Microgyroscope having inner and outer mass parts

• US 6,301,963 B1
• Filed: 12/30/1999
• Issued: 10/16/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 05/13/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electro-Mechanics Co., Ltd. (Samsung Group)
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electro-Mechanics Co., Ltd. (Samsung Group)
• Inventors: Park, Kyu-Yeon
• Primary Examiner(s): KWOK, HELEN C
• Application Number:
  US09/475,618
• Time in Patent Office: 656 Days
• Field of Search: 73/504.04, 73/504.12, 73/504.13, 73/504.14, 73/504.15, 73/504.16, 73/504.02
• US Class Current: 73/504.12
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 19/5762 the sensing mass being connected to a driving mass, e.g. driving frames

Abstract

A microgyroscope is disclosed, in which an oscillating mass is oscillated by dividing it into three parts, and thus, the forces transmitted from external oscillations are minimized, thereby minimizing the influence of the external oscillations. The microgyroscope includes an inner mass part 110 excitedly installed within an outer frame 120 across beam elastic bodies 130. A plurality of combs 150 are formed on the inner mass part 110, the combs 150 extending in the y axis direction. A plurality of sensing electrodes 170 are disposed between the plurality of the combs 150, the sensing electrode being formed integrally with an electrode supporting part 160. The inner mass part 110 is connected through elastic bodies to outer mass parts 210 and 210′. In this manner, the influence of external oscillations can be minimized, and the friction loss of the supporting part can also be minimized, thereby improving the resolving power of the microgyroscope.

Claims

1. A microgyroscope comprising:

an inner frame as an inner mass part excitedly installed within an outer frame to be unitizingly excited together;

a first plurality of combs installed laterally and in a y axis direction at both sides of said inner frame and within said inner frame;

perpendicular direction sensing electrodes disposed between the first plurality of said combs at certain intervals, and supported by electrode supporting parts;

outer mass parts installed at both sides of said inner mass part;

elastic bodies excitedly installed between said outer frame and said outer mass parts;

oscillation structures extending in a lateral direction of said outer mass parts;

a second plurality of combs installed at a side of each of said oscillation structures;

exciting drivers for causing excitations by supplying a voltage; and

a third plurality of combs disposed respectively between the second plurality of said combs of said oscillation structures, for detecting the excitations from a difference of capacitances between said exciting drivers.

2. The microgyroscope as claimed in claim 1, wherein said inner mass part is installed unitizingly excitedly together with said outer frame through beam elastic bodies, said beam elastic bodies being installed at four places of front, rear, left and right of said inner frame.

3. The microgyroscope as claimed in claim 1, wherein a plurality of y-axis sensing electrodes are disposed with gaps between the first plurality of said combs of said inner frame, the plurality of said sensing electrodes being supported by electrode supporting parts.

4. The microgyroscope as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second plurality of said combs of said oscillation structures are disposed with gaps between the third plurality of said combs of said exciting drivers, said drivers being excited by a supplied voltage.

5. The microgyroscope as claimed in claim 1, further comprising flat spring type elastic bodies for connecting said outer frame to said outer mass parts.

6. The microgyroscope as claimed in claim 1, wherein said elastic bodies are secured by elastic body supporting parts respectively.

7. The microgyroscope as claimed in claim 1, wherein said inner mass part and said outer mass parts move oppositely in a direction of an x axis through said elastic bodies.

8. The microgyroscope as claimed in claim 7, wherein the mass of the inner mass part and the total mass of the outer mass parts are equal.