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US 5,492,010 AGranted
Position identification device using an accelerometer
AssigneeLockheed Corporation
InventorBoyd B. Bushman
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A device for determining position uses three voltage dividers. Each voltage divider is a metal conductor having a head on one end and two legs on an opposite end. The tips of the legs of each of the bodies are located in planes which are perpendicular to the other bodies. A DC voltage is applied to the head of each of the bodies to create first and second electron flow paths. The voltage across each flow path is monitored. A difference in voltage of flow path relative to the other indicates a change in velocity in a direction wherein one leg leads the other leg. The voltage change correlates to acceleration. By timing the duration, velocity and distance travelled are computed. When mounted aboard a plane, vehicle, ship or spacecraft the unit displays a continous "present location".
Claims16
An apparatus which senses acceleration, comprising:
- at least one body of electrically conductive material, having a head on one end and first and second legs on an opposite end, the head and first and second legs being in electrical continuity with each other, the first and second legs having tips which are spaced apart from each other;
- means for causing a direct current to flow through the body between the head and the tip of the first leg to create a first electron flow path, and between the head and the tip of the second leg to create a second electron flow path;
- measuring means for measuring the magnitudes of the first and second electron flow paths and determining any difference between said magnitudes;
- and wherein
- while the body is accelerating in a direction wherein one of the legs leads the other, the measuring means will detect a difference in said magnitudes which is proportional to said acceleration.
2 more elements
An apparatus which senses acceleration and deceleration, comprising:
- at least one body of electrically conductive material, having a head on one end and first and second legs on an opposite end, the head and first and second legs being in electrical continuity with each other, the first and second legs having tips which are spaced apart from each other by a gap;
- voltage means for applying a DC potential difference between the head and the tip of the first leg to create a first voltage and between the head and the tip of the second leg to create a second voltage;
- and
- measuring means for determining whether the first and second voltages change relative to each other, indicating that the body is accelerating or decelerating.
1 more element
An apparatus for determining position, comprising:
- X-direction, Y-direction, and Z-direction metal bodies, each of the bodies having a head on one end and first and second legs on an opposite end, each of the legs of each of the bodies terminating in a tip which is spaced from the tip of the other leg of the same body by a diverging gap, the bodies being fixedly mounted relative to each other with the gap of the X-direction body being in an X-direction plane, the gap of the Y-direction body being in a Y-direction plane, and the gap of the Z-direction body being in a Z-direction plane, wherein the X-direction plane, Y-direction plane, and Z-direction planes are perpendicular to each other;
- means for applying to each of the bodies a DC potential difference between the head and the tip of the first leg to create a first voltage, and between the head and the tip of the second leg to create a second voltage;
- and
- measuring means for determining whether the first and second voltages of each of the bodies change relative to each other;
- wherein
- a voltage change of the X-direction body indicates a change in velocity of the body in the X-direction plane;
- a voltage change of the Y-direction body indicates a change in velocity of the body in the Y-direction plane;
- a voltage change of the Z-direction body indicates a change in velocity of the body in the Z-direction plane;
- and
- means for computing from the voltage changes the relative velocity of the apparatus, and for timing the voltage changes to determine the change in relative position of the apparatus.
7 more elements
A method for indicating a change in velocity, comprising:
- providing at least one body of electrically conductive material, having a head on one end and first and second legs on an opposite end, the head and first and second legs being in electrical continuity with each other, the first and second legs having tips which are spaced apart from each other;
- causing a direct current to flow through the body between the head and each of the tips to create a first electron flow path from the head to the tip of the first leg and a second electron flow path from the head to the tip of the second leg;
- measuring a magnitude of the first and second electron flow paths and determining whether a difference exists in the magnitudes of the first and second flow paths;
- moving the body in a direction so that one of the legs leads the other of the legs;
- and
- determining whether said difference changes while the body is moving, indicating a change in velocity.
3 more elements
A method for determining position, comprising:
- providing X-direction, Y-direction, and Z-direction metal bodies, each of the bodies having a head on one end and first and second legs on an opposite end, each of the legs of each of the bodies terminating in a tip which is spaced from the tip of the other leg of the same body by a gap;
- mounting the bodies relative to each other with the gap of the X-direction body being in an X-direction plane, the gap of the Y-direction body being in a Y-direction plane, and the gap of the Z-direction body being in a Z-direction plane, wherein the X-direction plane, Y-direction plane, and Z-direction planes are perpendicular to each other;
- applying to each of the bodies a DC potential difference between the head and the tip of the first leg to create a first voltage and between the head and the tip of the second leg to create a second voltage;
- and
- determining whether the first and second voltages of each of the bodies change relative to each other;
- wherein
- a voltage change of the X-direction body indicates a change in velocity of the body in the X-direction plane;
- a voltage change of the Y-direction body indicates a change in velocity of the body in the Y-direction plane;
- a voltage change of the Z-direction body indicates a change in velocity of the body in the Z-direction plane;
- and
- computing from the voltage changes the relative velocity of the apparatus, and for timing the voltage changes to determine the change in relative position of the bodies.
8 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.