Rotation sensor output signal processor

The angular rotation sensing system of claim wherein said synchronous oscillator means includes:

• first phase detection means for providing a first phase detector output signal representative of phase differences between said first mixer output signal phase and said sensing system output signal phase;
• second phase detection means for providing a second phase detector output signal representative of phase differences between said second mixer output signal phase and said sensing system output signal phase;
• signal combining means for combining said first phase detector output signal and said second phase detector output signal thereby providing a signal combining means output signal that is related to a phase difference between said sensing system output signal phase and each of said first mixer output signal phase and said second output signal phase;
• oscillator means for providing an oscillator output signal based on said signal combining means output signal;
• and
• counter means for receiving said oscillator output signal and providing said sensing system output signal based on said oscillator output signal frequency.

The angular rotation sensing system of claim

• wherein said synchronous oscillator means includes:
• first phase detection means for providing a first phase detector output signal representative of phase differences between said first mixer output signal phase and said sensing system output signal phase;
• second phase detection means for providing a second phase detector output signal representative of phase differences between said second mixer output signal phase and said sensing system output signal phase;
• signal combining means for combining said first phase detector output signal and said second phase detector output signal thereby providing a signal combining means output signal;
• integrator means for performing an integration function on said signal combining means output signal to provide an integrator output signal;
• oscillator means for providing an oscillator output signal based on said integrator output signal;
• and
• counter means for receiving said oscillator output signal and providing said sensing system output signal based on said oscillator output signal frequency.

An angular rotation sensing system for sensing rotational motion, said angular rotation sensing system providing a sensing system output signal indicative of high resolution increments of angular rotation, said angular rotation sensing system comprising:

• an angular motion sensor for providing an angular motion sensor signal having an inertial component due to any input angle sensed by said angular motion sensor and an oscillation component due to rotational oscillation of said angular motion sensor, said angular motion sensor providing a monitor signal that is related to said oscillation component;
• signal combining means for receiving said angular motion sensor signal and a signal representative of said oscillation component, said signal combining means providing a signal combining means output signal having an inertial component with said oscillation component being substantially absent;
• synchronous oscillator means for receiving said signal combining means output signal and providing an oscillator output signal that is selectively phase synchronized with said signal combining means output signal;
• signal generation means for providing said signal representative of said oscillation component to said signal combining means, said signal representative of said oscillation component being based on said monitor signal;
• and
• counter means for receiving said oscillator output signal and providing said sensing system output signal based on said oscillator output signal frequency.

An angular rotation sensing system for sensing rotational motion about a primary axis, said angular rotation sensing system being capable of providing a sensing system output signal representing an enhanced measure of angular rotation about said primary axis, said angular rotation sensing system comprising:

• an angular motion sensor capable of providing an angular motion sensor signal indicative of angular rotation, the angular motion sensor signal having an inertial component due to rotation of said angular motion sensor about s&aid primary axis and an oscillation component due to rotational oscillation of said angular motion sensor;
• translation means capable of receiving said angular motion sensor signal and a reference signal having a reference frequency, said translation means providing a translated output signal that is substantially the same as said angular motion sensor signal translated in frequency by an amount equal to said reference frequency;
• phase detection means capable of receiving said translated output signal and a feedback signal, said phase detection means being capable of providing a detector output signal indicative of phase differences between said translated output signal and said feedback signal;
• variable frequency means capable of receiving said detector output signal and providing a variable frequency output signal having an output signal frequency that is related to said detector output signal;
• and
• counter means capable of receiving said variable frequency output signal, said counter means being capable of providing said sensing system output signal based on said output signal frequency, said counter means being capable of providing said feedback signal that is related to said variable frequency output signal.