Time domain switched ring/disc resonant gyroscope

• US 10,027,281 B2
• Filed: 12/04/2015
• Issued: 07/17/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 06/24/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: the united states of america as represented by the secretary of the navy
• Original Assignee: the united states of america as represented by the secretary of the navy
• Inventors: Swanson, Paul D., Wang, Andrew
• Primary Examiner(s): Assouad, Patrick
• Assistant Examiner(s): YODICHKAS, KHRISTOPHER J
• Application Number:
  US14/959,256
• Publication Number:
  US 20160126890A1
• Time in Patent Office: 956 Days
• Field of Search: 324 7611
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 19/5705 using masses driven in reciprocating rotary motion about an axis
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 15/097 by vibratory elements
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 15/125 by capacitive pick-up
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 15/135 by making use of contacts which are actuated by a movable inertial mass
• CPC Class Codes: H03B 5/30 with frequency-determining element being electromechanical resonator
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/955 using a capacitive detector

Abstract

A system includes a circular oscillator suspended by a flexible support structure to a support frame, a drive mechanism configured to induce the circular oscillator into a two-dimensional drive oscillation, where the drive oscillation is modified responsive to a sense oscillation of the circular oscillator caused by an angular rotation of the support frame and the circular oscillator, and a plurality of digital proximity switches disposed around a perimeter of the circular oscillator. During the modified drive oscillation a plurality of the digital proximity switches are configured to switch between an open state and a closed state and generate a time and position output to allow for a determination of each of a plurality of variable oscillation parameters for each oscillation of the modified drive oscillation.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a circular oscillator suspended by a flexible support structure to a support frame;

a drive mechanism configured to induce the circular oscillator into a two-dimensional drive oscillation, wherein the drive oscillation is modified responsive to a sense oscillation of the circular oscillator caused by an angular rotation of the support frame and the circular oscillator; and

a plurality of digital proximity switches, disposed around a perimeter of the circular oscillator, wherein during the modified drive oscillation a plurality of the digital proximity switches switch between an open state and a closed state and generate a time and position output; and

a processor configured to use a digital to time converter to convert the time and position output to time intervals between the triggering of the digital proximity switches, the processor further configured to use the time intervals between the triggering of the digital proximity switches to determine the angular rotation of the support frame and the circular oscillator by using harmonic oscillator equations to derive the ratio between the drive oscillation and the modified drive oscillation.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of digital proximity switches are disposed around an inside perimeter of the circular oscillator.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the support frame is located central to the circular oscillator, wherein the flexible support structure comprises a plurality of springs disposed around an inside perimeter of the circular oscillator between the circular oscillator and the support frame.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the circular oscillator is a ring.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the circular oscillator is a disk.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the drive mechanism comprises more than one comb drives disposed around an outside perimeter of the circular oscillator.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein each of the comb drives comprise a first set of fingers coupled to the circular oscillator and a second set of fingers coupled to an external support structure.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the digital proximity switches are capacitive-based proximity switches.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of digital proximity switches comprises more than six digital proximity switches evenly distributed around the perimeter of the circular oscillator.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein at least six of the more than six digital proximity switches are configured to switch between an open state and a closed state and generate a time and position output.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the time and position output of the at least six digital proximity switches allows for a determination of each of a plurality of variable oscillation parameters for each oscillation of the modified drive oscillation as defined by the equation

12. A system comprising:

a circular oscillator suspended by a flexible support structure to a support frame;

a drive mechanism configured to induce the circular oscillator into a two-dimensional drive oscillation, wherein the drive oscillation is modified responsive to a sense oscillation of the circular oscillator caused by an angular rotation of the support frame and the circular oscillator;

a plurality of digital proximity switches, disposed around a perimeter of the circular oscillator, wherein during the modified drive oscillation a plurality of the digital proximity switches switch between an open state and a closed state and generate a time and position output to allow for a determination of each of a plurality of variable oscillation parameters for each oscillation of the modified drive oscillation, wherein the plurality of digital proximity switches comprises more than six digital proximity switches evenly distributed around the perimeter of the circular oscillator; and

a processor configured to use a digital to time converter to convert the time and position output to time intervals between the triggering of the digital proximity switches, the processor further configured to use the time intervals between the triggering of the digital proximity switches to determine the angular rotation of the support frame and the circular oscillator by using harmonic oscillator equations to derive the ratio between the drive oscillation and the modified drive oscillation.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the support frame is located central to the circular oscillator, wherein the flexible support structure comprises a plurality of springs disposed around an inside perimeter of the circular oscillator between the circular oscillator and the support frame.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein the circular oscillator is a ring.

15. The system of claim 12, wherein the circular oscillator is a disk.

16. The system of claim 12, wherein the drive mechanism comprises more than one comb drives disposed around an outside perimeter of the circular oscillator.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein each of the comb drives comprise a first set of fingers coupled to the circular oscillator and a second set of fingers coupled to an external support structure.

18. The system of claim 12, wherein at least six of the more than six digital proximity switches are configured to switch between an open state and a closed state and generate a time and position output, wherein the time and position output of the at least six digital proximity switches allows for a determination of each of a plurality of variable oscillation parameters for each oscillation of the modified drive oscillation as defined by the equation

19. A system comprising:

a circular oscillator suspended by a flexible support structure to a support frame, wherein the circular oscillator is one of a ring and a disk;

a drive mechanism configured to induce the circular oscillator into a two-dimensional drive oscillation, wherein the drive oscillation is modified responsive to a sense oscillation of the circular oscillator caused by an angular rotation of the support frame and the circular oscillator;

a plurality of capacitive-based digital proximity switches, disposed around a perimeter of the circular oscillator, wherein during the modified drive oscillation a plurality of the digital proximity switches switch between an open state and a closed state and generate a time and position output to allow for a determination of each of a plurality of variable oscillation parameters for each oscillation of the modified drive oscillation, wherein the plurality of digital proximity switches comprises more than six digital proximity switches evenly distributed around the perimeter of the circular oscillator, wherein at least six of the digital proximity switches are configured to switch between an open state and a closed state and generate a time and position output; and

a processor configured to use a digital to time converter to convert the time and position output to time intervals between the triggering of the digital proximity switches, the processor further configured to use the time intervals between the triggering of the digital proximity switches to determine the angular rotation of the support frame and the circular oscillator by using harmonic oscillator equations to derive the ratio between the drive oscillation and the modified drive oscillation.