Piezoelectric gyroscope system, and method of use

• US 6,777,857 B1
• Filed: 06/03/2002
• Issued: 08/17/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/18/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Board of Regents of the University of Nebraska
• Original Assignee: Board of Regents of the University of Nebraska
• Inventors: Yang, Jiashi
• Primary Examiner(s): Dougherty, Thomas M.
• Application Number:
  US10/160,638
• Time in Patent Office: 806 Days
• Field of Search: 735/040.4, 735/040.8, 735/041.2, 735/041.4, 310/328, 310/329
• US Class Current: 310/329
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 19/5642 using vibrating bars or beams

Abstract

Disclosed are coriolis force driven piezoelectric gyroscope systems which each comprise two substantially orthogonally oriented elements projecting from a mass. Each substantially orthogonally oriented element has a pair of electrodes present thereupon, wherein the electrodes in a pair thereof are oriented substantially parallel to one another. In use rotation about an axis oriented perpendicular to a plane formed by two substantially orthogonally oriented elements while an extension inducing driving voltage is applied across a pair of electrodes on one thereof. An output voltage, which is related to the rotation rate, is sensed across the pair of electrodes on the other substantially orthogonally oriented element.

Claims

1. A piezoelectric gyroscope system comprising two substantially orthogonally oriented elements projecting from a mass, each said substantially orthogonally oriented element having a pair of electrodes present thereupon, wherein the electrodes in a pair thereof are oriented substantially parallel to one another;

such that in use said piezoelectric system is caused to rotate about an axis oriented perpendicular to a plane formed by said two substantially orthogonally oriented elements while an extension inducing driving voltage is applied across a pair of electrodes on one thereof, to the end that an output voltage which is related to the rotation rate, is sensed across the pair of electrodes on the other substantially orthogonally oriented element.

2. A piezoelectric gyroscope system as in claim 1, in which the rotation about an axis oriented perpendicular to a plane formed by said two substantially orthogonally oriented elements is centered at the mass from which the two substantially orthogonally oriented elements project.

9. A piezoelectric gyroscope system as in claim 1, wherein the two substantially orthogonally oriented elements which project from said mass are each elongated in the direction in which they project from said mass, and thereby have longitudinal and lateral dimensions;

said two substantially orthogonally oriented elements each being polarized in a direction along the lateral direction thereof.

3. A multiple piezoelectric gyroscope system comprising a plurality of piezoelectric gyroscope systems, wherein each of, said piezoelectric gyroscope systems comprises:

first and second substantially orthogonally oriented elements projecting from a mass, each said substantially orthogonally oriented element having a pair of electrodes present thereupon,

wherein the electrodes in a pair thereof are oriented substantially parallel to one another;

such that in use said piezoelectric system is caused to rotate about an axis oriented perpendicular to a plane formed by said two substantially orthogonally oriented elements while an extension inducing driving voltage is applied across a pair of electrodes on one thereof, to the end that an output voltage which is related to the rotation rate, is sensed across the pair of electrodes on the other substantially orthogonally oriented element;

said piezoelectric gyroscope system being oriented such that the first and second substantially orthogonally oriented elements of each thereof are all in a common plane;

the electrodes on the first of each said substantially orthogonally oriented elements in each said piezoelectric gyroscope having electrical connection with the first substantially orthogonally oriented elements on the other piezoelectric gyroscopes; and

the electrodes on the second of each said substantially orthogonally oriented elements in each said piezoelectric gyroscope having electrical connection with the second substantially orthogonally oriented elements on the other piezoelectric gyroscopes;

such that in use said multiple piezoelectric system is caused to rotate about an axis oriented perpendicular to the common plane formed by all said two substantially orthogonally oriented elements, while an extension inducing driving voltage is applied across all electrically interconnected electrode pairs on the first elements thereof, to the end that an output voltage which is related to the rotation rate, is sensed across the electrically interconnected electrode pairs on the second substantially orthogonally oriented elements thereof.

4. A multiple piezoelectric gyroscope system as in claim 3,

wherein there are four piezoelectric gyroscope systems present, said four piezoelectric gyroscope systems being oriented with respect to one another such that the masses thereof are positioned as the four corners of a rectangle, and such that the substantially orthogonally related elements are oriented along sides thereof.

5. A multiple piezoelectric gyroscope system as in claim 4, in which the rectangle is a square.

10. A multiple piezoelectric gyroscope system as in claim 3, wherein each said first and second substantially orthogonally oriented elements associated with a piezoelectric gyroscope system are elongated in the direction in which they project from the mass thereof, and thereby have longitudinal and lateral dimensions;

said substantially orthogonally oriented elements each being polarized in a direction along the lateral direction thereof.

6. A method of developing a voltage which is proportional to a rotation rate, comprising the steps of:

a. providing a piezoelectric gyroscope system comprising two substantially orthogonally oriented elements projecting from a mass, each said substantially orthogonally oriented element having a pair of electrodes present thereupon, wherein the electrodes in a pair thereof are oriented substantially parallel to one another;

such that in use said piezoelectric system is caused to rotate about an axis oriented perpendicular to a plane formed by said two substantially orthogonally oriented elements while an extension inducing driving voltage is applied across a pair of electrodes on one thereof, to the end that an output voltage which is related to the rotation rate, is sensed across the pair of electrodes on the other substantially orthogonally oriented element;

b. causing said piezoelectric gyroscope to rotate about an axis oriented perpendicular to a plane formed by said two substantially orthogonally oriented elements;

c. applying an extension inducing driving voltage is applied across a pair of electrodes on one substantially orthogonally oriented element;

to the end that an output voltage which is related to the rotation rate, is sensed across the pair of electrodes on said other substantially orthogonally oriented element.

7. A method of developing a voltage which is proportional to a rotation rate, comprising the steps of:

a. providing at least two piezoelectric gyroscope systems, each thereof comprising;

a piezoelectric gyroscope system comprising two substantially orthogonally oriented elements projecting from a mass, each said substantially orthogonally oriented element having a pair of electrodes present thereupon, wherein the electrodes in a pair thereof are oriented substantially parallel to one another;

such that in use said piezoelectric system is caused to rotate about an axis oriented perpendicular to a plane formed by said two substantially orthogonally oriented elements while an extension inducing driving voltage is applied across a pair of electrodes on one thereof, to the end that an output voltage which is related to the rotation rate, is sensed across the pair of electrodes on the other substantially orthogonally oriented element;

b. functionally interconnecting said at least two piezoelectric gyroscope systems;

c. causing said piezoelectric gyroscope which is comprised of at least two piezoelectric gyroscope systems, to rotate about an axis oriented perpendicular to a plane formed by said two substantially orthogonally oriented elements;

d. applying an extension inducing driving voltage across a pair of electrodes on one substantially orthogonally oriented element of each of said at least two piezoelectric gyroscope systems;

to the end that an output voltage which is related to the rotation rate, is sensed across functionally interconnected pairs of electrodes on said other substantially orthogonally oriented elements of each of said at least two piezoelectric gyroscope systems.

8. A method of developing a voltage which is proportional to a rotation rate as in claim 7, in which the step of providing at least two piezoelectric gyroscope systems involves providing four piezoelectric gyroscope systems which are oriented with respect to one another such that the masses thereof are positioned as the four corners of a rectangle, and such that the substantially orthogonally related elements are oriented along sides thereof.