Engineering topics

Van Zandt, Thomas R.

Publications and source records attributed to Van Zandt, Thomas R..

3 records

NASA NTRS1996

Array of micro-machined mass energy micro-filters for charged particles

An energy filter for charged particles includes a stack of micro-machined wafers including plural apertures passing through the stack of wafers, focusing electrodes bounding charged particle paths through the apertures, an entrance orifice to each of the plural apertures and an exit orifice from each of the plural apertures and apparatus for biasing the focusing electrodes with an electrostatic potential corresponding to an energy pass band of the filter.

Stalder, Roland E.↗

NASA NTRS1994

High-Performance Miniature Hygrometer

Relatively inexpensive hygrometer that occupies volume less than 4 in.(3) measures dewpoints as much as 100 degrees C below ambient temperatures, with accuracy of 0.1 degrees C. Field tests indicate accuracy and repeatability identical to those of state-of-the-art larger dewpoint hygrometers. Operates up to 100 times as fast as older hygrometers, and offers simplicity and small size needed to meet cost and performance requirements of many applications.

Van Zandt, Thomas R.↗

NASA NTRS1993

Methods and apparatus for improving sensor performance

Methods and apparatus for improving performance of a sensor having a sensor proof mass elastically suspended at an initial equilibrium position by a suspension force, provide a tunable force opposing that suspension force and preset the proof mass with that tunable force to a second equilibrium position less stable than the initial equilibrium position. The sensor is then operated from that preset second equilibrium position of the proof mass short of instability. The spring constant of the elastic suspension may be continually monitored, and such continually monitored spring constant may be continually adjusted to maintain the sensor at a substantially constant sensitivity during its operation.

Kaiser, William J.↗