SYSTEM AND METHOD OF ELECTROSTATIC CAROUSELING FOR GYROCOMPASSING
First Claim
1. A three-rotational degree of freedom spring-mass system comprising:
- a proof mass suspended by a plurality of support springs and having three rotational degrees of freedom;
a plurality of driving electrodes; and
a controller operably connected to the plurality of driving electrodes to apply an excitation voltage thereto to generate an electrostatic force;
wherein the controller is configured to selectively apply the excitation voltage to the plurality of driving electrodes to generate an electrostatic force that varies an orientation of a gyroscope sensitivity axis for carouseling of the three-rotational degree of freedom spring-mass system.
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Abstract
A system and method for electrostatic carouseling for inertial sensor gyrocompassing is disclosed. For performing such electrostatic carouseling for inertial sensor gyrocompassing, a three- rotational degree of freedom spring-mass system is provided that includes a proof mass suspended by a plurality of support springs and having three rotational degrees of freedom, a plurality of driving electrodes, and a controller operably connected to the plurality of driving electrodes. The control applies an excitation voltage to the driving electrodes to generate an electrostatic force, with the controller selectively applying the excitation voltage to the plurality of driving electrodes to generate an electrostatic force that varies an orientation of a gyroscope sensitivity axis for carouseling of the three-rotational degree of freedom spring-mass system.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. A three-rotational degree of freedom spring-mass system comprising:
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a proof mass suspended by a plurality of support springs and having three rotational degrees of freedom; a plurality of driving electrodes; and a controller operably connected to the plurality of driving electrodes to apply an excitation voltage thereto to generate an electrostatic force; wherein the controller is configured to selectively apply the excitation voltage to the plurality of driving electrodes to generate an electrostatic force that varies an orientation of a gyroscope sensitivity axis for carouseling of the three-rotational degree of freedom spring-mass system. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method of carouseling a three-rotational degree of freedom spring-mass system for gyrocompassing, the method comprising:
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providing a gyroscope comprising; a gyroscope platform oriented in a horizontal plane; and a plurality of driving electrodes positioned adjacent a top or bottom surface of the gyroscope platform; causing a controller to modulate an excitation voltage provided to the plurality of driving electrodes to selectively generate an electrostatic force that changes an orientation of a single sensitivity axis on the horizontal plane; wherein, in modulating the excitation voltage, the controller causes the orientation of the single sensitivity axis to rotate on the horizontal plane, so as to enable the determination of an azimuth angle. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) inertial measurement sensor comprising:
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a MEMS gyroscope comprising; a proof mass oriented in an x-y plane; and a plurality of out-of-plane electrodes positioned adjacent the proof mass so as to be arranged about a center axis of the proof mass; and a controller operably connected to the plurality of out-of-plane electrodes to supply an excitation voltage thereto to perform a virtual carouseling of the MEMS gyroscope in the x-y plane; wherein, in performing the virtual carouseling of the MEMS gyroscope, the controller is programmed to modulate the excitation voltage supplied to selective electrodes of the plurality of out-of-plane electrodes to rotate a drive axis of the MEMS gyroscope into resonances, with the rotation of the drive axis causing an accompanying rotation of a sensitivity axis of the MEMS gyroscope to provide for determination of an azimuth angle of the MEMS gyroscope. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24)
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Specification