MAGNETIC FLUID ACCELEROMETER WITH PARTIAL FILLING OF MAGNETIC FLUID INTO GAP

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a method for reducing hydraulic resistance in a magnetic fluid accelerometer. SOLUTION: In an aspect, a sensor having a housing, a magnetic fluid in the housing for imcompletely filling the housing, and an inertial body for contacting the magnetic fluid is provided. In the sensor, displacement of the inertial body to the magnetic fluid is an index of the acceleration of the housing. In an aspect, the sensor having the inertial body and a plurality of droplets of the magnetic fluid for retaining the inertial body in a state of suspension, and a plurality of magnetic poles for maintaining the droplets of the magnetic fluid at right places is provided, and the displacement of the inertial body with respect to the magnetic fluid is the index of the acceleration of the sensor. COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI