Structure for attenuation or cancellation of quadrature error
First Claim
1. A movable microstructure comprising:
- a first finger set comprising two or more first fingers extending substantially parallel to a first displacement axis;
a second finger set comprising at least one second finger, said at least one second finger extending substantially parallel to said first displacement axis, terminating between and having a least a portion neighboring each of said two first fingers, wherein said portion of said at least one second finger is substantially closer to one of the two first fingers between which said at least one second finger terminates, thereby forming a capacitor; and
an electrical circuit providing a position-dependent electrostatic force having a magnitude varying in proportion to relative displacement of said at least one second finger to the two first fingers along said first displacement axis.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A movable microstructure includes a first finger set comprising two or more first fingers affixed to a substrate and extending substantially parallel to a defined displacement axis towards a proof-mass. The movable microstructure further includes a second finger set comprising at least one second finger, each member of the second finger set extending substantially parallel to the displacement axis from the proof-mass, terminating between two first fingers. Each second finger is substantially closer to one of the two first fingers between which it terminates. The first finger set, in conjunction with the second finger set, form two terminals of a capacitor. An electrical circuit is included that provides a voltage across the capacitor to generate a position-dependent force, the position-dependent force having a component along an axis substantially orthogonal to the displacement axis, the magnitude of the position-dependent force varying in proportion to displacement along the displacement axis.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A movable microstructure comprising:
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a first finger set comprising two or more first fingers extending substantially parallel to a first displacement axis; a second finger set comprising at least one second finger, said at least one second finger extending substantially parallel to said first displacement axis, terminating between and having a least a portion neighboring each of said two first fingers, wherein said portion of said at least one second finger is substantially closer to one of the two first fingers between which said at least one second finger terminates, thereby forming a capacitor; and an electrical circuit providing a position-dependent electrostatic force having a magnitude varying in proportion to relative displacement of said at least one second finger to the two first fingers along said first displacement axis. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 20)
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4. A movable microstructure comprising:
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a substrate; a proof-mass disposed above said substrate; a first finger set comprising two or more first fingers extending substantially parallel to a first displacement axis from said proof-mass; a second finger set comprising at least one second finger, said at least one second finger is affixed to said substrate and extending substantially parallel to said first displacement axis towards said proof-mass, terminating between and having a least a portion neighboring each of said two first fingers, wherein said portion of said at least one second finger is closer to one of the two first fingers between which said at least one second finger terminates, thereby forming a capacitor; and an electrical circuit providing a voltage across said capacitor to provide a position-dependent electrostatic force on said proof-mass, said position-dependent force having a component along an axis substantially orthogonal to said first displacement axis, the magnitude of said position-dependent force varying in proportion to relative displacement of said at least one second finger to the two first fingers along said first displacement axis. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A movable microstructure comprising:
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a substrate; a first proof-mass disposed above said substrate; a second proof-mass disposed above said substrate; a first finger set comprising two or more first fingers affixed to said substrate and extending substantially parallel to a first displacement axis towards said first proof-mass; a second finger set comprising at least one second finger, said at least one second finger extending substantially parallel to said first displacement axis from said first proof-mass, terminating between and having a least a portion neighboring each of said two first fingers, wherein said portion of said at least one second finger is closer to one of the two first fingers between which said at least one second finger terminates, thereby forming a first capacitor; a third finger set comprising two or more third fingers affixed to said substrate and extending in a direction opposite said first finger set and substantially parallel to said first displacement axis towards said second proof-mass; a fourth finger set comprising at least one fourth finger, said at least one fourth finger extending substantially parallel to said first displacement axis from said second proof-mass, along a direction opposite said second fingers, terminating between and having a least a portion neighboring each of said two third fingers, wherein said portion of said at least one fourth finger is closer to one of the two third fingers between which said at least one fourth finger terminates, thereby forming a second capacitor; and an electrical circuit providing a first voltage across said first capacitor, and a second voltage across said second capacitor to provide position-dependent electrostatic forces on said first proof-mass and on said second proof-mass, said position-dependent forces having a component along an axis substantially orthogonal to said first displacement axis, the magnitude of said position-dependent force varying in proportion to proof-mass displacement and relative displacement of said at least one second finger to the first finger set, and third finger set to the fourth finger, along said first displacement axis. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A micromachined vibratory rate gyroscope comprising:
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a substrate; a proof-mass disposed above said substrate; a first finger set comprising two or more first fingers affixed to said substrate and extending substantially parallel to a first displacement axis towards said proof-mass; a second finger set comprising at least one second finger, said at least one second finger extending substantially parallel to said first displacement axis from said proof-mass, terminating between and having a least a portion neighboring each of said two first fingers, wherein each said portion of said second finger is substantially closer to one of the two first fingers between which said at least one second finger terminates, thereby forming a capacitor with each of the first two fingers; an oscillation-sustaining feedback loop having an output representative of proof-mass displacement along said first displacement axis; a capacitive bridge responsive to displacements of said proof-mass along an axis orthogonal to said first displacement axis; a position sense interface connected to said capacitive bridge, said position sense interface having an electrical output varying in response to changes in said capacitive bridge; a quadrature detection circuit having an output, said quadrature detection circuit synchronized with the output of said oscillation-sustaining feedback loop; and a feedback connection from the output of said quadrature detection circuit to said capacitor, said feedback connection providing a voltage across said first capacitor; wherein the voltage applied to said capacitor drives the output of said quadrature detection circuit towards a constant value, thereby causing said mass to vibrate absent a Coriolis force, more precisely along said first axis.
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Specification