TORSIONAL RATE MEASURING GYROSCOPE
First Claim
1. A torsional gyroscope comprising:
- a drive tine having a length along a first axis, the drive tine comprising a piezoelectric material;
a pickup tine having a length along a second axis, the pickup tine comprising a piezoelectric material, the pickup tine being transverse to the drive tine, the drive tine having a first end attached to the pickup tine;
a plurality of pickup electrodes disposed along the pickup tine;
a plurality of drive electrodes disposed along the drive tine; and
a drive mass attached to a second end of the drive tine opposite the first end of the drive tine;
wherein the drive electrodes and the drive tine are configured such that an electric field applied to the drive electrodes will induce a rotational oscillation of the drive tine such that the drive tine will rotate about the first axis, inducing the drive mass to rotate about the first axis; and
wherein angular rotation of the drive mass about a third axis will induce a torque in the pickup tine that will induce an electric field in the pickup tine that will induce an electrical charge to build up in the plurality of pickup electrodes.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A torsional gyroscope is provided that includes: a pickup tine and a drive tine of piezoelectric material, pickup electrodes disposed along the pickup tine, drive electrodes disposed along the drive tine, and a drive mass. The drive tine has a first end attached to the pickup tine and is transverse to the drive tine. The drive mass is attached to a second end of the drive tine opposite the first end of the drive tine. An electric field applied to the drive electrodes induces a rotational oscillation of the drive tine causing the drive tine to rotate about the first axis, inducing the drive mass to rotate about the first axis. Angular rotation of the drive mass along a third axis induces a torque in the pickup tine that induces an electric field in the pickup tine that induces an electrical charge to build up in the pickup electrodes.
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Citations
31 Claims
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1. A torsional gyroscope comprising:
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a drive tine having a length along a first axis, the drive tine comprising a piezoelectric material; a pickup tine having a length along a second axis, the pickup tine comprising a piezoelectric material, the pickup tine being transverse to the drive tine, the drive tine having a first end attached to the pickup tine; a plurality of pickup electrodes disposed along the pickup tine; a plurality of drive electrodes disposed along the drive tine; and a drive mass attached to a second end of the drive tine opposite the first end of the drive tine; wherein the drive electrodes and the drive tine are configured such that an electric field applied to the drive electrodes will induce a rotational oscillation of the drive tine such that the drive tine will rotate about the first axis, inducing the drive mass to rotate about the first axis; and wherein angular rotation of the drive mass about a third axis will induce a torque in the pickup tine that will induce an electric field in the pickup tine that will induce an electrical charge to build up in the plurality of pickup electrodes. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A planar three-dimensional inertial sensor system comprising:
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a first gyroscopic sensor configured to measure rotation about a first axis of rotation; a second gyroscopic sensor configured to measure rotation about a second axis of rotation; a torsional gyroscopic sensor configured to measure rotation about a third axis of rotation; wherein the first gyroscopic sensor, the second gyroscopic sensor, and the torsional gyroscopic sensor are disposed along a same plane. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12)
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13. A torsional gyroscope comprising:
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a pickup frame having a central opening; an anchor point disposed within the central opening of the pickup frame; a plurality of pickup beams connecting the pickup frame to the anchor point, the pickup beams comprising a piezoelectric material; a plurality of pickup electrodes attached to the pickup beams; a drive frame having a central opening, the pickup frame being disposed within the central opening of the drive frame; a plurality of drive beams, the drive beams connecting the drive frame to the pickup frame, the drive beams comprising a piezoelectric material; and a plurality of drive electrodes disposed on the drive beams, wherein the drive beams and the drive electrodes are configured such that an applying an electric field to the drive electrodes induces a rotational oscillation of the drive beams about a first axis, the rotation of the drive beams inducing the drive frame to rotate about the first axis; wherein angular rotation of the drive frame about a third axis will induce a torque about a second axis, the torque being applied to the pickup frame which induces a strain in the pickup tines that will induce an electric displacement field pickup tines that will in turn induce an electric charge to build up in the plurality of pickup electrodes. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A differential torsional gyroscopic sensor comprising:
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a first drive tine having a length along a first axis, the first drive tine comprising a first piezoelectric material; a first pickup tine having a length along a second axis, the first pickup tine comprising a second piezoelectric material, the first pickup tine being transverse to the first drive tine, the first drive tine having a first end attached to the first pickup tine; a plurality of first pickup electrodes disposed along the first pickup tine; a plurality of first drive electrodes disposed along the drive tine; a first drive mass attached to a second end of the first drive first tine opposite the first end of the first drive tine; a second drive tine having a length along the first axis, the second drive tine comprising a third piezoelectric material; a second pickup tine having a length along the second axis, the second pickup tine comprising a fourth piezoelectric material, the second pickup tine being transverse to the second drive tine, the second drive tine having a first end attached to the second pickup tine; a plurality of second pickup electrodes disposed along the second pickup tine; a plurality of second drive electrodes disposed along the second drive tine; and a second drive mass attached to a second end of the second drive tine opposite the first end of the second drive tine; wherein the first pickup tine and the second pickup tine share a common anchor point; wherein the first drive electrodes and the first drive tine are configured such that an electric field applied to the first drive electrodes will induce a rotational oscillation of the first drive tine such that the first drive tine will rotate about the first axis, inducing the first drive mass to rotate about the first axis; wherein angular rotation of the first drive tine about a third axis will induce a torque in the first pickup tine that will induce an electric field in the first pickup tine that will induce an electrical charge to build up in the first pickup electrodes; wherein the second drive electrodes and the second drive tine are configured such that an electric field applied to the second drive electrodes will induce a rotational oscillation of the second drive tine such that the second drive tine will rotate about the first axis, inducing the second drive mass to rotate about the first axis; and wherein displacement of the second drive tine along a third axis will induce a torque in the second pickup tine that will induce an electric field in the second pickup tine that will induce an electrical charge to build up in the second pickup electrodes. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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Specification