Gravity gradiometer
AssigneeTechnological Resources Pty. Limited
InventorFrank Joachim Van Kann
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present invention provides a method of tuning properties of a gravity gradiometer for measuring components of the gravity gradient tensor. The gravity gradiometer comprises a pair of first and second transversely arranged sensor masses that are arranged for movement about an axis and relative to each other in response to a gravity gradient. The gravity gradiometer further comprises first and second capacitors for sensing and influencing the movement of the first and second sensor masses. The method comprising applying a bias voltage to at least one of the capacitors for generating an electrostatic force which acts on one of the sensor masses and thereby influences the movement of that sensor mass.
Claims15
A method of tuning properties of a gravity gradiometer for measuring components of the gravity gradient tensor, the gravity gradiometer comprising a pair of first and second transversely arranged sensor masses that are arranged for movement about an axis and relative to each other in response to a gravity gradient, the gravity gradiometer further comprising first and second capacitors for sensing and influencing the movement of the first and second sensor masses, the method comprising:
- applying a bias voltage to at least one of the capacitors for generating an electrostatic force which acts on one of the sensor masses and thereby influences the movement of that sensor mass,
- wherein the step of applying the bias voltage comprises tuning the bias voltage and the tuning is conducted so that the resonance frequency of the first and second sensor masses are substantially identical.
A method of tuning properties of a gravity gradiometer for measuring components of the gravity gradient tensor, the gravity gradiometer comprising a pair of first and second transversely arranged sensor masses that are ranged for movement about an axis and relative to each other in response to a gravity gradient, the gravity gradiometer further comprising first and second capacitors for sensing and influencing the movement of the first and second sensor masses, the method comprising:
- applying a bias voltage to at least one of the capacitors for generating an electrostatic force which acts on one of the sensor masses and thereby influences the movement of that sensor mass,
- wherein the step of applying the bias voltage comprises tuning the bias voltage and the tuning is conducted so that the sensitivities of the capacitors for sensing the movement of the sensor masses are substantially identical.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.