Vibrating-Mass Gyroscope Multi-Axis Rotation Measurement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vibrating-mass gyroscope systems face challenges in accurately measuring rotation about multiple orthogonal axes simultaneously due to limitations in drive and force-rebalance control, leading to inefficiencies and potential biases in angular rate calculations.
Innovation Solution
A vibrating-mass gyroscope system with a gyroscope controller that generates drive and force-rebalance signals to facilitate in-plane periodic oscillatory motion and force-rebalance across three orthogonal axes, using sets of electrodes to drive and rebalance vibrating-masses, allowing for simultaneous measurement of rotation across all axes and calibration to mitigate bias errors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single sensor system with one vibrating-mass is used, then the device complexity is reduced, but the ability to accurately measure rotation about multiple orthogonal axes simultaneously is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The single sensor system is designed to perform multiple functions by sequentially driving the vibrating-mass along different drive axes (first drive axis, second drive axis) and measuring angular rates about different sense axes. The controller switches between different drive and sense axis configurations, enabling one sensor system to replace what would traditionally require multiple sensor systems, thus reducing device complexity while maintaining measurement precision through multi-functional operation.
2Measurement precision
If separate sensor systems are used for each axis, then measurement precision for each axis is improved, but the device complexity and number of components increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple sensor systems are merged into a single integrated sensor system that shares common components including the vibrating-mass, spring flexures, and controller. The merging is achieved by enabling the single system to sequentially operate in different measurement modes, where the vibrating-mass is driven along different axes and senses rotation about different axes at different time periods, combining the functionality of multiple separate systems into one unified structure.
3Device complexity
If the vibrating-mass is driven along a single drive axis, then the control system is simplified, but the ability to measure rotation about multiple axes is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The drive control system is made dynamic by sequentially switching between different drive axes rather than maintaining a fixed single-axis configuration. The controller dynamically reconfigures which axis serves as the drive axis and which serves as the sense axis at different time periods, allowing the system to adaptively measure rotation about multiple axes while keeping the control logic relatively simple through systematic axis switching.
4Measurement precision
If force-rebalance is applied continuously on all axes, then measurement accuracy is maintained, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
Force-rebalance is applied periodically rather than continuously by switching between different sense axes at different time periods. The controller applies force-rebalance along a first sense axis during one time period, then switches to apply force-rebalance along a second sense axis during another time period, maintaining measurement accuracy through periodic rebalancing while reducing overall energy consumption compared to continuous multi-axis rebalancing.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables accurate and simultaneous measurement of rotation about three orthogonal axes, reducing bias errors through differential calibration and efficient operation, enhancing the system's capability in applications like aerospace navigation.
Implementation Method 1
a first set of electrodes arranged to provide a first driving force in a first axis... a second set of electrodes arranged to provide a second driving force in the second axis
Implementation Method 2
the spring flexures providing a reactionary motion along the first and second axis at an opposite phase of the drive signal
Implementation Method 3
a first force-rebalance in a second axis... and a second force-rebalance in a third axis... generate first force-rebalance signals that are provided to the first set of electrodes
Implementation Method 4
In response to an applied angular rate about an input axis parallel to the vibrating-mass, Coriolis forces cause the vibrating-mass to vibrate out of plane along a sense axis
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
Figure 4~5
AI summary
The present invention relates to sensor systems, and specifically to a vibrating-mass gyroscope system. The system includes a sensor system comprising a vibrating-mass and electrodes each arranged to provide one of a driving force and a force-rebalance to the vibrating-mass in each of three orthogonal axes. The system also includes a gyroscope controller that generates a drive signal provided to a first electrode of the electrodes to provide the driving force to facilitate an in-plane periodic oscillatory motion of the vibrating-mass along a first axis of the three orthogonal axes. The gyroscope controller also generates a force-rebalance signal provided to each of a second electrode and a third electrode of the plurality of electrodes associated with a respective second axis and a respective third axis of the three orthogonal axes to calculate a rotation of the gyroscope system about the respective second axis and the respective third axis of the three orthogonal axes. Further, the invention comprises a method for measuring a rotation about each of the orthogonal axes via the system, specifically the gyroscope system.