MEMS gyroscope having coupling springs

• US 20060010978A1
• Filed: 07/18/2005
• Published: 01/19/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/19/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Lee, Sang-woo, Kim, Jong-pal, Choi, Joon-hyock, Lee, Byeung-leul
• Application Number:
  US11/182,774
• Publication Number:
  US 20060010978A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 73/504.20
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 19/5747 each sensing mass being connected to a driving mass, e.g. driving frames

Abstract

A MEMS gyroscope with coupling springs and mass bodies symmetrical to one another and relatively movable in a vertical direction with respect to a substrate, where a coupling spring connects the mass bodies and moves the mass bodies in a vertical direction as another one of the mass bodies moves in the opposite vertical direction.

Claims

1. A micro electronic mechanical system (MEMS) gyroscope, comprising:

a plurality of mass bodies symmetrical to one another and relatively movable with respect to a substrate in a direction vertical to a surface of the substrate; and

a coupling spring connected between the plurality of mass bodies and which moves one of the mass bodies in a vertical direction as another one of the mass bodies moves in an opposite vertical direction.

2. The MEMS gyroscope as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

first and second driving electrodes which vibrate the plurality of mass bodies in the vertical direction;

first and second mass bodies relatively movable with respect to the substrate in a horizontal direction being one of directions parallel with the surface of the substrate, and which move in the horizontal direction by the Coriolis force generated by an application of angular velocity; and

first and second sensing electrodes which measure displacement of the first and second mass bodies in the horizontal direction.

3. The MEMS gyroscope as claimed in claim 2, wherein the first driving electrode, first mass body, and first sensing electrode are symmetrical to the second driving electrode, second mass body, and second sensing electrode, respectively, with respect to the coupling spring.

4. The MEMS gyroscope as claimed in claim 2, wherein the driving and sensing electrodes are formed in a comb structure.

5. The MEMS gyroscope as claimed in claim 2, further comprising a vertical sensing electrode which senses displacement of the plurality of mass bodies in the vertical direction.

6. The MEMS gyroscope as claimed in claim 2, wherein a time-varying voltage is applied to the driving electrodes.