Rotation sensor
First Claim
1. A tine structure for a rotation sensor comprising:
- a base having an outer peripheral surface;
a plurality of tines extending radially outwardly from the peripheral surface of the base so that free ends of the plurality of tines define a circle; and
mounting means for mounting the base to the support so that the plurality of tines are disposed between the base and the support, the mounting means comprising;
a first mounting member extending radially from the base, the first mounting member having a first end mounted to the base and a second end mounted to the support;
a second mounting member extending radially from the base, the second mounting member having a first end mounted to the base and a second end mounted to the support;
wherein the first mounting member and the second mounting member extend from opposite sides of the base along a first axis;
a third mounting member extending radially from the base, the third mounting member having a first end mounted to the base and a second end mounted to the support;
a fourth mounting member extending radially from the base, the fourth mounting member having a first end mounted to the base and a second end mounted to the support;
wherein the third mounting member and the fourth mounting member extend from opposite sides of the base along a second axis;
wherein the first axis is orthogonal to the second axis.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A silicon chip is micromachined so that a plurality of tines extend radially and coplanarly from an outer peripheral surface of a circular base. First and second mounting members extend from the base for mounting the base to a support. The first mounting member is disposed generally perpendicularly to the second mounting member. A pulse generator applies electrostatic or electromagnetic pulses to successive free ends of the plurality of tines so that each tine momentarily vibrates in the plane in rotational sequence along the circumference of the base. The successive vibrations establish a net angular momentum approximating a spinning wheel so that rotation of the sensor about the axis of one of the first or second mounting members causes the other mounting member to experience a deformation due to coriolus force. A plurality of strain gages interconnected to form wheatstone bridges are disposed on the first and second mounting members for respectively sensing deformation of the first and second mounting members in a push-pull manner. The output signals from the strain gages provide an indication of the amount of angular motion. A linear accelerometer may be combined on the same silicon chip, and three such chips may be combined to create an inertial measurement unit that senses rotation and linear acceleration relative to three axes.
20 Citations
29 Claims
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1. A tine structure for a rotation sensor comprising:
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a base having an outer peripheral surface; a plurality of tines extending radially outwardly from the peripheral surface of the base so that free ends of the plurality of tines define a circle; and mounting means for mounting the base to the support so that the plurality of tines are disposed between the base and the support, the mounting means comprising; a first mounting member extending radially from the base, the first mounting member having a first end mounted to the base and a second end mounted to the support; a second mounting member extending radially from the base, the second mounting member having a first end mounted to the base and a second end mounted to the support; wherein the first mounting member and the second mounting member extend from opposite sides of the base along a first axis; a third mounting member extending radially from the base, the third mounting member having a first end mounted to the base and a second end mounted to the support; a fourth mounting member extending radially from the base, the fourth mounting member having a first end mounted to the base and a second end mounted to the support; wherein the third mounting member and the fourth mounting member extend from opposite sides of the base along a second axis; wherein the first axis is orthogonal to the second axis.
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2. A tine structure for a rotation sensor comprising:
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a base; a plurality of tines extending radially from the base; and drive means for causing each tine to vibrate in rotational sequence about the base so that the plurality of tines establish a net angular momentum which approximates a spinning wheel. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4)
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5. A rotation sensor comprising:
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a plurality of radially extending tines; drive means for causing each tine to vibrate in rotational sequence so that the plurality of tines establish a net angular momentum which approximates a spinning wheel; mounting means for mounting the plurality of tines to a support, so that rotation of the structure about a selected axis causes the mounting means to deform; and deformation sensing means, disposed on the mounting means, for sensing deformation of the mounting means. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A rotation sensor comprising:
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a base having an outer peripheral surface; a plurality of tines extending radially and coplanarly from the outer peripheral surface of the base; a first mounting member extending from the base for mounting the base to a support; a second mounting member extending from the base for mounting the base to the support; wherein the second mounting member is disposed generally perpendicularly to the first mounting member; pulse means for providing pules to free ends of the plurality of tines so that each tine vibrates momentarily in rotational sequence in the plane for establishing a net angular momentum which approximates a spinning wheel; wherein rotation of the sensor about one of the first mounting member or second mounting member causes the other mounting member to deform; a first plurality of strain gages disposed on the first mounting member and interconnected to form a first Wheatstone bridge for sensing deformation of the first mounting member; and a second plurality of strain gages disposed on the second mounting member and interconnected to form a second Wheatstone bridge for sensing deformation of the second mounting member. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24)
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25. An inertial measurement unit formed from a silicon wafer comprising:
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a plurality of radially extending tines; drive means for causing each tine to vibrate in rotational sequence so that the plurality of tines establish a net angular momentum which approximates a spinning wheel; mounting means for mounting the plurality of tines to a support, so that rotation of the structure about a selected axis causes the mounting means to deform; deformation sensing means, disposed on the mounting means, for sensing deformation of the mounting means; and a linear accelerometer disposed on the support. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28)
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29. An inertial measurement unit comprising:
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first, second and third inertial measurement chips, each chip being formed from a silicon wafer and including; a plurality of radially extending tines; drive means for causing each tine to vibrate in rotational sequence so that the plurality of tines establish a net angular momentum which approximates a spinning wheel; mounting means for mounting the plurality of tines to a support, so that rotation of the structure about a selected axis causes the mounting means to deform; deformation sensing means, disposed on the mounting means, for sensing deformation of the mounting means; and a plurality of strain gages disposed on the support and interconnected to from a linear accelerometer; wherein the first, second, and third inertial measurement chips are mounted generally perpendicularly to each other.
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Specification