Cloverleaf microgyroscope with electrostatic alignment and tuning
US7159441B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | May 11, 2004 |
| Grant date | Jan 9, 2007 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 31, 2024 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01P2015/0842
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A micro-gyroscope (10) having closed loop output operation by a control voltage (Vty), that is demodulated by a drive axis (x-axis) signal Vthx of the sense electrodes (S1, S2), providing Coriolis torque rebalance to prevent displacement of the micro-gyroscope (10) on the output axis (y-axis) Vthy˜0. Closed loop drive axis torque, Vtx maintains a constant drive axis amplitude signal, Vthx. The present invention provides independent alignment and tuning of the micro-gyroscope by using separate electrodes and electrostatic bias voltages to adjust alignment and tuning. A quadrature amplitude signal, or cross-axis transfer function peak amplitude is used to detect misalignment that is corrected to zero by an electrostatic bias voltage adjustment. The cross-axis transfer function is either Vthy/Vty or Vtnx/Vtx. A quadrature signal noise level, or difference in natural frequencies estimated from measurements of the transfer functions is used to detect residual mistuning, that is corrected to zero by a second electrostatic bias voltage adjustment.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.