Gyro for detecting signals along two axes

• US 5,001,940 A
• Filed: 11/08/1989
• Issued: 03/26/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 11/09/1988
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Aisin Seiki Co., Ltd. (Aisin Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Aisin Seiki Co., Ltd. (Aisin Corp.)
• Inventors: Ogawa, Naoki
• Primary Examiner(s): Bonck, Rodney H.
• Application Number:
  US07/433,268
• Time in Patent Office: 503 Days
• Field of Search: 74/5.6 D, 74/5 R, 73/517 AV, 73/505
• US Class Current: 74/5.60D
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 19/28 Pick-offs, i.e. devices for taking-off an indication of the displacement of the rotor axis
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/12 Gyroscopes
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/1275 Electrical

Abstract

A gyro comprises a support member and a rod member supported by the support member. A vibrator attached to the rod member has two pairs of vibrating members projecting at right angles to the rod member. A driving mechanism is attached to the rod member and includes piezo electric devices for generating vibrations. A detector is arranged for detecting strains in the vibrating members of the vibrator.

Claims

1. A gyro comprising:

a support member,

a rod member supported by said support member and defining an axis,

a vibrator attached to said rod member and including two pairs of vibrating members projecting at right angles to said rod member, said vibrator including first and second surfaces, said first surface facing in a first axial direction, and said second surface facing in an opposite second axial direction,

driving means attached to said rod member and engaging said first surface of said vibrator and including piezo electric devices for generating vibrations which are transmitted to said vibrator, and

detecting means arranged for detecting strains in said vibrating member of said vibrator, said detecting means being attached to said rod member and engaging said second surface of said vibrator coaxially relative to said driving means so that vibrations of said vibrator are detected by said detecting means.

2. A gyro in accordance with claim 1, wherein said driving means includes a plurality of piezo electric devices shaped in an arc to define together a circular plate and a plurality of said circular plates arranged to define a cylindrical driving means.

3. A gyro in accordance with claim 1 further comprising an electric circuit for supplying electric power to said driving means and for receiving a signal from said detecting means.

4. A gyro in accordance with claim 3, said detector including piezo electric devices attached to said rod member and connected to said electric circuit so that a signal from said detector defines a feedback signal.

5. A gyro according to claim 1 wherein said vibrator includes piezo electric devices connected to at least one of said first and second surfaces, said piezo electric devices being spaced from said detecting means in a direction oriented generally radially with reference to said axis.

6. A gyro comprising:

a support member,

a rod member supported by said support member,

a vibrator attached to said rod member and including two pairs of vibrating members projecting at right angles to said rod member,

driving means attached to said rod member and including piezo electric devices for generating vibrations, said driving means including a plurality of piezo electric devices shaped in an arc to define together a circular plate, and a plurality of said circular plates arranged to define a cylindrical driving means, and

detecting means arranged for detecting strains in said vibrating members of said vibrator.

7. A gyro in accordance with claim 6 further comprising an electric circuit for supplying electric power to said driving means and for receiving a signal from said detecting means.

8. A gyro in accordance with claim 7, said detector including piezo electric devices attached to said rod member and connected to said electric circuit so that a signal from said detector defines a feedback signal.