Coupling structure for resonant gyroscope

• US 8,544,594 B2
• Filed: 05/12/2010
• Issued: 10/01/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 05/15/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Commissariat a L'Energie Atomique (AES Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Commissariat a L'Energie Atomique (AES Corporation)
• Inventors: Yacine, Karim
• Primary Examiner(s): Warren, David
• Assistant Examiner(s): Russell, Christina
• Application Number:
  US13/319,581
• Publication Number:
  US 20120061172A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,238 Days
• Field of Search: 181/121, 735/041.2, 735/041.6
• US Class Current: 181/121
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 19/5747 each sensing mass being connected to a driving mass, e.g. driving frames

Abstract

A coupling structure for a resonant microgyroscope produced on a substrate, wherein the coupling structure enables a vibratory movement provided by an excitation mechanism to be detected along a first axis, and enables it to be transmitted to seismic masses lying in a plane containing the first axis. The coupling structure includes a closed assembly of beams connected to the seismic masses so as to be anchored only to the seismic masses, wherein the assembly is positioned to detect the vibratory movement provided by the excitation mechanism, and to transmit it to the seismic masses along at least a second axis contained in the plane, wherein the coupling structure has no point of anchorage to the substrate.

Claims

1. A coupling structure for a resonant microgyroscope produced on a substrate, wherein the coupling structure enables a vibratory movement supplied by an actuator along a first axis to be detected, and enables it to be transmitted to seismic masses lying in a plane containing the first axis, the coupling structure comprising:

a closed assembly of beams connected to the seismic masses such that they are anchored only to the seismic masses,

wherein the assembly is positioned to detect the vibratory movement provided by the actuator, and to transmit it to the seismic masses along at least a second axis contained in the plane, and

wherein the coupling structure has no point of anchorage to the substrate.

2. A coupling structure according to claim 1, in which the closed assembly of beams includes at least one closed pattern having a shape chosen from among a lozenge and an ellipse, wherein the pattern is positioned to detect the vibratory movement along one of the axes of the lozenge or of the ellipse, and to transmit the vibratory movement along the other axis of the lozenge or the ellipse.

3. A coupling structure according to claim 2, in which the vibratory movement is detected along the large axis of the lozenge or the ellipse, and transmitted along the small axis of the lozenge or the ellipse.

4. A coupling structure according to claim 1, in which the assembly formed of beams includes at least one square-shaped closed pattern, wherein the pattern is positioned to detect the vibratory movement along one of diagonals of the square, and to transmit the vibratory movement along the other diagonal of the square.

5. A coupling structure for a resonant microgyroscope produced on a substrate, wherein the coupling structure enables a vibratory movement supplied by an actuator along a first axis to be detected, and enables it to be transmitted to seismic masses lying in a plane containing the first axis, the coupling structure comprising:

a closed assembly of beams connected to the seismic masses,

wherein the assembly is positioned to detect the vibratory movement provided by the actuator, and to transmit it to the seismic masses along at least a second axis contained in the plane,

wherein the coupling structure has no point of anchorage to the substrate,

wherein the closed assembly of beams includes four closed patterns, each of the closed patterns having a shape chosen from among a lozenge and an ellipse, wherein the pattern is positioned to detect the vibrator movement along one of the axes of the lozenge or of the ellipse, and to transmit the vibratory movement along the other axis of the lozenge or the ellipse, or each of the closed patterns having a square shape, wherein the pattern is positioned to detect the vibratory movement along one of diagonals of the square, and to transmit the vibratory movement along the other diagonal of the square shape,

wherein the coupling structure imparts vibration to at least four seismic masses under effect of four actuators, wherein the closed patterns are connected by one of their peaks at a point constituting a center of symmetry of the coupling structure, so as to present patterns that are opposite and aligned two-by-two,

wherein two opposite and aligned patterns are orthogonal to the other two opposite and aligned patterns, and

wherein two consecutive patterns are each configured to be connected by a beam to one of the masses, such that two opposite seismic masses are located on a same axis passing through the center of symmetry.

6. A coupling structure according to claim 5, in which each of the peaks of the patterns opposite the center of symmetry of the coupling structure is coupled securely to one of the four actuators.

7. A coupling structure according to claim 5, in which both axes of the seismic masses are mutually orthogonal, and offset by 45°

relative to the opposite and aligned patterns.

8. A coupling structure for a resonant microgyroscope produced on a substrate, wherein the coupling structure enables a vibratory movement supplied by an actuator along a first axis to be detected, and enables it to be transmitted to seismic masses lying in a plane containing the first axis, the coupling structure comprising:

a closed assembly of beams connected to the seismic masses,

wherein the assembly is positioned to detect the vibratory movement provided by the actuator, and to transmit it to the seismic masses along at least a second axis contained in the plane,

wherein the coupling structure has no point of anchorage to the substrate,

wherein the closed assembly of beams includes eight juxtaposed closed patterns, each of the closed patterns having a lozenge shape, wherein the pattern is positioned to detect the vibratory movement along one of the axes of the lozenge, and to transmit the vibratory movement along the other axis of the lozenge,

wherein the closed patterns impart vibration to at least six seismic masses under effect of at least four actuators,

wherein the patterns are connected by one of their peaks at a point constituting a center of symmetry of the coupling structure, so as to present patterns that are opposite and aligned two-by-two, and

wherein the peaks of the patterns opposite the center of symmetry are each configured to be coupled securely to one of the six seismic masses.

9. A resonant microgyroscope formed at a surface of a substrate, comprising:

at least two seismic masses configured to move relative to the substrate;

an actuator configured to impart vibration to the seismic masses through at least one coupling structure,

wherein the coupling structure includes

a closed assembly of beams connected to the seismic masses such that they are anchored only to the seismic masses,

wherein the assembly is positioned to detect the vibratory movement provided by the actuator, and to transmit it to the seismic masses along at least a second axis contained in the plane, and

wherein the coupling structure has no point of anchorage to the substrate.

10. The resonant microgyroscope of claim 9, wherein the actuator includes interdigital comb structures.