Semiconductor chip gyroscopic transducer
US5016072A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 14, 1990 |
| Grant date | May 14, 1991 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 14, 2010 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01C19/5719
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A semiconductor chip gyroscopic transducer is disclosed in which a semiconductor element is supported in an outer element by a flexible linkage system which is in turn supported in a frame of semiconductor material by another flexible linkage system which permits the element to vibrate about two axes relative to the frame. Balanced torque forces are provided by a system of buried and bridge electrodes. The stress and tension resulting from doping of these elements are released by a flexure beam. The inertial mass of the inner element is balanced by formation in a central pin and on-chip electronics avoids the capacitive loading effects of long runs from high impedance sources. Flexure footings are intergrated with the structure adding stability to flexures connecting the supported gyroscopic resonator element to the supporting structure, offsetting a rippling effect inherent in the oxide structure. Flexure grooves provide selective stiffness in the flexure. The bridge electrodes are additionally electrically isolated for electrical compatibility with gyroscope electronics.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.