Angled Accelerometer Mount for High G-Force Measurement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Low dynamic range accelerometers are costly when attempting to measure high acceleration values, as they require specialized components or high sample rates, making them impractical for cost-effective high-range acceleration measurements.
Innovation Solution
An accelerometer is mounted on a pre-calibrated mount at a specific angle relative to the horizontal axis, allowing it to measure higher acceleration ranges without modifying internal components, using trigonometric calculations to derive the force via Newton's Second Law of Motion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a low dynamic range accelerometer is used to reduce cost, then cost-effectiveness is improved, but the maximum measurable acceleration range is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The accelerometer is mounted at an angle θ relative to the horizontal axis, transitioning from a direct axial measurement to an angular projection measurement. This dimensional change allows the sensor to measure components of acceleration vectors, effectively extending the measurable range through trigonometric relationships where the measured value equals a√cos(θ), with a being the actual acceleration and θ the mounting angle.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the mounting angle parameter of the accelerometer to alter its measurement characteristics. By pre-calibrating the mount with a specific angle, the system transforms the relationship between the measured acceleration component and the actual acceleration, allowing low-range accelerometers to effectively measure higher accelerations through the cosine projection relationship.
2Measurement precision
If specialized devices are used to measure high acceleration values, then measurement capability is improved, but cost increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using expensive specialized force measurement devices, the system creates a functional equivalent by mounting a standard accelerometer at a calibrated angle. This copying approach uses readily available, low-cost accelerometers in a modified configuration to achieve the measurement capability of specialized devices, maintaining affordability while extending dynamic range.
3Measurement precision
If accelerometer internal components are modified to increase dynamic range, then measurement range is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The solution extracts the acceleration measurement function from the accelerometer's internal components and relocates the dynamic range extension capability to the mounting configuration. By taking the measurement task outside the sensor itself and implementing it through external angular mounting and trigonometric calculation, the system avoids modifying internal components while achieving extended dynamic range.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables cost-effective measurement of higher acceleration ranges using low dynamic range accelerometers, effectively extending their maximum measurable range while maintaining affordability.
Implementation Method 1
use Newton's Second Law of Motion, Force is equal to mass time acceleration, to calculate the force produced
Implementation Method 2
the acceleration measuring element to sit at a specific angle relative to the horizontal axis of the mount. This angle will allow the accelerometer to measure an acceleration higher than the maximum rated acceleration range
Data Source
AI summary
An acceleration measuring device to offset the limiting factors associated with the maximum acceleration an accelerometer can measure by attaching the device onto a mount system pre-calibrated to a specified angle relative to the horizontal axis of the object on which the system is mounted on.