A method for simultaneously determining respective scale factors and
alignment angles of a multi-axis accelerometer device for measuring
acceleration. To measure the scale factors, the multi-axis accelerometer
device to be calibrated is mounted on a turntable. The turntable has a
tilt angle with respect to a vertical axis defined by the local gravity
vector. The turntable is used to spin the multi-axis accelerometer device
around an axis of rotation at an angular velocity such that the multiple
sensitive axes of the accelerometer device experience a time varying
component of the local gravity vector. The respective outputs of the
multiple sensitive axes of the accelerometer device are recorded as the
device experiences the time varying component of the local gravity vector.
The multi-axis accelerometer device is mounted on the turntable in two
more orthogonal orientations, and the rotation and data recording
procedure is repeated. The angular velocity can be constant during the
logging. Additionally, the predicted output of an ideal accelerometer on
the turntable is generated, wherein the predicted output is based on the
tilt angle of the turntable and the angular velocity of the turntable and
on the value of gravitational acceleration at the location of calibration.
The data recorded with the accelerometer device mounted in the three
orientations are combined with the predicted output, to obtain the scale
factors and alignment angles of the multi-axis accelerometer device.
