Coriolis gyro sensor
First Claim
1. A Coriolis gyro sensor comprising:
- (a) an inertia-member, and a counter-inertia;
(b) a first suspension means connecting said inertia-member to said counter-inertia; and
(c) a second suspension means connecting said counter-inertia to a fixed mounting frame;
wherein(d) said first, and said second suspension means allow separate and limited angular motion of said inertia-member, and said counter-inertia;
further including(e) a driving means to drive said inertia-member in an angular dither motion;
(f) a sensing means generating signals representative of angular oscillatory motions of said inertia-member relative said fixed mounting frame; and
(g) a restraining means generating damping forces acting on said inertia-member;
wherein(h) said forces from said restraining means are representative of input rate rotation of said Coriolis gyro sensor to form a single or dual input-axis Coriolis gyro sensor; and
wherein(i) said counter-inertia counteracts reaction forces from said inertia-member.
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Abstract
A single or dual input-axis Coriolis gyro sensor is comprised of a single planar inertia-member (10) connected to a coplanar counter-inertia (13) by a first set of elastic beams (12). The counter-inertia is in turn supported by a second set of coplanar elastic beams (15). The counter-inertia counteracts the reaction forces from the vibrating inertia-member and isolates the inertia-member from external vibrations. The inertia-member is angularly dithered about its center of gravity along an axis perpendicular to the plane. An input rate about a first or second orthogonal axis, locate in the plane of the sensor results in Coriolis moments, causing angular oscillations of the inertia-member. The angular oscillations are restrained by squeeze film damping and voltages applied to electrostatic damping electrodes. The electrode voltages are representative of the angular input rates.
117 Citations
15 Claims
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1. A Coriolis gyro sensor comprising:
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(a) an inertia-member, and a counter-inertia; (b) a first suspension means connecting said inertia-member to said counter-inertia; and (c) a second suspension means connecting said counter-inertia to a fixed mounting frame;
wherein(d) said first, and said second suspension means allow separate and limited angular motion of said inertia-member, and said counter-inertia;
further including(e) a driving means to drive said inertia-member in an angular dither motion; (f) a sensing means generating signals representative of angular oscillatory motions of said inertia-member relative said fixed mounting frame; and (g) a restraining means generating damping forces acting on said inertia-member;
wherein(h) said forces from said restraining means are representative of input rate rotation of said Coriolis gyro sensor to form a single or dual input-axis Coriolis gyro sensor; and
wherein(i) said counter-inertia counteracts reaction forces from said inertia-member. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A single or dual input-axis Coriolis gyro sensor comprising:
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(a) an inertia-member attached to a counter-inertia by a first flexible connecting means; (b) a second flexible connecting means attaching said counter-inertia to a fixed frame; (c) a driving means to impart a predetermined angular oscillation to said inertia-member;
where(d) said predetermined angular oscillation of said inertia-member generates a polar angular oscillating torque; (e) said first flexible connecting means transfer said polar angular oscillating torque to said counter-inertia; and
where(f) said polar angular oscillating torque is balanced by said counter-inertia; (g) a damping means generating restraining forces acting on said inertia-member;
wherein(h) said forces from said damping means are representative of input rate rotation.
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Specification