MEMS sensor with decoupled drive system
First Claim
1. An angular rate sensor comprising:
- a substrate;
first and second shear masses coupled to the substrate, the first and second shear masses flexibly coupled to each other;
a rotating structure coupled to the substrate;
a drive mass coupled to the substrate;
a flexible element coupling the drive mass and the rotating structure;
an actuator coupled to the rotating structure via the drive mass for driving the rotating structure into rotational oscillation around a first axis normal to the substrate, the actuator driving the drive mass moving in a direction parallel to the substrate in a first direction and driving the first and second shear masses in anti-phase in a second direction, wherein the second direction is not parallel to the first direction;
a first transducer responsive to the rotational oscillation of the rotating structure during a drive mode; and
a second transducer which is responsive to angular velocity of the angular rate sensor.
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Accused Products
Abstract
In a first aspect, the angular rate sensor comprises a substrate and a rotating structure anchored to the substrate. The angular rate sensor also includes a drive mass anchored to the substrate and an element coupling the drive mass and the rotating structure. The angular rate sensor further includes an actuator for driving the drive mass into oscillation along a first axis in plane to the substrate and for driving the rotating structure into rotational oscillation around a second axis normal to the substrate; a first transducer to sense the motion of the rotating structure in response to a Coriolis force in a sense mode; and a second transducer to sense the motion of the sensor during a drive mode. In a second aspect the angular rate sensor comprises a substrate and two shear masses which are parallel to the substrate and anchored to the substrate via flexible elements.
58 Citations
25 Claims
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1. An angular rate sensor comprising:
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a substrate; first and second shear masses coupled to the substrate, the first and second shear masses flexibly coupled to each other; a rotating structure coupled to the substrate; a drive mass coupled to the substrate; a flexible element coupling the drive mass and the rotating structure; an actuator coupled to the rotating structure via the drive mass for driving the rotating structure into rotational oscillation around a first axis normal to the substrate, the actuator driving the drive mass moving in a direction parallel to the substrate in a first direction and driving the first and second shear masses in anti-phase in a second direction, wherein the second direction is not parallel to the first direction; a first transducer responsive to the rotational oscillation of the rotating structure during a drive mode; and a second transducer which is responsive to angular velocity of the angular rate sensor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. An angular rate sensor comprising:
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a substrate; a sense system comprising; a rotating structure coupled to the substrate; a first transducer responsive to the rotational oscillation of the rotating structure during a drive mode; and a second transducer which is responsive to angular velocity of the angular rate sensor; and a drive system comprising; a drive mass coupled to the substrate; and an actuator coupled to the drive mass, the actuator driving the drive mass moving in a direction parallel to the substrate in a first direction; and a flexible element coupling the drive system to the sense system, wherein the actuator in the drive system is coupled to the rotating structure in the sense system for driving the rotating structure into rotational oscillation around a first axis normal to the substrate. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25)
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Specification