Time Domain Switched Gyroscope Digital Trigger
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current monolithically-integrated gyroscopes face challenges in accurately detecting rotation about an axis due to limitations in movement restriction and signal generation, particularly in orthogonal directions, leading to instability and phase noise.
Innovation Solution
A gyroscope design featuring a rigid support structure, a drive mass, a drive mass driver, a sense mass, and a digital trigger with a proximity switch, where the drive mass oscillates in one direction and the sense mass moves orthogonally in response to Coriolis forces, with the digital trigger switching states to indicate rotation, enhancing stability and reducing phase noise.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the drive mass and sense mass are springedly coupled to restrict movement to specific directions, then movement restriction and signal generation improve, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The gyroscope is divided into functionally independent segments: the drive mass oscillates in the first direction while the sense mass moves in the orthogonal second direction. The spring couplings are segmented to restrict movement along specific axes, allowing each mass to perform its dedicated function without interference from the other direction, thus achieving precise rotation detection through directional separation.
2Reliability
If a digital trigger with proximity switch is used to detect sense mass position, then phase noise is reduced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The proximity switch detects the position of the sense mass by sensing changes in the electromagnetic field or capacitance rather than through direct mechanical contact. This substitution of mechanical detection with field-based sensing reduces wear, improves reliability, and stabilizes phase measurements while maintaining a relatively compact structure.
3Measurement precision
If the drive mass oscillates in one direction and sense mass moves orthogonally, then Coriolis force detection improves, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The spring couplings are designed with anisotropic properties, providing high stiffness along the restricted movement directions and low stiffness along the allowed movement directions. This local quality differentiation allows the drive mass to oscillate freely in the first direction while being constrained in the second direction, and similarly for the sense mass, achieving accurate Coriolis force detection without requiring perfect orthogonal alignment throughout the entire structure.
Data Source
AI summary
A gyroscope comprising: a support structure; a drive mass springedly coupled to the support structure such that movement of the drive mass with respect to the support structure is substantially restricted to movement in a first direction; a driver configured to cause the drive mass to oscillate with respect to the support structure in the first direction; a sense mass springedly coupled to the drive mass such that movement of the sense mass with respect to the drive mass is substantially restricted to movement in a second direction, which is orthogonal to the first direction; and a digital trigger comprising a proximity switch coupled between the drive mass and the sense mass, wherein the switch is configured to switch from an open state to a closed state each time the sense mass is in a reference position with respect to the drive mass.