| US 7,562,461 B2 | ||
| Gravity gradiometer | ||
| Frank Joachim Van Kann, Nedlands (Australia) | ||
| Assigned to Technological Resources Pty. Ltd., Melbourne, Victoria (US) | ||
| Filed on Sep. 07, 2007, as Appl. No. 11/851,662. | ||
| Claims priority of application No. 2006906478 (AU), filed on Nov. 20, 2006; and application No. 2007901379 (AU), filed on Mar. 15, 2007. | ||
| Prior Publication US 2008/0115375 A1, May 22, 2008 | ||
| Int. Cl. G01C 9/14 (2006.01); G01V 7/16 (2006.01) | ||
| U.S. Cl. 33—366.25 [73/382 R] | 9 Claims |
| 1. A gravity gradiometer for measuring components of the gravity gradient tensor, the gravity gradiometer comprising:
at least one sensor mass for movement in response to a gravity gradient;
a pivotal coupling enabling the movement of the at least one sensor mass about an axis; and
a plurality of capacitors, each capacitor having first and second capacitor elements positioned opposite each other so that
a gap is defined between respective first and second capacitor elements, the capacitors being arranged so that movement of
the at least one sensor mass results in a change in the gap between respective first and second capacitor elements, at least
one first capacitor element having at least two separate capacitor portions arranged so that separate voltages can be applied
to the at least two separate capacitor portions.
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