Inertial sensing systems and methods of manufacturing the same

• US 10,502,568 B2
• Filed: 11/04/2015
• Issued: 12/10/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 04/29/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: General Electric Company
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Zotov, Sergey Alexandrovich, Keimel, Christopher Fred, Miller, Todd Frederick, Lin, Yizhen
• Primary Examiner(s): Dunlap, Jonathan M
• Assistant Examiner(s): Campbell, Irving A
• Application Number:
  US14/931,939
• Publication Number:
  US 20170067742A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,497 Days
• Field of Search: 73 137, 73 138, 73 177, 731465, 73493, 73497, 7350402, 7350403, 7350404, 7350413, 7350414, 73510, 73511, 7351415, 7351416, 7351429, 7351432, 7351436, 7351438, 73700, 73716, 73717, 73718, 73724, 73777, 73778, 7386152
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 19/5684 the devices involving a micromechanical structure
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 15/02 by making use of inertia forces using solid seismic massesG01P15/14 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 2015/0805 being provided with a particular type of spring-mass-system for defining the displacement of a seismic mass due to an external acceleration

Abstract

A gyroscope includes at least one anchor and a plurality of gyroscope spring elements coupled to the at least one anchor. The gyroscope also includes a plurality of concentric rings coupled to the plurality of gyroscope spring elements and configured to encircle the plurality of gyroscope spring elements. The gyroscope further includes an excitation/detection/tuning unit electrostatically coupled to the plurality of concentric rings.

Claims

1. An inertial sensing system, comprising:

a substrate;

a gyroscope mechanically coupled to the substrate by an anchor, wherein the gyroscope is circular in shape and defines a central opening, and wherein the gyroscope comprises;

a plurality of gyroscope spring elements coupled to the anchor;

a gyroscope proof mass, wherein the gyroscope proof mass comprises a plurality of concentric rings operatively coupled to the plurality of gyroscope spring elements, and wherein the gyroscope proof mass encircles the plurality of gyroscope spring elements;

a plurality of gyroscope electrodes to sense an angular rate of the gyroscope proof mass;

an accelerometer positioned within the central opening, wherein the accelerometer comprises;

a plurality of accelerometer spring elements;

an accelerometer body portion coupled to the substrate through the plurality of accelerometer spring elements and not through the gyroscope proof mass; and

a plurality of accelerometer electrodes to sense an acceleration of the accelerometer body portion,

wherein the gyroscope and the accelerometer are configured to be independently operable.

2. The inertial sensing system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the plurality of accelerometer electrodes encircles the accelerometer body portion, and wherein the plurality of accelerometer electrodes is positioned between the accelerometer body portion and the gyroscope.

3. The inertial sensing system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the gyroscope comprises:

an excitation/detection unit coupled to the plurality of concentric rings.

4. The inertial sensing system in accordance with claim 3, wherein the plurality of concentric rings encircles the anchor.

5. The inertial sensing system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the anchor defines the central opening.

6. The inertial sensing system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the plurality of gyroscope spring elements is circumferentially-spaced about the anchor.

7. The inertial sensing system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the gyroscope is configured to sense angular speed, the accelerometer is configured to sense acceleration, and wherein the inertial sensing system is configured to sense acceleration without operation of the gyroscope.

8. The inertial sensing system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the accelerometer body portion is coupled to the anchor through the plurality of accelerometer spring elements and not through the gyroscope proof mass.