摘要 |
Prior steady-state accelerometers are subject to errors caused by differential thermal expansion between the force transducers and other accelerometer components. This problem is overcome by the present accelerometer that comprises a housing (32), a proof mass (30), a support (34,36) for mounting the proof mass with respect to the housing, and first and second force sensing elements (38,40). The force sensing elements have DC frequency responses, and are connected between the proof mass and the housing such that differential thermal expansion or contraction between the force sensing elements and the proof mass, support and housing results in rotation of the proof mass about a compensation axis (CA) normal to the sensitive axis (SA). The force sensing elements may extend from their respective points of connection to the proof mass in opposite directions parallel to the sensitive axis to their respective points of connection to the housing, and the force sensing elements may be connected to the proof mass at spaced-apart positions on opposite sides of the compensation axis.
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