Integrated Resonant Accelerometer Using Optical Strain Sensor

Acceleration measurement is crucial across a variety of fields, including vehicle dynamics, aerospace, and personal electronics. Conventional accelerometers typically feature a mass-spring system that is susceptible to external interferences. Additionally, these accelerometers often struggle with frequent calibration to counteract drift and maintain accuracy over time. These issues are due to mechanical drift and environmental influences. Calibration for these traditional accelerometers requires frequent human intervention, which can be cumbersome and time-consuming and can lead to operational downtime.

Technology Description

This technology is an accelerometer that incorporates a proof mass, a tether, and a ring resonator designed to respond to strain by changing its resonant frequency conditions. It is mechanically structured such that a sustained strain from the sensing tether results in a change in the ring resonator's resonance condition. The device also features a wavelength locking loop system for adaptively maintaining an optimal center frequency of light energy at the resonant frequency of the sensing element. Where this technology differentiates itself is in its incorporation of a scale factor calibrator to stabilize the scale factor associated with the accelerometer. The accelerometer also includes a detection processor configured to receive detection signals and generate acceleration signals from them. These signals correspond to the amount of change of the resonant condition relative to a reference resonance condition, allowing for accurate, reliable measurements of acceleration.