Spectral method for calibrating accelerometers

Abstract

A method for determining a scale factor of an accelerometer. The scale factor is used to precisely convert the electrical output of the accelerometer into units of acceleration. The accelerometer to be calibrated is mounted on a turntable mechanism. The turntable is configured so that the axis of rotation of the turntable is tilted with respect to the local gravity vector. The turntable is then spun around the axis of rotation at an angular velocity, such that the accelerometer experiences a time varying component of the local gravity vector. The output of the accelerometer is logged as the accelerometer experiences the time varying component of the local gravity vector. The logged output of the accelerometer is compared to a predicted output of the accelerometer, wherein the predicted output is based on the tilt angle of the turntable and the angular velocity of the turntable and on the value of gravitational acceleration at the location of calibration.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.