System and method for accelerating a device
View Patent ↗An acceleration device includes an actuator configured to displace a mass in a reciprocating motion at a desired frequency, a mount configured to hold a device, such as an accelerometer device, and at least one spring connecting the mount to the mass. The actuator is used to apply a force to achieve resonance. The actuator may comprise a voice coil motor, wherein the voice coil motor includes a permanent magnet and an armature and wherein said armature comprises part of said mass. The actuator applies a periodic force to the mass. The periodic force may be a sinusoidal force. Preferably, the applied force is aligned with a resulting velocity of the mass. The mount may include a test socket to which the device is electrically connected. The spring may comprises one or more flexure elements. The acceleration device may be used with a handler device to connect and disconnect the device to and from the mount. Optionally, the handler device includes an environmental chamber surrounding the mount.
1. An acceleration system comprising:
an actuator configured to displace a mass in a reciprocating motion at a resonant frequency, wherein the actuator is configured to apply a force to the mass;
a mount configured to hold a device;
at least one flexure element connecting the mount to said mass; and
a phase shift module that controls the actuator such that, during excitation of the system, the force is applied only in a direction that is substantially the same as a direction of a velocity of the mass.
2. The acceleration system of claim 1 , wherein the actuator comprises a voice coil motor.
3. The acceleration system of claim 2 , wherein the voice coil motor includes a permanent magnet and an armature, and wherein said armature comprises part of said mass.
4. The acceleration system of claim 2 , wherein the voice coil motor includes a permanent magnet and an armature, and wherein the permanent magnet is part of the mass.
5. The acceleration system of claim 1 , wherein the mount includes a test socket to which the device is electrically connected.
6. The acceleration system of claim 5 , wherein the device is an accelerometer device.
7. The acceleration system of claim 1 , further comprising at least one additional flexure element connecting the mass to a fixed surface.
8. The acceleration system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one flexure element comprises a pair of flexure elements.
9. The acceleration system of claim 1 , further comprising a handler configured to connect and disconnect the device to and from the mount.
10. The acceleration system of claim 9 , further comprising a chamber surrounding the mount, wherein the conditions within the chamber are controlled, the conditions including at least one of temperature and humidity.
11. The acceleration device of claim 1 , wherein the actuator is configured to apply a sinusoidal force to said mass.
12. The acceleration system of claim 1 , wherein the acceleration system has at least two resonant frequencies.
13. The acceleration system of claim 1 , wherein the phase shift module controls the actuator such that, during braking of the system, the force is applied only in a direction that is substantially opposite to a direction of the velocity of the mass.
14. A method of accelerating a device comprising:
providing an acceleration system comprising a mount, a mass, at least one flexure element, and an actuator;
placing the device on the mount, said mount being coupled to said mass via the at least one flexure element; and
applying a force to the mass with the actuator to displace the mass in a reciprocating motion at a desired resonant frequency,
wherein during excitation of the system, the force is applied only in a direction that is substantially the same as a direction of a velocity of the mass.
15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the actuator comprises a voice coil motor.
16. The method of claim 15 wherein the voice coil motor includes a permanent magnet and an armature and wherein said armature comprises part of said mass.
17. The method of claim 15 , wherein the voice coil motor includes a permanent magnet and an armature, and wherein the permanent magnet is part of the mass.
18. The method of claim 14 , wherein the mount includes a test socket, and placing the device includes electrically connecting the device to the test socket.
19. The method of claim 18 , wherein the device is an accelerometer device.
20. The method of claim 14 , wherein said mass is further coupled to a fixed surface via at least one additional flexure element.
21. The method of claim 14 , wherein said at least one flexure element comprises a pair of flexure elements.
22. The method of claim 14 , wherein said placing includes inserting the device into a test socket affixed to the mount with a handler device.
23. The method of claim 14 , wherein said placing includes placing the device within a chamber surrounding the mount, and further comprising controlling the environmental conditions within the chamber, the conditions including at least one of temperature and humidity.
24. The method of claim 14 , wherein said force applied to the mass is a sinusoidal force.
25. The method of claim 14 , wherein the acceleration system has at least two resonant frequencies.
26. The method of claim 14 , wherein, during braking of the system, the force is applied only in a direction that is substantially opposite to a direction of the velocity of the mass.