Ultrasonic two-axis rotation detector

Abstract

A two-axis rotation monitor is described which determines the relative displacement between a pair of ultrasonic detectors using the phase difference of a continuous ultrasound wave generated by a single, distant source. The monitor has been used to measure head rotations around the vertical and horizontal axes, but can easily be adopted to other body segment rotations or translations. The device produces high sensitivity recordings of wide spatial and dynamic range. Although the device is quite linear with good isolation between channels, a computer-based linearization/calibration routine is described which further increases linearity and reduces crosstalk. The device is unobtrusive, inexpensive, and has proven reliable and easy to use.