Electro-static floating type gyro device

An electro-static floating type gyro device for suppressing movement of ions inside the electro-static floating type gyro device, the electro-static floating type gyro device comprising:

• a gyro rotor;
• a gyro case storing the gyro rotor, the gyro case having plural pairs of adjacent electro static support electrodes for supporting said gyro rotor and plural displacement detection electrodes between the gyro rotor and the gyro case, the electro static support electrodes and the detection electrodes being arranged on inside surfaces of the gyro case;
• a signal detection circuit for detecting a relative displacement of the gyro rotor and the gyro case through the detection electrodes and for generating a displacement detection signal;
• and
• a posture control circuit for generating complementary posture control voltages for controlling a posture of the gyro rotor based on the displacement detection signal and for applying the complementary posture control voltages to the pairs of adjacent electro static support electrodes;
• wherein
• the complementary posture control voltages applied to the pairs of adjacent electro static support electrodes are alternated in a constant cycle or an irregular cycle, and wherein the movement of the ions inside the electro-static floating type gyro device is suppressed by, the application of the complementary posture control voltages to the pairs of adjacent electro static support electrodes.

A method for controlling an electro-static floating type gyro device and for suppressing movement of ions inside the electro-static floating type gyro device, the method comprising:

• applying positive and negative voltages for controlling a posture of a gyro rotor to a pair of first and second adjacent electro static support electrodes for supporting said gyro rotor respectively;
• and
• applying negative and positive voltages for controlling the posture of the gyro rotor to the pair of first and second adjacent electro static support electrodes for supporting said gyro rotor respectively, wherein:
• said applying positive and negative voltages and said applying negative and positive voltages are repeated in a constant cycle or an irregular cycle, and wherein the movement of the ions inside the electro-static floating type gyro device is suppressed by said applying positive and negative voltages and said applying negative and positive voltages to the pair of first and second adjacent electro static support electrodes.