Vibratory microgyroscope

• US 5,747,690 A
• Filed: 12/26/1996
• Issued: 05/05/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 12/27/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Cho, Young-ho, Lee, Chong-won, Park, Kyu-yeon, Song, Ci-moo
• Primary Examiner(s): Oda, Christine K.
• Application Number:
  US08/773,990
• Time in Patent Office: 495 Days
• Field of Search: 73/504.02, 73/504.04, 73/504.12, 73/504.14, 73/504.16, 73/504.18, 73/514.29, 361/280
• US Class Current: 73/504.12
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 19/5755 the devices having a single sensing mass

Abstract

A microgyroscope includes a substrate, a vibratory structure having two stripe portions, a plurality of connection portions, and a comb, an elastic member for elastically maintaining the vibratory structure, a driver for applying the vibratory structure, a sensor for sensing the one directional action of the vibratory structure, and a plurality of sensing electrodes for sensing displacement by Coriolis force.

Claims

1. A microgyroscope comprising:

a substrate;

a vibratory structure having first and second stripe portions disposed in parallel with each other in which first and second combs are formed at one side of said first and second stripe portions respectively, and a plurality of connecting portions for connecting said first and second stripe portions;

elastic means for elastically supporting said vibratory structure to be spaced from said substrate at a predetermined gap;

driving means, having a third comb interposed between said first comb of said first stripe portion, for applying said vibratory structure in one direction due to an electrostatic force;

sensing means, having a fourth comb interposed between said second comb of said second stripe portion, for sensing the movement of said vibratory structure driven by said driving means through a change of capacitance; and

a plurality of sensing electrodes, disposed between said connecting portions of said vibratory structure on the same plane as that of said vibratory structure to be spaced from said substrate at a predetermined gap, for sensing displacement of said vibratory structure due to Coriolis force through a change of capacitance.

2. A microgyroscope according to claim 1, further comprising position control electrodes arranged on the same plane as that of said vibratory structure, spaced from said substrate at a predetermined gap, in parallel with said connection portions of said vibratory structure in order to restrain an excess displacement of said vibratory structure due to Coriolis force.

3. A microgyroscope according to claim 1, further comprising an excess action prevention member for preventing said vibratory structure excessively deformed by Coriolis force from contacting said sensing electrodes.

4. A microgyroscope according to claim 1, wherein first portions of said elastic means are extended in a direction perpendicular to said first and second stripe portions, second portions of said elastic means connecting ends of said first portion of said elastic means to each other, and further comprising supports formed at the middle of said second portions of said elastic means so that said vibratory structure is elastically maintained spaced from said substrate at said predetermined gap.

5. A microgyroscope according to claim 1, wherein three portions of said sensing electrodes are arranged in two parallel rows between said connection portions of said vibratory structure, wherein a longer portion among said three portions includes a support in a middle portion thereof and two shorter portions among said three portions each include a support at one end thereof, said three portions being axially aligned.

6. A microgyroscope according to claim 1, wherein the natural frequency of said vibratory structure can be adjusted by changing voltage applied to said sensing electrodes.

7. A microgyroscope according to claim 1, further comprising an electrode disposed in parallel with said connecting portions of said vibratory structure, for adjusting the natural frequency of said vibratory structure.