Multi-axis, single mass accelerometer

1. A multi-axis acceleration sensor comprising:

a frame;

a central mass disposed within the frame; and

a plurality of transducers mechanically coupled between the frame and the central mass;

wherein at least a first set of the transducers are arranged between the frame and the central mass in a manner configured to measure translational and rotational motion with respect to a first axis.

2. The multi-axis acceleration sensor of claim 1 , wherein the frame is a three

dimensional frame.

3. The multi-axis acceleration sensor of claim 1 , wherein the first set of transducers is configured to measure rotation around the first axis.

4. The multi-axis acceleration sensor of claim 3 , further comprising one or both of the following:

a second set of transducers arranged between the frame and the central mass in a manner configured to measure rotation around a second axis; and

a third set of transducers arranged between the frame and the central mass in a manner configured to measure rotation around a third axis.

5. The multi-axis acceleration sensor of claim 1 , further comprising:

at least a first of the transducers configured to measure translation in a first direction parallel to or along the first axis;

at least a second of the transducers configured to measure translation in a second direction parallel to or along a second axis; and

at least a third of the transducers configured to measure translation in a third direction parallel to or along a third axis.

6. A multi-axis acceleration sensor comprising:

a frame;

a central mass supported within the frame; and

a plurality of transducers coupled between the frame and the central mass;

wherein the frame is more rigid or stiffer along a principal axis for sensing translational response of the transducers; and

wherein the frame is softer or less stiff along a non-sensing cross axis transverse to the principal axis.

7. The multi-axis acceleration sensor of claim 6 , wherein the frame is

configured to increase or maximize sensitivity of transducers along the principal axis and to reduce or minimize cross axis influences, wherein off-axis response of transducers along the cross axis is substantially smaller than on-axis response of the transducers along the principal axis.

8. The multi-axis acceleration sensor of claim 6 , wherein the multi-axis acceleration sensor is adapted to generate relatively higher mechanical shear stress on the transducers disposed along the principal axis and relatively lower mechanical shear stress on the transducers disposed along the cross axis, wherein the transducers produce relatively more voltage when stressed along a direction of the principal axis than along a direction of the cross axis.

9. The multi-axis acceleration sensor of claim 6 , wherein the frame has a non-uniform cross section defining a relatively higher stiffness along a primary sensing direction of the transducers along the principal axis and a relatively lower stiffness along the cross axis perpendicular to the primary sensing direction.

10. The multi-axis acceleration sensor of claim 9 , further comprising one or

more rods coupled to each of a plurality of respective side frame members and disposed across an aperture formed therein, the rods configured to couple the transducers to corresponding side frame members along the primary sensing direction and to reduce load transfer perpendicular to the primary sensing direction.

11. The multi-axis acceleration sensor of claim 6 , further comprising a conductive outer surface on the central mass, wherein each of the transducers is electrically coupled to the conductive outer surface to define a common terminal potential.

12. The multi-axis acceleration sensor of claim 6 ,

wherein the transducers are arranged in one or more pairs coupled to opposing sides of the central mass, the opposing sides defined along respective orthogonal axes through the central mass; and

further comprising sensor electronics configured to combine signals from the transducers in each pair and generate output representative of translational and rotational movement from the combined signals.

13. The multi-axis acceleration sensor of claim 12 , wherein a first combination of the signals is responsive to acceleration in a sensing direction perpendicular to each respective axis along which each pair of the transducers is coupled to the central mass, and a second combination of the signals is responsive to rotation about each respective axis.

14. The multi-axis acceleration sensor of claim 12 , wherein:

each pair of the transducers has a crystal orientation defining a shear sensitivity along a respective sensing direction; and

the shear sensitivities of different pairs of the transducers are oriented in mutually perpendicular directions.

15. A multi-axis accelerometer comprising:

a housing defining a three-dimensional enclosure;

a single mass body suspended within the enclosure defined by the housing; and

a plurality of force sensors physically attached to the single mass body at a plurality of locations and further physically attached to the housing, thereby suspending the single mass body within the enclosure.

16. The accelerometer of claim 15 , wherein the single mass body is at least one of the following: centered within the enclosure, spherical, hollow, and electrically conductive.

17. The accelerometer of claim 15 , wherein:

the housing is a monocoque structure:

the housing defines a plurality of apertures within the monocogue structure with each aperture positioned adjacent to a respective one of the force sensors: and

the accelerometer further comprises a plurality of rods fixed to the housing, wherein:

one or more of the rods are disposed across each respective aperture formed within the monocogue structure; and

the one or more rods coupled the respective transducer to the housing along a primary sensing direction and reduce load transfer between the single mass body and the housing perpendicular to the primary sensing direction.

18. The accelerometer of claim 15 , wherein:

the housing is formed by a plurality of frames connected together about the single mass body; and

one or more rods are coupled to each frame and disposed across an aperture formed therein,

wherein the one or more rods are further configured to couple one of the plurality of force sensors to a corresponding frame along a primary sensing direction and to reduce load transfer perpendicular to the primary sensing direction.

19. The accelerometer of claim 18 , wherein the frames forming the housing are electrically isolated from each other, mechanically isolated from each other, or both.

20. The accelerometer of claim 15 , wherein:

the force sensors are each made of a single shear crystal:

the force sensors are arranged in opposing pairs;

each pair of the force sensors has a crystal orientation of the single shear crystals defining a shear sensitivity along a sensing direction; and

the shear sensitivities of different pairs of the force sensors are oriented in mutually perpendicular directions.