MICRO RATE OF ROTATION SENSOR AND METHOD FOR OPERATING A MICRO RATE OF ROTATION SENSOR
First Claim
1. A rotation sensor for detecting a plurality of rates of rotation about orthogonal axes (x,y,z), comprising:
- a substrate;
a plurality of masses that are displaceable relative to the substrate and disposed in an X-Y plane parallel to the substrate;
a plurality of anchors for coupling the masses to the substrate;
springs for coupling at least some of the plurality of masses to at least one adjacent mass or to at least one anchor;
drive elements for oscillating more than one of the plurality of masses in the X-direction, in order to generate Coriolis forces when the substrate is deflected;
sensor elements in order to detect deflections of the more than one of the plurality of masses due to the Coriolis forces generated; and
wherein the plurality of masses include driving masses, X-Y sensor masses and Z sensor masses, the X-Y sensor masses being coupled to the driving masses and the Z sensor masses by means of springs, the X-Y sensor masses and the driving masses being coupled in such a manner that when the driving masses are driven to oscillate in the X-direction, the X-Y sensor masses are driven to oscillate in an X-Y direction by means of the driving masses.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention relates to a method for operating a rotation sensor for detecting a plurality of rates of rotation about orthogonal axes (x,y,z). The rotation sensor comprises a substrate, driving masses, X-Y sensor masses, and Z sensor masses. The driving masses are driven by drive elements to oscillate in the X-direction. The X-Y sensor masses are coupled to the driving masses, and driven to oscillate in the X-Y direction radially to a center. When a rate of rotation of the substrate occurs about the X-axis or the Y-axis, the X-Y sensor masses are jointly deflected about the Y-axis or X-axis. When a rate of rotation of the substrate occurs about the Z-axis, the X-Y sensor masses are rotated about the Z-axis, and the Z sensor masses are deflected substantially in the X-direction.
48 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A rotation sensor for detecting a plurality of rates of rotation about orthogonal axes (x,y,z), comprising:
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a substrate; a plurality of masses that are displaceable relative to the substrate and disposed in an X-Y plane parallel to the substrate; a plurality of anchors for coupling the masses to the substrate; springs for coupling at least some of the plurality of masses to at least one adjacent mass or to at least one anchor; drive elements for oscillating more than one of the plurality of masses in the X-direction, in order to generate Coriolis forces when the substrate is deflected; sensor elements in order to detect deflections of the more than one of the plurality of masses due to the Coriolis forces generated; and wherein the plurality of masses include driving masses, X-Y sensor masses and Z sensor masses, the X-Y sensor masses being coupled to the driving masses and the Z sensor masses by means of springs, the X-Y sensor masses and the driving masses being coupled in such a manner that when the driving masses are driven to oscillate in the X-direction, the X-Y sensor masses are driven to oscillate in an X-Y direction by means of the driving masses. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method for operating a rotation sensor for detecting a plurality of rates of rotation about orthogonal axes, comprising the steps of:
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arranging on a substrate and driving masses, X-Y sensor masses, and Z sensor masses; driving the driving masses by drive elements to oscillate in the X-direction; driving the X-Y sensor masses to oscillate in the X-Y direction radially to a center by a connection to the driving masses; and sensing the response of the sensor masses according to the rate of rotation of the substrate, wherein when a rate of rotation of the substrate occurs about the X-axis or the Y-axis, the X-Y sensor masses are jointly deflected-about the Y-axis or X-axis, and when a rate of rotation of the substrate occurs about the Z-axis, the X-Y sensor masses are rotated about the Z-axis, and the Z sensor masses are deflected substantially in the X-direction. - View Dependent Claims (18)
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Specification