METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR ACTIVELY CONTROLLING MOVEMENT WITHIN MEMS STRUCTURES
First Claim
1. A method for reducing effects of common mode oscillations between two respective proof masses in micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS) devices, the MEMS devices also including a motor pickoff comb, a sense plate, and a motor drive comb for each proof mass, said method comprising:
- amplifying signals received from respective motor pickoff combs;
inverting the amplified signal from one of the motor pickoff combs;
generating a difference signal between the inverted, amplified signal from one pickoff comb, and the non-inverted, amplified signal from the other pickoff comb;
inputting the difference signal into a control loop; and
generating motor drive signals for respective motor drive combs with the control loop.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method for reducing effects of common mode oscillations between two respective proof masses in micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS) devices is described. The MEMS devices also include a motor pickoff comb, a sense plate, and a motor drive comb for each proof mass. The method includes amplifying signals received from respective motor pickoff combs, inverting the amplified signal from one of the motor pickoff combs, and generating a difference signal between the inverted, amplified signal from one pickoff comb, and the non-inverted, amplified signal from the other pickoff comb. The method also includes inputting the difference signal into a control loop and generating motor drive signals for respective motor drive combs with the control loop.
-
Citations
21 Claims
-
1. A method for reducing effects of common mode oscillations between two respective proof masses in micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS) devices, the MEMS devices also including a motor pickoff comb, a sense plate, and a motor drive comb for each proof mass, said method comprising:
-
amplifying signals received from respective motor pickoff combs;
inverting the amplified signal from one of the motor pickoff combs;
generating a difference signal between the inverted, amplified signal from one pickoff comb, and the non-inverted, amplified signal from the other pickoff comb;
inputting the difference signal into a control loop; and
generating motor drive signals for respective motor drive combs with the control loop. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
-
-
6. A micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS) device comprising:
-
a substrate;
a plurality of motor drive combs attached to said substrate;
a plurality of motor pickoff combs attached to said substrate;
a plurality of proof masses, each proof mass suspended above said substrate and between one of said motor drive combs and one of said motor pickoff combs; and
a circuit configured to generate motor drive signals for said motor drive combs, said circuit configured to receive signals from said motor pickoff combs, generate a difference signal between the signals received from said motor pickoff combs, and utilize the difference signal to control amplitude and pulse shape of said motor drive signals in order to suppress common mode oscillation in said proof masses. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
-
-
12. A circuit for suppressing common mode oscillations in a micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS) device, the device including at least one motor pickoff comb which provides motor pickoff signals, said circuit comprising:
-
an amplifier circuit configured to generate a difference signal based upon the motor pickoff signals received from the motor pickoff combs; and
a control loop configured to receive the difference signal from said amplifier circuit, said control loop configured to control amplitude and pulse shape of motor drive signals output to the MEMS device at least partially based on the difference signal received. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
-
-
18. A method for suppressing common mode oscillations between proof masses in micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS) devices, the devices also including motor drive combs and motor pickoff combs, said method comprising:
-
receiving motor pickoff signals from motor pickoff combs;
generating a difference signal from the received motor pickoff signals; and
controlling pulse shapes of motor drive signals applied to motor drive combs based upon the difference signal. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
-
-
21. A micro-electromechanical systems gyroscope configured to suppress common mode oscillation, said gyroscope comprising:
-
a substrate;
a plurality of motor drive combs attached to said substrate;
a plurality of motor pickoff combs attached to said substrate;
a plurality of proof masses, each said proof mass suspended above said substrate and between one of said motor drive combs and one of said motor pickoff combs;
an amplifier circuit configured to receive signals from said motor pickoff combs, and generate a difference signal between the signals received from said motor pickoff combs; and
a control loop configured to utilize the difference signal to control amplitude and pulse shape of motor drive signals output to said motor drive combs to suppress common mode oscillation in said proof masses.
-
Specification