Time domain switched gyroscope
First Claim
1. A gyroscope comprising:
- a rigid support structure;
a drive mass springedly coupled to the support structure such that movement of the drive mass with respect to the support structure is substantially restricted to movement in a first direction;
a drive mass driver configured to cause the drive mass to oscillate with respect to the support structure in the first direction;
a first sense mass springedly coupled to the drive mass such that movement of the first sense mass with respect to the drive mass is substantially restricted to movement in a second direction, wherein the second direction is orthogonal to the first direction; and
a first digital trigger comprising a first proximity switch coupled between the drive mass and the first sense mass, wherein the first switch is configured to switch from an open state to a closed state each time the first sense mass is in a first reference position with respect to the drive mass.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A gyroscope comprising: a support structure; a drive mass springedly coupled to the support structure such that movement of the drive mass with respect to the support structure is substantially restricted to movement in a first direction; a driver configured to cause the drive mass to oscillate with respect to the support structure in the first direction; a sense mass springedly coupled to the drive mass such that movement of the sense mass with respect to the drive mass is substantially restricted to movement in a second direction, which is orthogonal to the first direction; and a digital trigger comprising a proximity switch coupled between the drive mass and the sense mass, wherein the switch is configured to switch from an open state to a closed state each time the sense mass is in a reference position with respect to the drive mass.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A gyroscope comprising:
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a rigid support structure; a drive mass springedly coupled to the support structure such that movement of the drive mass with respect to the support structure is substantially restricted to movement in a first direction; a drive mass driver configured to cause the drive mass to oscillate with respect to the support structure in the first direction; a first sense mass springedly coupled to the drive mass such that movement of the first sense mass with respect to the drive mass is substantially restricted to movement in a second direction, wherein the second direction is orthogonal to the first direction; and a first digital trigger comprising a first proximity switch coupled between the drive mass and the first sense mass, wherein the first switch is configured to switch from an open state to a closed state each time the first sense mass is in a first reference position with respect to the drive mass. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A monolithic gyroscope comprising:
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a rigid support structure; a drive mass springedly coupled to the support structure; a drive mass driver configured to drive the drive mass to oscillate with respect to the support structure in approximately only an x-direction; a first sense mass springedly coupled to the drive mass, wherein the first sense mass is configured to move with respect to the drive mass in approximately only a z-direction, which is orthogonal to the x-direction, in response to Coriolis forces from rotation of the support structure about a y-axis, which is orthogonal to both the z- and x-directions; and a first digital trigger comprising a first proximity switch coupled between the drive mass and the first sense mass configured to pass from an open state to a closed state when the first sense mass passes through a first reference position such that rotation of the support structure about the y-axis may be determined by monitoring the state of the first proximity switch with respect to time. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification