Patent · US Expired

Micromechanical tuning fork angular rate sensor

US5635639A · kind A · utility

66Cited by
108References
39Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJun 7, 1995
Grant dateJun 3, 1997
Priority date
Expiry dateJun 7, 2015

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG01C19/5719
  • WIPO fieldMeasurement
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A micromechanical tuning fork gyroscope includes a suspended structure comprising at least first and second vibratable structures. Each vibratable structure is energizable to vibrate laterally, within a first plane, along an axis normal to the rotation sensitive axis. The lateral or inplane vibration of the first and second vibratable structures effects simultaneous vertical or rotational movement of at least a portion of the suspended structure upon the occurrence of angular rotation of the gyroscope about the rotation sensitive axis. Vertical or rotational movement of the suspended structure is sensed, and a voltage proportional to the movement is generated, for providing an indication of angular rate of rotation detected by the gyroscope.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.