SBIR-STTR Award

We propose to develop cost-effective velocity vector sensor technology by reducing costs to the accelerometers within the device. By optimizing both crystal and hardware, single crystal materials costs can be reduced. TRS will also evaluate assembly of sub-structures to reduce labor through automation (i.e. pick-and-place or other bulk processing). Through modeling and prototype assembly, and development of a cost model, key factors in accelerometer costs will be determined and possible solutions to reducing these will be provided at the end of the program. The prototype built will be compared with legacy devices to insure performance meets requirements.

Benefit:
Single crystal piezoelectrics enable low-noise, highly-sensitive and very small velocity vector sensors needed by the U.S. Navy. By identifying the main cost factors in production and establishing processes to reduce cost while maintaining performance, insertion into the fleet (such as thin-line towed array) can occur much more quickly. As costs come down, additional commercial applications will help to reduce costs as production volumes increase. Commercial applications include accelerometers for aerospace and industrial vibration sensing.

Keywords:
cost effective, cost effective, PMN-PT, vector sensor, piezoelectric single crystal growth technology, Accelerometer, shear

Towed array vector sensors are important for US submarine capability in terms of reducing the left right ambiguity. Current towed array vector sensors use particle velocity sensors or accelerometers combined with hydrophones to achieve this performance. Lead magnesium niobate-lead titanate (PMN-PT) single crystals are used for their high sensitivity. TRS Technologies is a leading manufacturer of PMN-PT piezoelectric single crystals. In the Phase I Base program, TRS Technologies demonstrated various manufacturing methodologies to achieve cost effective fabrication of single crystals for vector velocity sensors that are applicable to other similar naval devices. In Phase II, TRS will develop single crystal based sensor modules, substructures or finished components for the vector sensor device. TRS has currently extensive knowledge for fabrication and assembly of single crystal actuators and transducer devices and combined with the automation expertise that will be added through this program, we will significantly reduce the cost of vector sensors to the US Navy.

Benefit:
Primary targeted application for this program is the manufacturing of vector velocity sensors for the towed array systems and the vector sensors and arrays for deep ocean systems. Non-DoD Applications Commercial single crystal devices such as actuators, bimorphs and unimorphs for hearing aid application, single crystal pyroelectric detectors

Keywords:
pick and place automation, precision placement machines, PMN-PT single crystal, d32 mode crystals, Vector Velocity Sensors, Design for Manufacturing and Assembly