SYSTEMATIC DISC RESONATOR GYROSCOPE TUNING

• US 20090301194A1
• Filed: 06/09/2009
• Published: 12/10/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/10/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Challoner, A. Dorian
• Granted Patent: US 8,205,495 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 73/504.120
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 19/5684 the devices involving a micromechanical structure

Abstract

Tuning an axisymmetric resonator such as in a disc resonator gyroscope (DRG) is disclosed. Frequency tuning a DRG in a single step informed by a systematic physical model of the resonator structure, sensing and actuation elements, such as a finite element model, is provided. The sensitivity of selected trimming positions on the resonator to reducing asymmetry terms is determined via perturbations of the systematic model. As well, the dependence of the parameters of model transfer functions between actuation and sensing elements on resonator asymmetry are systematically determined. One or two measured transfer functions may then be analyzed according to the systematic model to fully determine the needed asymmetry correction components of the DRG. One or two of four groups of four electrostatic bias electrodes or four groups of four laser trimming locations for the DRG are utilized to correct the asymmetry components which can give rise to mistuning.

Claims

1. A method of tuning an axisymmetric resonator, comprising:

determining transfer functions between drive electrode voltages and sense electrode voltages of the axisymmetric resonator including Coriolis coupled vibration modes of the axisymmetric resonator;

determining fourth order asymmetry correction components using the transfer functions of the axisymmetric resonator;

determining an asymmetry component change sensitivity to changes of one or more bias voltages based on a systematic physical model of the axisymmetric resonator; and

determining values of the one or more bias voltages to tune the Coriolis coupled vibration modes of the axisymmetric resonator to degeneracy from the fourth order asymmetry correction components and the asymmetry component change sensitivity to the changes of the one or more bias voltages.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising applying the settings of the one or more bias voltages under a closed loop control to tune the Coriolis coupled vibration modes of the axisymmetric resonator to degeneracy.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein applying the settings of the one or more bias voltages under the closed loop control is performed in a single step.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the transfer functions are derived numerically from a finite element model (FEM) of the axisymmetric resonator.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the fourth order asymmetry correction components are derived from the FEM of the axisymmetric resonator.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the transfer functions are measured from the axisymmetric resonator.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the fourth order asymmetry correction components are determined from the measured transfer functions.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the transfer functions are measured from the axisymmetric resonator with a dynamic signal analyzer.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the axisymmetric resonator comprises a disc resonator including embedded electrostatic electrodes having sidewalls that interact with interior sidewalls of the disc resonator such that the Coriolis coupled vibration modes of the disc resonator are driven and sensed with the embedded electrostatic electrodes to measure motion of the disc resonator.

10. A method of tuning an axisymmetric resonator, comprising:

determining transfer functions between drive electrode voltages and sense electrode voltages of the axisymmetric resonator including Coriolis coupled vibration modes of the axisymmetric resonator;

determining fourth order asymmetry correction components using the transfer functions of the axisymmetric resonator;

determining an asymmetry component change sensitivity to mass changes at one or more locations of the axisymmetric resonator based on a systematic physical model of the axisymmetric resonator; and

determining amounts of the mass changes at the one or more locations of the axisymmetric resonator to tune the Coriolis coupled vibration modes of the axisymmetric resonator to degeneracy from the fourth order asymmetry correction components and the asymmetry component change sensitivity to the mass changes at the one or more locations of the axisymmetric resonator.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising applying the mass changes at the one or more locations of the axisymmetric resonator to tune the Coriolis coupled vibration modes of the axisymmetric resonator to degeneracy.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein applying the mass changes at the one or more locations of the axisymmetric resonator is performed in a single step.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the transfer functions are derived numerically from a finite element model (FEM) of the axisymmetric resonator.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the fourth order asymmetry correction components are derived from the FEM of the axisymmetric resonator.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein the transfer functions are measured from the axisymmetric resonator.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the fourth order asymmetry correction components are determined from the measured transfer functions.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the transfer functions are measured from the axisymmetric resonator with a dynamic signal analyzer.

18. The method of claim 10, wherein the axisymmetric resonator comprises a disc resonator including embedded electrostatic electrodes having sidewalls that interact with interior sidewalls of the disc resonator such that the Coriolis coupled vibration modes of the disc resonator are driven and sensed with the embedded electrostatic electrodes to measure motion of the disc resonator.

19. A method of tuning an axisymmetric resonator, comprising:

measuring transfer functions between drive electrode voltages and sense electrode voltages of the axisymmetric resonator with a dynamic signal analyzer including Coriolis coupled vibration modes of the axisymmetric resonator;

determining fourth order asymmetry correction components from the measured transfer functions of the axisymmetric resonator;

determining an asymmetry component change sensitivity to changes of one or more tuning parameters of the axisymmetric resonator based on a systematic physical model of the axisymmetric resonator; and

determining settings of the one or more tuning parameters to tune the Coriolis coupled vibration modes of the axisymmetric resonator to degeneracy from the fourth order asymmetry correction components and the asymmetry component change sensitivity to the changes of the one or more bias voltages.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the one or more tuning parameters comprise changes of one or more bias voltages of the axisymmetric resonator and the settings comprise values of the one or more bias voltages.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein the one or more tuning parameters comprise mass changes at one or more locations of the axisymmetric resonator and the settings comprise amounts of the mass changes at the one or more locations of the axisymmetric resonator.

22. The method of claim 19, wherein the axisymmetric resonator comprises a disc resonator including embedded electrostatic electrodes having sidewalls that interact with interior sidewalls of the disc resonator such that the Coriolis coupled vibration modes of the disc resonator are driven and sensed with the embedded electrostatic electrodes to measure motion of the disc resonator.