Micro-mechanical rate-of-rotation sensor with coupled structure

• US 6,119,517 A
• Filed: 07/13/1999
• Issued: 09/19/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 07/14/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Litef GmbH (Northrop Grumman Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Litef GmbH (Northrop Grumman Corporation)
• Inventors: Ryrko, Bruno, Breng, Uwe, Zimmermann, Steffen
• Primary Examiner(s): MOLLER, RICHARD ALAN
• Application Number:
  US09/352,258
• Time in Patent Office: 434 Days
• Field of Search: 73/504.12, 73/504.02
• US Class Current: 73/504.12
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 19/574 the devices having two sensing masses in anti-phase motion

Abstract

Strictly out-of-phase stimulation of the two oscillators of a micro-mechanical rate-of-rotation sensor based on the Coriolis principle, having two-plate like oscillators arranged in layers one above another in two parallel planes and capable of being stimulated to oscillate perpendicular to the planes by means of an electrostatic drive, is achieved by the oscillators each being connected via at least one spring to a couple element formed, in each case, in the same wafer layer. The couple elements are mirror-symmetrically configured with respect to a mid-plane between the oscillators and connected to each other by a coupling web arranged therebetween to form a couple structure for the oscillators.

Claims

1. A micro-mechanical rate-of-rotation sensor based on the Coriolis principle comprising, in combination:

a) two plate-like oscillators, each formed in at least one wafer layer;

b) said oscillators being arranged in layers one above another in two parallel planes;

c) an electrostatic drive for stimulating said oscillators to oscillate perpendicular to said planes;

d) said two plate-like oscillators being each connected via at least one spring to a couple element formed in the same wafer layer in each case;

e) said couple elements being mirror-symmetrically configured with respect to a mid-plane between said oscillators and connected to each other by a coupling web arranged between the couple elements to form a couple structure for said oscillators; and

f) said structure being arranged so that said oscillators coupled thereby can be stimulated to oscillate exclusively out-of-phase.

2. A micro-mechanical rate-of-rotation sensor as defined in claim 1, characterized in that:

a) each couple element comprises two individual elements connected to each other via at least one bending spring; and

b) said two individual elements connected in said way in an upper wafer layer and said respective individual element that is arranged mirror-symmetrically thereto in said lower wafer layer being connected to one another by, in each case, at least one coupling web formed in an intermediate wafer layer.

3. A micro-mechanical rate-of-rotation sensor as defined in claim 1, characterized in that:

a) said couple elements are arranged inside a frame, in each case between a plate-like support to read out said rate-of-rotation signal and said associated oscillator; and

b) said oscillator being connected, in turn, by at least one spring to an electrostatically movable drive plate.

4. A micro-mechanical rate-of-rotation sensor as defined in claim 3, characterized in that an articulation point of said spring connection between said electrostatic drive and said associated oscillator is located on the side of the respective drive plate approximately at its area center of gravity, so that said drive remains largely uninfluenced by any possible rotational movement.