring small external forces such as acceleration forces.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
40 words
A device according to Claim 17 or Claim 18 wherein said corners of said parallelogram containing the ends of said tines are greater than 90°, whereby to make the device especially suitable for measuring large forces such as large pressures.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
139 words
A method of sensing forces in a particular member, comprising the steps of: (a) providing at least one elongate , vibratable tine; (b) vibrating said tine back and forth in a direction normal to its axis of elongation; (c) supporting said tine for vibration by means of an arrangement including a plurality of interconnected links; (d) mounting said support arrangement to said member such that if said member applies an external force to said support arrangement, the support arrangement applies to said tine an internal force in response to and varying with said external force in a way which causes the tine to vibrate at a frequency that varies with the magnitude of said internal force and therefore said external force; and (e) sensing the vibrating frequency of said tine and determining therefrom the magnitude of said external force.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
139 words
A method of sensing forces in a particular member, comprising the steps of: (a) providing at least one elongate , vibratable tine; (b) vibrating said tine back and forth in a direction normal to its axis of elongation; (c) supporting said tine for vibration by means of an arrangement including a plurality of interconnected links; (d) mounting said support arrangement to said member such that if said member applies an external force to said support arrangement, the support arrangement applies to said tine an internal force in response to and varying with said external force in a way which causes the tine to vibrate at a frequency that varies with the magnitude of said internal force and therefore said external force; and (e) sensing the vibrating frequency of said tine and determining therefrom the magnitude of said external force.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
83 words
A method according to Claim 21 wherein said support arrangement is configured such that said links are interconnected to one another and to opposite ends of said tine so as to form a parallelogram such that the elongation axis of the tine extends between a first pair of opposing corners of the parallelogram and such that any external forces applied to the arrangement by said member are applied thereto along an axis extending between a second pair of opposing corners of said parallelogram.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
139 words
A force sensing device, comprising: (a) elongate , vibratable tine means; (b) means for vibrating said tine means back and forth in a direction normal to its axis of elongation; (c) an arrangement supporting said tine means for said vibration and including mounting means adapted for connection to an external member capable of applying a variable external force to the support arrangement, said support arrangement being configured so as to apply to said tine means its own internal force in response to, varying with and larger than said external force in a way which causes the tine means to vibrate at a frequency that varies with the magnitude of said internal force and therefore said external force; and (d) means for sensing the vibrating frequency of said tine means and for determining therefrom the magnitude of said external force.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
139 words
A force sensing device, comprising: (a) elongate , vibratable tine means; (b) means for vibrating said tine means back and forth in a direction normal to its axis of elongation; (c) an arrangement supporting said tine means for said vibration and including mounting means adapted for connection to an external member capable of applying a variable external force to the support arrangement, said support arrangement being configured so as to apply to said tine means its own internal force in response to, varying with and larger than said external force in a way which causes the tine means to vibrate at a frequency that varies with the magnitude of said internal force and therefore said external force; and (d) means for sensing the vibrating frequency of said tine means and for determining therefrom the magnitude of said external force.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
139 words
A force sensing device, comprising: (a) elongate , vibratable tine means; (b) means for vibrating said tine means back and forth in a direction normal to its axis of elongation; (c) an arrangement supporting said tine means for said vibration and including mounting means adapted for connection to an external member capable of applying a variable external force to the support arrangement, said support arrangement being configured so as to apply to said tine means its own internal force in response to, varying with and less than said external force in a way which causes the tine means to vibrate at a frequency that varies with the magnitude of said internal force and therefore said external force; and (d) means for sensing the vibrating frequency of said tine means and for determining therefrom the magnitude of said external force.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
139 words
A force sensing device, comprising: (a) elongate , vibratable tine means; (b) means for vibrating said tine means back and forth in a direction normal to its axis of elongation; (c) an arrangement supporting said tine means for said vibration and including mounting means adapted for connection to an external member capable of applying a variable external force to the support arrangement, said support arrangement being configured so as to apply to said tine means its own internal force in response to, varying with and less than said external force in a way which causes the tine means to vibrate at a frequency that varies with the magnitude of said internal force and therefore said external force; and (d) means for sensing the vibrating frequency of said tine means and for determining therefrom the magnitude of said external force.
Claim 31
Independent Claim
27 words
A device according to any of Claims 1 to 9 wherein said support arrangement is configured such that said internal force is greater than said external force.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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