Guided projectile with motion restricting piezoelectric actuator

An inertial measurement unit, comprising:

• a housing including an internal volume, the internal volume having a dimension along an axis;
• a sensing element disposed in the internal volume, the sensing element having a dimension along the axis that is less than the dimension of the internal volume;
• and
• at least one piezoelectric actuator disposed in the housing adjacent the sensing element, wherein, when the at least one piezoelectric actuator is activated, the at least one piezoelectric actuator prevents movement of the sensing element along the axis, and wherein, when the at least one piezoelectric actuator is not activated, the at least one piezoelectric actuator does not prevent movement of the sensing element along the axis, further comprising at least one fastener disposed between the housing and the sensing element, elastomeric material disposed between a head of the fastener and the sensing element at one end of the fastener, and elastomeric material disposed between the housing and the sensing element at another end of the fastener.

An inertial measurement unit, comprising:

• a housing including an internal volume, the internal volume having a dimension along an axis;
• a sensing element disposed in the internal volume, the sensing element having a dimension along the axis that is less than the dimension of the internal volume;
• and
• at least one piezoelectric actuator disposed in the housing adjacent the sensing element, wherein, when the at least one piezoelectric actuator is activated, the at least one piezoelectric actuator prevents movement of the sensing element along the axis, and wherein, when the at least one piezoelectric actuator is not activated, the at least one piezoelectric actuator does not prevent movement of the sensing element along the axis, wherein the sensing element is substantially cylindrical and the at least one piezoelectric actuator is tubular.

An inertial measurement unit, comprising:

• a housing including an internal volume, the internal volume having a dimension along an axis;
• a sensing element disposed in the internal volume, the sensing element having a dimension along the axis that is less than the dimension of the internal volume;
• and
• at least one piezoelectric actuator disposed in the housing adjacent the sensing element, wherein, when the at least one piezoelectric actuator is activated, the at least one piezoelectric actuator prevents movement of the sensing element along the axis, and wherein, when the at least one piezoelectric actuator is not activated, the at least one piezoelectric actuator does not prevent movement of the sensing element along the axis, further comprising at least one indentation formed in a wall of the sensing element, and a detent fixed to the at least one piezoelectric actuator and disposed in an internal wall of the housing adjacent the at least one indentation, wherein, when the at least one piezoelectric actuator is activated, the detent is moved into the at least one indentation to prevent movement of the sensing element along the axis, and wherein, when the at least one piezoelectric actuator is not activated, the detent is removed from the at least one indentation to allow movement of the sensing element along the axis.

An inertial measurement unit, comprising:

• a housing including an internal volume, the internal volume having a dimension along an axis;
• a sensing element disposed in the internal volume, the sensing element having a dimension along the axis that is less than the dimension of the internal volume;
• and
• at least one piezoelectric actuator disposed in the housing adjacent the sensing element, wherein, when the at least one piezoelectric actuator is activated, the at least one piezoelectric actuator prevents movement of the sensing element along the axis, and wherein, when the at least one piezoelectric actuator is not activated, the at least one piezoelectric actuator does not prevent movement of the sensing element along the axis, wherein the housing comprises polyetheretherketone.

An inertial measurement unit, comprising:

• a housing including an internal volume, the internal volume having a dimension along an axis;
• a sensing element disposed in the internal volume, the sensing element having a dimension along the axis that is less than the dimension of the internal volume;
• and
• at least one piezoelectric actuator disposed in the housing adjacent the sensing element, wherein, when the at least one piezoelectric actuator is activated, the at least one piezoelectric actuator prevents movement of the sensing element along the axis, and wherein, when the at least one piezoelectric actuator is not activated, the at least one piezoelectric actuator does not prevent movement of the sensing element along the axis, wherein the sensing element comprises polyetheretherketone.