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Micromechanical gyroscopic transducer with improved drive and sense capabilities

  • US 5,408,877 A
  • Filed: 03/16/1992
  • Issued: 04/25/1995
  • Est. Priority Date: 03/16/1992
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. A dual gimbal micromachined gyroscopic transducer comprising:

  • a substrate including a pit having a bottom region, said pit extending downwardly from a top surface of said substrate;

    a gyroscopic transducer element suspended above the bottom region of said pit, said gyroscopic transducer element comprising;

    a sense gimbal plate integral with said substrate, said sense gimbal plate coupled to said substrate by first and second flexible elements, a first end of each of said first and second flexible elements coupled to opposite ends of said sense gimbal plate, and a second end of each of said first and second flexible elements coupled to said substrate, said first and second flexible elements axially aligned to permit oscillatory motion about a sense axis which passes through said first and second flexible elements;

    a drive gimbal plate integral with and interior to said sense gimbal plate, said drive gimbal plate coupled to said sense gimbal plate by third and fourth flexible elements, a first end of each of said third and fourth flexible elements coupled to opposite ends of said drive gimbal plate, and a second end of each of said third and fourth flexible elements coupled to said sense gimbal plate, said third and fourth flexible elements axially aligned to permit oscillatory motion about a drive axis which passes through said third and fourth flexible elements, said drive axis disposed orthogonal to said sense axis, said drive gimbal plate further including a balanced mass generally centrally located on said drive gimbal plate;

    means for oscillating said drive gimbal plate including at least one drive electrode, coupled to means for energizing said drive electrode, said at least one drive electrode disposed in spaced relationship to at least a portion of said drive gimbal plate, said means for energizing said at least one drive electrode operative for causing said drive gimbal plate to oscillate about said drive axis; and

    means for sensing rotation of said sense gimbal plate, said means for sensing including at least one sense electrode, coupled to said means for sensing rotation of said sense gimbal plate, said at least one sense electrode disposed in spaced relationship to at least a portion of said sense gimbal plate, said at least one sense electrode disposed so as not to be in close proximity to, and interfere with free oscillatory motion of said drive gimbal plate, said means for sensing and said at least one sense electrode operative for sensing rotation of said sense gimbal plate about said sense axis, said means for sensing for providing an indication of angular rotation detected by said gyroscopic transducer about an input axis orthogonal to said drive and sense axes.

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