Anisotropic magneto-resistive sensor flap-measuring systems
A rotor-hub-flap anisotropic-sensor system includes a rotor hub, a plurality of anisotropic-sensor arrangements interoperably coupled to the rotor hub and operable to measure flapping of the rotor hub, a plurality of rotor blades connected to the rotor hub, and at least one flight control computer interoperably coupled to the plurality of anisotropic-sensor arrangements.
1. A rotor-hub-flap anisotropic-sensor system comprising:
a rotor hub;
a plurality of anisotropic-sensor arrangements interoperably coupled to the rotor hub and operable to measure flapping of the rotor hub;
a plurality of rotor blades connected to the rotor hub; and
at least one flight control computer interoperably coupled to the plurality of anisotropic-sensor arrangements;
wherein at least one of the plurality of anisotropic-sensor arrangements comprises:
a first magnet having a first side and a second side;
a first anisotropic sensor arranged on the second side of the first magnet;
a second magnet arranged on a side of the first anisotropic sensor opposite the first magnet; and
a second anisotropic sensor arranged on a side of the second magnet opposite the first anisotropic sensor.
2. The rotor-hub-flap anisotropic-sensor system of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the at least one flight control computer is a single-channel flight control computer.
3. The rotor-hub-flap anisotropic-sensor system of claim 1 , wherein
the at least one flight control computer comprises two channels for each of the plurality of anisotropic-sensor arrangements, each of the two channels being inter-operably coupled to one of the pair of anisotropic sensors.
4. The rotor-hub-flap anisotropic-sensor system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of anisotropic-sensor arrangements and the plurality of rotor blades are different in number.
5. The rotor-hub-flap anisotropic-sensor system of claim 4 , wherein:
the plurality of anisotropic-sensor arrangements and the plurality of rotor blades are different in number; and
the number of anisotropic-sensor arrangements is fewer than the number of rotor blades.
6. The rotor-hub-flap anisotropic-sensor system of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the plurality of anisotropic-sensor arrangements is not azimuthally aligned with any of the plurality of rotor blades.
7. The rotor-hub-flap anisotropic-sensor system of claim 1 , comprising:
wherein the plurality of anisotropic-sensor arrangements comprise:
a first anisotropic-sensor arrangement azimuthally aligned with one of the plurality of rotor blades; and
a second anisotropic-sensor arrangement not azimuthally aligned with any of the plurality of rotor blades; and
the at least one flight control computer comprises two channels, one of the two channels being inter-operably coupled to the first anisotropic-sensor arrangement and one of the two channels being inter-operably coupled to the second anisotropic-sensor arrangement.
8. A rotor-hub-flap anisotropic-sensor arrangement comprising:
a plurality of anisotropic sensors coupled to a flight control computer and a rotor hub; and
at least one magnet associated with the plurality of anisotropic sensors;
wherein:
the at least one magnet is a single magnet;
the plurality of anisotropic sensors comprises a first anisotropic sensor and a second anisotropic sensor;
the first anisotropic sensor is arranged on a first side of the single magnet;
the second anisotropic sensor is arranged on the first side of the single magnet at a distance farther from the single magnet than the first anisotropic sensor; and
the first anisotropic sensor and the second anisotropic sensor are mounted on opposite sides of an intermediate circuit board.
9. A rotor-hub-flap anisotropic-sensor system comprising:
a plurality of anisotropic-sensor arrangements interoperably coupled to a rotor hub and operable to measure flapping of the rotor hub, each of the plurality of anisotropic-sensor arrangements comprising:
a magnet;
a first anisotropic sensor interoperably coupled to the magnet; and
a second anisotropic sensor interoperably coupled to the magnet; and
at least one flight control computer interoperably coupled to the plurality of anisotropic-sensor arrangements;
wherein:
the magnet is a first magnet having a first side and a second side;
the first anisotropic sensor is arranged on the second side of the first magnet;
each of the plurality of anisotropic-sensor arrangements comprises a second magnet arranged on a side of the first anisotropic sensor opposite the first magnet; and
the second anisotropic sensor is arranged on a side of the second magnet opposite the first anisotropic sensor.
10. The rotor-hub-flap anisotropic-sensor system of claim 9 , wherein:
the first anisotropic sensor is arranged on the first side of the magnet;
the second anisotropic sensor is arranged on the second side of the magnet; and
wherein the first side and the second side are on opposite sides of the magnet.
11. The rotor-hub-flap anisotropic-sensor system of claim 9 , wherein:
the first anisotropic sensor is arranged on the first side of the magnet; and
the second anisotropic sensor is arranged on the first side of the magnet at a distance farther from the magnet than the first anisotropic sensor.
12. The rotor-hub-flap anisotropic-sensor system of claim 9 , wherein each of the plurality of anisotropic-sensor arrangements is azimuthally aligned with one of a plurality of rotor blades connected to the rotor hub.