Vibratory gyroscopic rate sensor
First Claim
1. A three axis rate sensor including a substantially planar vibratory resonator (5) having a substantially ring or hoop-like structure with inner and outer peripheries (6, 7) extending around a common axis, drive means (22) for causing the resonator (5) to vibrate in a Cos 2θ
- vibration mode, carrier mode pick-off means (23) for sensing movement of the resonator (5) in response to the applied drive means (22), z-axis response mode pick-off means (31) for detecting movement of the resonator (5) in response to rotation about the z-axis, z-axis response mode dive means (30) for nulling said motion, x-axis response mode pick-off means (25) for detecting movement of the resonator (5) in response to rotation about the x-axis, x-axis response mode drive means (24) for nulling said motion, y-axis response mode pick-off means (27) for detecting movement of the resonator (5) in response to rotation about the y-axis, y-axis response mode drive means (26) for nulling said motion, and support means (9) for flexibly supporting the resonator (5) and for allowing the resonator (5) to vibrate relative to the support means (9) in response to the drive means (22) and to applied rotation, characterised in that the support means (9) comprises only L support beams (9), where L≠
2K, K=0, 1, 2 or 3, and L<
8.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A three axis rate sensor includes a substantially planar vibratory resonator (5) having a substantially ring or hoop-like structure with inner (6) and outer peripheries extending around a common axis, drive means (22) for causing the resonator to vibrate in a Cos 2θ vibration mode, carrier mode pick-off means (23) for sensing movement of the resonator (5) in response to the applied drive means, x-axis, y-axis and z-axis response mode, pick-off means (25, 27, 31) for detecting movement of the resonator in response to rotation about the x-axis, y-axis and z-axis, x-axis, y-axis and z-axis response mode drive means (24, 26, 30) for nulling said motion and support means (9) for flexibly supporting the resonator and for allowing the resonator (5) to vibrate relative to the support means (9) in response to the drive means (22) and the applied rotation wherein the support means (9) comprises only L support beams, where L≠2 k, and k=0, 1, 2 or 3.
27 Citations
5 Claims
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1. A three axis rate sensor including a substantially planar vibratory resonator (5) having a substantially ring or hoop-like structure with inner and outer peripheries (6, 7) extending around a common axis, drive means (22) for causing the resonator (5) to vibrate in a Cos 2θ
- vibration mode, carrier mode pick-off means (23) for sensing movement of the resonator (5) in response to the applied drive means (22), z-axis response mode pick-off means (31) for detecting movement of the resonator (5) in response to rotation about the z-axis, z-axis response mode dive means (30) for nulling said motion, x-axis response mode pick-off means (25) for detecting movement of the resonator (5) in response to rotation about the x-axis, x-axis response mode drive means (24) for nulling said motion, y-axis response mode pick-off means (27) for detecting movement of the resonator (5) in response to rotation about the y-axis, y-axis response mode drive means (26) for nulling said motion, and support means (9) for flexibly supporting the resonator (5) and for allowing the resonator (5) to vibrate relative to the support means (9) in response to the drive means (22) and to applied rotation, characterised in that the support means (9) comprises only L support beams (9), where L≠
2K, K=0, 1, 2 or 3, and L<
8. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
- vibration mode, carrier mode pick-off means (23) for sensing movement of the resonator (5) in response to the applied drive means (22), z-axis response mode pick-off means (31) for detecting movement of the resonator (5) in response to rotation about the z-axis, z-axis response mode dive means (30) for nulling said motion, x-axis response mode pick-off means (25) for detecting movement of the resonator (5) in response to rotation about the x-axis, x-axis response mode drive means (24) for nulling said motion, y-axis response mode pick-off means (27) for detecting movement of the resonator (5) in response to rotation about the y-axis, y-axis response mode drive means (26) for nulling said motion, and support means (9) for flexibly supporting the resonator (5) and for allowing the resonator (5) to vibrate relative to the support means (9) in response to the drive means (22) and to applied rotation, characterised in that the support means (9) comprises only L support beams (9), where L≠
Specification