Rotary disk gyroscope
First Claim
1. A gyroscope comprising:
- a substrate having a surface;
a drive mass flexibly coupled to said substrate surface, said drive mass having a central opening;
a sense mass residing in said central opening and configured to rotate about an axis of rotation, said sense mass including a cutout region proximate said axis of rotation;
torsion springs connecting said sense mass to said drive mass; and
a drive system at least partially residing in said cutout region for actuating said drive mass to move with an oscillatory motion.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A rotary disk gyroscope (20) includes a drive mass (28) and a sense mass (32). The sense mass (32) includes a cutout region (46, 48) located proximate an axis of rotation (40). Torsion springs (38), located in the cutout region (46, 48), connect the sense mass (32) to the drive mass (28). The torsion springs (38) enable the sense mass (32) to rotate about the axis of rotation (40) in response to an angular velocity of the gyroscope (20). Spring anchorage structures (30) are also positioned in the cutout region (46, 48), and flexibly couple the drive mass (28) to the substrate (22). In addition, a drive system (68) resides in the cutout region (46, 48) and actuates the drive mass (28) to move with an oscillatory motion. In a dual axis configuration, the gyroscope (20) further includes a rectangular-shaped second sense mass (36) surrounding the disk-shaped drive mass (28).
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A gyroscope comprising:
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a substrate having a surface; a drive mass flexibly coupled to said substrate surface, said drive mass having a central opening; a sense mass residing in said central opening and configured to rotate about an axis of rotation, said sense mass including a cutout region proximate said axis of rotation; torsion springs connecting said sense mass to said drive mass; and a drive system at least partially residing in said cutout region for actuating said drive mass to move with an oscillatory motion. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A gyroscope comprising:
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a substrate having a surface; a drive mass flexibly coupled to said substrate surface, said drive mass having a central opening; a sense mass residing in said central opening and configured to rotate about an axis of rotation, said sense mass including first and second cutout regions proximate said axis of rotation, said first and second cutout regions being substantially symmetrically positioned in said sense mass relative to one another on opposing sides of an axis that is perpendicular to said axis of rotation; a first torsion spring partially residing in said first cutout region; a second torsion spring partially residing in said second cutout region, said first and second torsion springs connecting said sense mass to said drive mass, each of said first and second torsions springs being aligned with said axis of rotation; and a drive system at least partially residing in at least one of said first and second cutout regions for actuating said drive mass to move with an oscillatory motion. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16)
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17. A gyroscope comprising:
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a substrate having a surface; a drive mass flexibly coupled to said substrate surface, said drive mass having a central opening; a sense mass residing in said central opening and configured to rotate about an axis of rotation, said sense mass including first and second cutout regions proximate said axis of rotation, each of said first and second cutout regions extending inwardly as a notched region from an outer perimeter of said sense mass; a first torsion spring partially residing in said first cutout region; a second torsion spring partially residing in said second cutout region, said first and second torsion springs connecting said sense mass to said drive mass, and said first and second torsion springs being aligned with said axis of rotation; and a drive system at least partially residing in said first and second cutout regions for actuating said drive mass to move with an oscillatory motion. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification