Method and apparatus for determining at least one characteristic value of movement of a body
OwnerEdmund R. Potschinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
With the apparatus of the invention, any acceleration/deceleration in the direction of movement is sensed by a pendulum. Electrical signals derived therefrom are used for solving the differential equation of oscillation of the pendulum for determining the acceleration, velocity and/or the distance covered by the moved body within a desired time period.
Claims19
An apparatus for determining at least one characteristic value of movement (acceleration, velocity, distance covered) of a moving body comprising:
- (a) a housing detachably mounted on said moving body independent of a vertical direction of attachment to said moving body;
- (b) a sensor means arranged in said housing and including a pendulum suspended in said housing for free deflection about a horizontal axis in a direction opposite to a direction of movement of said moving body;
- (c) a transducer means connected with said sensor means for generating electrical signals in response to any said deflection of said pendulum;
- (d) a processing means for continuously receiving said electrical signals, for continuously solving a differential equation of oscillation of said pendulum based on said electrical signals and for continuously calculating said at least one characteristic value of movement;
- and
- (e) a display means for displaying said at least one characteristic value of movement calculated by said processing means.
An apparatus for determining a change of angle of inclination of a moved body, comprising:
- a housing attached to said body independent of a vertical direction of attachment;
- a sensor means arranged in said housing and inlcuding a pendulum suspended in said housing for free deflection at least in one direction about a horizontal axis;
- a transducer means for generating electrical signals in response to any deflection of said pendulum;
- and
- a processing means for receiving said electrical signals and for solving a differential equation of oscillation of said pendulum based on said electrical signals and for calculating said change of angle of inclination of said moved body.
A method for determining at least one characteristic value of movement (acceleration, velocity and distance covered) of a body comprising the steps of:
- (a) sensing from a beginning of the movement a deflection about a horizontal axis pendulum secured to said body independent of a vertical direction of attachment;
- (b) generating electrical signals in resposne to any deflection of the pendulum;
- (c) continuously solving a differential equation of oscillation of said pendulum based on said electrical signals;
- (d) calculating said at least one characteristic value of movement based on a solution of said differential equation of oscillation of said pendulum;
- and
- (e) selectively outputting said at least one characteristic value of movement.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.