Radio Frequency Accelerometer

Abstract

Disclosure of a novel accelerometer sensor method for detecting and measuring acceleration using radio frequency (RF) oscillators. Quartz crystal oscillators (QCO) and surface acoustic wave (SAW) oscillators are known to be sensitive to acceleration or force impact events. These events cause fluctuations in the quartz crystal oscillator base natural resonant frequency. The crystalline structure of quartz crystal has a preferred direction of maximum sensitivity to acceleration. Acceleration or sudden force impact events cause fluctuations in the resonant frequency of quartz crystal and surface acoustic wave oscillators, increasing jitter and phase noise. There exists a mathematical relationship which relates these fluctuations in the natural frequency to the magnitude and direction of the accelerating source. This acceleration sensitivity can therefore be utilized to track changes in the oscillator resonant frequency referred to as jitter or phase noise to determine the magnitude of acceleration over time.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.