Active centering control of a gyroscope
AssigneeWavetamer LLC
InventorAndrew K. Siefert
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A controller controls precession of a gyroscope that oscillates about a precession axis perpendicular to a spin axis and a roll axis of the gyroscope. To do so, the controller detects a deviation of a center of the oscillation away from a nominal center. The precession is caused by roll of the gyroscope about the roll axis and imposes decreasing amounts of damping upon the roll as the precession moves away from the nominal center. The controller reduces the deviation of the center of the oscillation by applying an asymmetric amount of braking to the precession when the precession and the deviation are in a same direction relative to when the precession and the deviation are in opposing directions.
Claims14
A method of controlling precession of a gyroscope that oscillates about a precession axis perpendicular to a spin axis and a roll axis of the gyroscope, the method implemented by a gyroscopic precession controller and comprising:
- detecting a deviation of a center of the oscillation of the gyroscope away from a nominal center, wherein the precession:
- is caused by roll of the gyroscope about the roll axis;
- and
- imposes decreasing amounts of damping upon the roll as the precession moves away from the nominal center;
- and
- sending, to a gyroscopic precession braking system, an electronic braking control signal configured to reduce the deviation of the center of the oscillation by applying an asymmetric amount of braking to the precession when the precession and the deviation are in a same direction relative to when the precession and the deviation are in opposing directions.
A gyroscopic precession controller for controlling precession of a gyroscope that oscillates about a precession axis perpendicular to a spin axis and a roll axis of the gyroscope, the gyroscopic precession controller comprising:
- processing circuitry and interface circuitry communicatively coupled to the processing circuitry, wherein the processing circuitry is configured to:
- detect a deviation of a center of the oscillation of the gyroscope away from a nominal center, wherein the precession:
- is caused by roll of the gyroscope about the roll axis;
- and
- imposes decreasing amounts of damping upon the roll as the precession moves away from the nominal center;
- and
- send, to a gyroscopic precession braking system via the interface circuitry, an electronic braking control signal configured to reduce the deviation of the center of the oscillation by applying an asymmetric amount of braking to the precession when the precession and the deviation are in a same direction relative to when the precession and the deviation are in opposing directions.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.