Microgyroscope for determining rotational movements about an X and/or Y and Z axis

• US 8,479,575 B2
• Filed: 02/22/2010
• Issued: 07/09/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 02/27/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hanking Electronics Hongkong Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Maxim Integrated Products, Inc. (Analog Devices, Inc.)
• Inventors: Kempe, Volker
• Primary Examiner(s): Macchiarolo, Peter
• Assistant Examiner(s): Shah, Samir M
• Application Number:
  US13/203,554
• Publication Number:
  US 20120048017A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,233 Days
• Field of Search: 735/041.2, 735/033, 735/040.2, 735/140.2, 735/143.2
• US Class Current: 73/504.12
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 19/5747 each sensing mass being connected to a driving mass, e.g. driving frames

Abstract

The invention relates to a microgyroscope for determining rotational movements about an x-axis and/or a y-axis and a z-axis. Oscillating masses are fastened to a substrate by springs. Drive elements vibrate individual masses in an oscillatory manner in the x-y plane in order to produce Coriolis forces when the substrate is rotated, and sensor elements detect deflections of the masses on account of the Coriolis forces produced. The Individual masses are arranged in two groups that are jointly induced by the drive elements to carry out an oscillating primary movement in the plane of the x-y axis. The masses of the first group allow movements starting from the x-y plane, and the masses of the second group allow movements perpendicular to the oscillating primary movement in the plane of the x-y axis.

Claims

1. A microgyroscope for determining rotational movements about an x-axis and/or a y-axis, and a z-axis, the microgyroscope comprising:

a substrate;

a plurality of oscillating masses comprising individual masses arranged around a central point on the substrate;

a plurality of springs for fastening the plurality of oscillating masses to the substrate;

a plurality of drive elements for inducing radial oscillation of the individual masses on an x-y plane, with respect to the central point, in order to generate Coriolis forces when the substrate rotates; and

a plurality of sensor elements for registering deflections of the individual masses caused due to the generated Coriolis forces;

wherein the individual masses are arranged in two groups comprising a first group and a second group, the masses of both groups being jointly induced by the plurality of drive elements to perform an oscillating primary movement in the x-y plane, the masses of the first group being arranged on the substrate so as to allow movements out of the x-y plane, the masses of the second group being arranged on the substrate so as to allow movements perpendicular to the oscillating primary movement in the x-y plane.

2. The microgyroscope according to claim 1, wherein the masses of both groups are elastically coupled to one another for synchronization of the oscillating primary movement.

3. The microgyroscope according to claim 1, wherein the masses of the first group comprise two pairs of masses arranged on the x-axis and on the y-axis.

4. The microgyroscope according to claim 1, wherein the masses of the second group comprise at least two masses.

5. The microgyroscope according to claim 1, wherein the masses of the second group are arranged between the masses of the first group, wherein each of the masses in the second group are substantially offset from corresponding masses of the first group by 90°

.

6. The microgyroscope according to claim 1, wherein the masses of the first group are flexibly arranged in a radial direction on a rigid strut or an auxiliary web.

7. The microgyroscope according to claim 1, wherein the masses of the first group are flexibly arranged in an x-axis direction or a y-axis direction on a frame selected from an inner frame and an outer frame.

8. The microgyroscope according to claim 7, wherein the inner frame is arranged on at least one central anchor.

9. The microgyroscope according to claim 7, wherein the inner frame and/or the outer frame is gimbally mounted on at least one anchor for the tilting movement of the masses of the first group about the x-axis and/or the y axis.

10. The microgyroscope according to claim 9, wherein the gimbally mounting of the inner frame and/or the outer frame is flexible about the same tilting axes, but substantially rigid with regard to linear movements.

11. The microgyroscope according to claim 1, wherein a subset of the masses of the second group is mounted in such a way that the subset of the masses is rotatable about the z-axis or can be deflected perpendicularly to the radial arrangement.

12. The microgyroscope according to claim 1, wherein first sensor elements for registering the deflection of the oscillating masses of the first group are arranged below the plurality of oscillating masses.

13. The microgyroscope according to claim 1, wherein the masses of the second group have an oscillating frame and a partition mass coupled to the oscillating frame.

14. The microgyroscope according to claim 13, wherein the partition mass is fastened to the oscillating frame in such a way that the partition mass can be deflected perpendicularly to an oscillating movement of the oscillating frame.

15. The microgyroscope according to claim 13, wherein second sensor elements for registering the deflection of the masses of the second group or of the partition mass of the second group are provided.

16. The microgyroscope according to claim 13, wherein sensor elements for registering the deflection of the masses of the second group or of the partition mass of the second group are arranged in a detection box with shield electrodes for counter electrodes fixed on the substrate.

17. The microgyroscope according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of drive elements of the plurality of oscillating masses are a plurality of electrodes.

18. The microgyroscope according to claim 17, wherein the plurality of drive elements of the plurality of oscillating masses are a plurality of fork electrodes.