HARDENED ELECTRONICS FOR ELECTROMAGNETICALLY LAUNCHED PROJECTILES

THE ELECTRONICS DESIGN PROBLEM ASSOCIATED WITH ULTRA-HIGH G PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENTS IS BEING ADDRESSED, USING AS A BASIS THE DEVELOPMENT OF CRYTALS FOR USE IN CRYSTAL OSCILLATORS SUITABLE FOR ELECTROMAGNETICALLY LAUNCHED (RAIL GUN) PROJECTILE APPLICATIONS. THE STUDY IS FOCUSING ON THE STRUCTURAL DESIGN PROBLEM OF RESONANT CRYSTALS SO AS TO PRECEDE THE ELECTRONICS DESIGN PHASE. THIS TASK IS EXAMINING VARIOUS CRYSTAL COMPONENTS, THEIR SIZE, SHAPE, RESONANT MODES, MATERIALS, OLD AND NEW MOUNTING PROCEDURES, AND MECHANICAL TUNING CAPABILITIES OF MOUNT CONFIGURATIONS, IN AN ATTEMPT TO DEVELOP DESIGNS AND APPROACHES COMPATIBLE WITH THE ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND TO ONE MILLIONG RAIL GUN ENVIRONMENT. THESE FINDINGS MAY BE ABLE TO BE EXTENDED TO OTHER ELECTRONIC COMPONENTS. THE APPLICATION FOR AN ULTRA-HARD CRYSTAL IS IN PORTABLE ELECTRONIC DEVICES THAT ARE SUBJECT TO ROUGH USAGE (E.G., INTENSE SHOCK). WRIST WATCHES, WALKIE-TALKIE, AND SMALL RADIOS ARE EXAMPLES. THESE DEVICES, AND OTHERS LIKE THEM, CURRENTLY MAKE USE OF THE HARDEST CRYSTALS AVAILABLE, THAT OFTEN ARE FURTHER PROTECTED BY MECHANICAL SHOCK AND VIBRATION ISOLATION SCHEMES REQUIRING RELATIVELY LARGE VOLUME (SWAY SPACE). AN ULTRA-HARD CRYSTAL WOULD ELIMINATE THE NEED FOR THE ISOLATORS AND THE ADDITIONAL VOLUME.