Dynamically restrained inertial reference instrument and reliability sensor

摘要

An instrument for detecting and making use of a charged particle located in a vacuum and contained by a cubic array of electrically chargeable electrodes is programmed to have the charged particle constantly in motion. A sensing means for each of three sets of plates becomes operative when the particle reaches a preset distance from the center of the array to trigger a pulse adapted to reverse the direction of movement of the particle. The instrument is one capable of detecting and measuring acceleration along three coordinate axes and rotational translations relative to inertial space and/or a gravity reference. It is also one for static and in-motion gravity and gravity gradient measurement. There is additionally a built-in detector of comparable accuracy capable of using the same particle to detect malfunction of the instrument.