Vibration detection and reduction system and vibration sensors for use in micro-gravity environment

A vibration sensor for measuring vibrations under a micro-gravity environment, comprising:

• a reflector disposed as floating in a micro-gravity space and consisting of a polyhedron having an arbitrary number of surfaces reflecting predetermined energy having various frequencies according to known characteristics;
• output means fixed to a vibration body for irradiating said reflector with said predetermined energy;
• and
• receiving means fixed to said vibration body for receiving reflection energy reflected from said reflector and measuring the natures of vibrations of said vibrating body on the basis of variations of said reflection energy
• wherein there is provided active vibration suppressing means for holding said reflector and refractor stationary in a micro-gravity space.

A vibration sensor for detecting vibrations under a micro-gravity environment, comprising:

• a transparent refractor disposed as floating in a micro-gravity space and having know characteristics;
• an irradiator disposed on one side of said transparent refractor and fixed to a structure whose vibrations are to e detected for irradiating with light rays;
• and
• a light receiver disposed on the other side of said transparent refractor as opposed to said irradiator and fixed to said structure for receiving the light rays radiated by the irradiator via the transparent refractor
• wherein there is provided active vibration suppressing means for holding said reflector and refractor stationary in a micro-gravity space.

A vibration factor analyzing system for use in a micro-gravity environment, comprising:

• a plurality of vibration sensors disposed on a vibrating body held under a micro-gravity environment;
• analyzing means for collecting vibration data and vibration spectra;
• a neural network extracting section for specifying a vibration source on the basis of the vibration spectra analyzed by said analyzing means;
• actuators disposed on said vibration body;
• and
• a fuzzy control section responsive to vibration energy detected by said vibration sensor and said vibration source specified by said neural network section for controllably driving some of said actuators so as to reduce harmful vibrations and/or eliminating the factors of vibrations;
• and
• wherein vibration sensor comprises:
• a reflector disposed as floating in a micro-gravity space and consisting of a polyhedron having an arbitrary number of surfaces reflecting predetermined energy such as laser beams, light electromagnetic waves, sound waves and the like having various frequencies according to known characteristics;
• output means fixed to a vibration body for irradiating said reflector with said predetermined energy;
• and
• receiving means fixed to said vibration body for receiving reflection energy reflected from said reflector and measuring the natures of vibrations of said vibrating body on the basis of variations of said reflection energy.

A vibration factor analyzing system for use in a micro-gravity environment, comprising:

• a plurality of vibration sensors disposed on a vibrating body held under a micro-gravity environment;
• analyzing means for collecting vibration data and vibration spectra;
• a neural network extracting section for specifying a vibration source on the basis of the vibration spectra analyzed by said analyzing means;
• actuators disposed on said vibration body;
• and
• a fuzzy control section responsive to vibration energy detected by said vibration sensor and said vibration source specified by said neural network section for controllably driving some of said actuators so as to reduce harmful vibrations and/or eliminating the factors of vibrations;
• and
• wherein vibration sensor comprises:
• a transparent refractor disposed as floating in a micro-gravity space and having know characteristics;
• an irradiator disposed on one side of said transparent refractor and fixed to a structure whose vibrations are to e detected for irradiating with light rays;
• and
• a light receiver disposed on the other side of said transparent refractor as opposed to said irradiator and fixed to said structure for receiving the light rays radiated by the irradiator via the transparent refractor.