Gyroscope utilizing MEMS and optical sensing
First Claim
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1. A gyroscope comprising:
- a structure configured to be driven to move about a drive axis, the structure further configured to move about a sense axis in response to a Coriolis force generated by rotation of the structure about a rotational axis while moving about the drive axis; and
an optical sensor system configured to optically measure movement of the structure about the sense axis, wherein the optical sensor system is configured to irradiate at least a portion of the structure with electromagnetic radiation in a direction of the movement about the sense axis and to receive reflected electromagnetic radiation from the portion of the structure to optically measure the movement of the structure about the sense axis.
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Abstract
A gyroscope and a method of detecting rotation are provided. The gyroscope includes a structure configured to be driven to move about a drive axis. The structure is further configured to move about a sense axis in response to a Coriolis force generated by rotation of the structure about a rotational axis while moving about the drive axis. The gyroscope further includes an optical sensor system configured to optically measure movement of the structure about the sense axis. In certain embodiments, the gyroscope is a microelectromechanical system (MEMS) gyroscope.
13 Citations
37 Claims
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1. A gyroscope comprising:
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a structure configured to be driven to move about a drive axis, the structure further configured to move about a sense axis in response to a Coriolis force generated by rotation of the structure about a rotational axis while moving about the drive axis; and an optical sensor system configured to optically measure movement of the structure about the sense axis, wherein the optical sensor system is configured to irradiate at least a portion of the structure with electromagnetic radiation in a direction of the movement about the sense axis and to receive reflected electromagnetic radiation from the portion of the structure to optically measure the movement of the structure about the sense axis. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method of detecting rotation, the method comprising:
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providing a structure configured to be driven to move about a drive axis and to move about a sense axis in response to a Coriolis force generated by rotation of the structure about a rotational axis while moving about the drive axis; driving the structure to move about the drive axis; rotating the structure about the rotational axis while the structure moves about the drive axis; and optically measuring movement of the structure about the sense axis, wherein optically measuring movement of the structure comprises irradiating at least a portion of the structure with electromagnetic radiation in a direction of the movement about the sense axis and receiving reflected electromagnetic radiation from the portion of the structure. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A method of fabricating a gyroscope, the method comprising:
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providing a structure configured to be driven to move about a drive axis, the structure further configured to move about a sense axis in response to a Coriolis force generated by rotation of the structure about a rotational axis while moving about the drive axis; and providing an optical sensor system configured to optically measure movement of the structure about the sense axis, wherein the optical sensor system is configured to irradiate at least a portion of the structure with electromagnetic radiation in a direction of the movement about the sense axis and to receive reflected electromagnetic radiation from the portion of the structure to optically measure the movement of the structure about the sense axis. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37)
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Specification