Dual axis vibration rate gyroscope
AssigneeThomson Licensing
InventorsSteven Hotelling, Lex Bayer, Brian Land
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A dual-axis rotational rate sensor having two vibratory masses coupled to a restoring element and driven in a resonant counter-phase motion, wherein the two masses vibrate with equal but opposite amplitudes along a single axis. The vibratory structure also accommodates motion of the masses in a plane orthogonal to the vibratory axis. Measurement of the motion of the masses in two axes in this plane provides signals directly responsive to rotation of the sensor about two orthogonal axes. Measurement and drive is facilitated by the use of magnetic masses and electromagnetic drive and sense transducers.
Claims20
A vibratory rotational rate sensor comprising:
- a vibratory element including a pair of vibratory masses disposed symmetrically along a common axis for vibration along the axis;
- a driver coupled to at least one vibratory mass for inducing periodic motion in the vibratory masses along the axis;
- a first sense circuit coupled to at least one of the vibratory masses for sensing motion of the vibratory mass in one direction orthogonal to the vibratory axis;
- and
- a second sense circuit coupled to at least one of the vibratory masses for sensing motion of the vibratory mass in another direction orthogonal to the vibratory axis.
A method for operating a vibratory rotational rate sensor, the rate sensor including a pair of vibratory masses disposed symmetrically along a common axis for vibration along the axis, the method comprising the steps of:
- driving at least one vibratory mass for inducing periodic motion in the vibratory masses along the axis;
- sensing motion of at least one of the vibratory masses in one direction orthogonal to the vibratory axis;
- and
- sensing motion of at least one of the vibratory masses in another direction orthogonal to the vibratory axis.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.