High stability angular sensor

US10571267B1 · kind B1 · utility

Assignee

• HRL Laboratories, LLC · US

Inventors

• Logan D. Sorenson · Thousand Oaks, US
• Raviv Perahia · Los Angeles, US
• David T. Chang · Calabasas, US
• Randall L. Kubena · Agoura, US
• Deborah J. Kirby · Calabasas, US
• Hung Nguyen · Los Angeles, US
• Richard J. Joyce · Thousand Oaks, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Aug 31, 2016
• Grant date: Feb 25, 2020
• Expiry date: Dec 19, 2037

Classification

• Technology area (CPC H): Electricity
• CPC primary: H03L7/26
• WIPO field: Measurement
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

An angular rate sensor. The sensor includes a Coriolis vibratory gyroscope (CVG) resonator, configured to oscillate in a first normal mode and in a second normal mode; a frequency reference configured to generate a reference signal; and a first phase control circuit. The first phase control circuit is configured to: measure a first phase difference between: a first phase target, and the difference between: a phase of an oscillation of the first normal mode and a phase of the reference signal. The first phase control circuit is further configured to apply a first phase correction signal to the CVG resonator, to reduce the first phase difference. A second phase control circuit is similarly configured to apply a second phase correction signal to the CVG resonator, to reduce a corresponding, second phase difference.