Design for a Digitally-Rebalanced, Closed-Loop Velocity Meter Providing a Discrete Output

A design is proposed for a simple, inexpensive, accurate accelerometer (velocity meter) providing a discrete output signal for data-processing applications. The basic design is a digitally-rebalanced accelerometer mechanism operating in a closed-loop configuration and internally incorporating a simple digital transducer. The resulting design yields an instrument whose resolution is independent of accelerometer parameters. The fundamental details are described and the mathematical model of the instrument is analyzed by piecewise-linear, time domain techniques. The results of an analog simulation are also presented, verifying the analysis. In addition, an example design for the digital transducer and a design for the digital computer input section to process the accelerometer output are proposed in the accompanying appendices.