An Optically Based Low Compliance, High Resolution Force Transducer

OPTRA proposes to develop a high resolution, high stiffness, optically based force transducer. The use of an optical transducer allows the sensor to operate with both metallic and non-metallic targets. The sensor would offer a resolution on the order of 1 nm, with dynamic range of several microns, at bandwidth better than 20 kHz. This makes the sensor suitable for use in a high stiffness ( > 200 MN/m) force transducer; high stiffness allows operation at high bandwidth. By configuring two sensors with a force transducer, temperature effects are virtually eliminated. OPTRA anticipates sensitivity of better than 1 milligram over a measurement span greater than 5 grams and a mechanical resonance above 1.5 kHz. OPTRA will demonstrate the performance of the force transducer as a high stiffness load cell at NAWC.