Patent EP0175508A1 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
EP0175508A1
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EP
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Vibrational gyroscope
Assignee: BAE Systems Electronics Ltd
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Filing: 1985-08-29
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2005-08-29
Abstract
Abstract A vibrational gyroscope is provided with a vibrating member in the form of a flexible annular shell (5) extending from a flat flexible plate (6). In use, the flat plate (6) is vibrated and excites radial vibrations in the lip of the annular shell (5). When the gyroscope is rotated about the shell axis (16), the nodes of the radial vibrations shift around the circumference of the lip, due to the action of Coriolis forces. The radial nodes (19') of the vibrations in the plate (6) shift similarly and their movement is detected by sensing means (S1, S2) on the plate (6), giving an indication of the rotation rate.
Inventors
- 👤 Peter Dudley Church
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 15:30
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01C; G01C19/00; G01C19/56; G01C19/567; G01C19/5691
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 25
Claim 1
Independent Claim
71 words
A vibrational gyroscope characterised by a flexible annular shell (5) extending from a flat flexible plate (6), driving means (DR1,DR2) for causing said plate (6) to vibrate in such a way as to excite radial vibration in said annular shell (5) and sensing means (S1,S2) for sensing changes in the vibration of said plate (6) in response to changes in said radial vibrations induced by rotation about the shell axis (16).
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
71 words
A vibrational gyroscope characterised by a flexible annular shell (5) extending from a flat flexible plate (6), driving means (DR1,DR2) for causing said plate (6) to vibrate in such a way as to excite radial vibration in said annular shell (5) and sensing means (S1,S2) for sensing changes in the vibration of said plate (6) in response to changes in said radial vibrations induced by rotation about the shell axis (16).
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
A vibrational gyroscope as claimed in Claim 1 characterised in that said annular shell (5) is generally cylindrical.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
A vibrational gyroscope as claimed in Claim 1 characterised in that said annular shell (5) is generally right cylindrical.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
A vibrational gyroscope as claimed in Claims 1, 2 or 3 characterised in that said plate (6) extends outside said annular shell (5).
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
17 words
A vibrational gyroscope as claimed in any preceding claim characterised in that said plate (6) is annular.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
31 words
A vibrational gyroscope as claimed in Claim 5 charcterised in that said plate (6) is supported by a mounting(4') at a nodal point or line of a free vibration (Figure 4).
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
A vibrational gyroscope as claimed in Claim 5 characterised in that said plate (6) is supported by a mounting at its edge.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
25 words
A vibrational gyroscope as claimed in any of Claims 1, 2, 3 and 5, characterised in that. said plate (6) extends inside said shell (5).
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
19 words
A vibrational gyroscope as claimed in Claim 8 characterised in that said plate (6 is a disc (Figure 8).
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
24 words
A vibrational gyroscope as claimed in any preceding claim characterised in that said annular shell (5) extends from both sides of said plate (6).
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
43 words
A vibrational gyroscope as claimed in any preceding claim characterised in that said driving means (DH1,DR2) and said sensing means (S1,S2) comprise respective sets of electrodes on a common body (7) of piezoelectric material, said body (7) being attached to said plate (6).
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
23 words
A vibrational gyroscope as claimed in Claim 11 characterised in that said body (7) is an annulus coaxial with said annular shell (5).
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
23 words
A vibration gyroscope as claimed in Claim 11 characterised in that said body (7) is a disc coaxial with said annular shell (5).
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
34 words
A vibrational gyroscope as claimed in Claims 11, 12 and 13, characterised in that said electrodes (DR1, DR2, S1,S2) are provided with connection tabs located at a nodal region (19') of said plate (6).
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
50 words
A vibrational gyroscope as claimed in any of Claims 11 to 14 characterised in that said body (7) of piezoelectric material is provided with damping electrodes (DAl,DA2) for applying a damping signal to said shell (5) via said plate (6) so as to control the Q-factor of said radial vibrations.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
29 words
A vibrational gyroscope as claimed in any of Claims 11 to 15 characterised in that said body (7) is composed of zinc oxide epitaxially deposited on said plate (6).
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
30 words
A vibrational gyroscope as claimed in any of Claims 11 to 15 characterised in that said body (7) is composed of lead zirconate titanate (P.Z.T.) bonded to said plate (6).
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
30 words
A vibrational gyroscope as claimed in any of Claims 11 to 15 characterised in that said body (7) is composed of lithium niobate deposited by sputtering onto said plate (6).
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
53 words
A vibrational gyroscope as claimed in any of Claims 11 to 18 characterised in that said body (7) of piezoelectric material is mounted on said plate (6) in such a manner that no part of said shell (5) projects beyond that surface of said plate (6) on which said body (7) is mounted.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
34 words
A vibrational gyroscope as claimed in any preceding claim characterised in that the greatest diameter of said shell (5) is less than 15mm and the thickness of said shell (5) is less than 0.15mm.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
22 words
A vibrational gyroscope as claimed in any preceding claim characterised in that the thickness of said shell (5) is less than O.lmm.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
44 words
An arrangement characterised in that a vibrational gyroscope as claimed in any preceding claim is mounted on an integrated circuit (2), said integrated circuit (2) incorporating at least some of the driving or sensing circuitry associated with said driving and sensing electrodes (DR1,DR2, S1,S2).
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
40 words
An arrangement as claimed in Claim 22 characterised in that said integrated circuit (2) is provided with input power terminals (12,13) and one or more output terminals (12,15) at which a signal is generated representative of rotation of the gyroscope.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
36 words
An arrangement as claimed in Claim 23 characterised in that said integrated circuit (2) is provided with one or more input terminals (14) via which the sensitivity of the gyroscope is controlled, and no other terminals.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
GB2061502A
Cited
GB2111209A
Cited
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