Gyroscope

Claim 2

An electrostatic bearing control circuit for controlling the support of a member between a pair of electrodes, electrostatic support means establishing an AC potential between said member and said electrodes, sensing means providing an AC position signal which varies as a function of the position of said member with respect to said electrodes, an amplifier amplifying said position signal and having a first and second input terminal, means applying a first predetermined portion of the amplified position signal between a reference point and said first input terminal, anD means applying a second predetermined portion of said amplified position signal between said reference point and said second input terminal with said first and said second portions being substantially equal but opposite in polarity.

Claim 3

A free rotor gyro comprising a rotor, first and second electrodes, a power circuit establishing an AC potential between said rotor and said electrodes to rotatably electrostatically support said rotor, differential means developing a differential current position signal which varies as the difference between the current passing through said first and said second electrodes, servo means connected between said differential means and said power circuit to maintain said rotor centered between said electrodes, said servo means including an amplifier for amplifying said position signal and having first and second input terminals, means applying a first predetermined portion of the amplifier position signal between a reference point and said first input terminal, and means applying a second predetermined portion of said amplified position signal between said reference point and said second input terminal with said first and said second predetermined portions being substantially equal but opposite in polarity.

Claim 4

A free rotor gyro comprising a rotor, first and second electrodes, a power circuit establishing an AC potential between said rotor and said electrodes to rotatably electrostatically support said rotor, differential means developing a differential current position signal which varies as the difference between the current passing through said first and said second electrodes, servo means connected between said differential means and said power circuit to maintain said rotor centered between said electrodes, said servo means including an amplifier for amplifying said position signal and having first and second input terminals, means applying a first predetermined portion of the amplifier position signal between a reference point and said first input terminal, and means applying a second predetermined portion of said amplified position signal between said reference point and said second input terminal with said first and said second predetermined portions being substantially equal but opposite in polarity.

Claim 5

Free rotor gyro comprising a rotor, first and second electrodes, a power circuit establishing an AC potential between said rotor and said electrodes to rotatably electrostatically support said rotor sensing means coupled to said power circuit for developing an AC signal which varies as a function of the potential of said rotor with respect to said electrodes, amplifier means, having first and second input terminals, means coupling said position signal to said first and second input terminals, means coupling the output means to said power circuit for centering said rotor between said first and said second electrodes in response to said position signal, means applying a first predetermined portion of the amplified position signal between a reference point and said first input signal, and means applying a second predetermined portion of said amplified position signal between said reference point and said second input terminal with said first and said second predetermined portions being substantially equal but opposite in polarity.

Claim 6

Free rotor gyro comprising a rotor, first and second electrodes, a power circuit establishing an AC potential between said rotor and said electrodes to rotatably electrostatically support said rotor sensing means coupled to said power circuit for developing an AC signal which varies as a function of the potential of said rotor with respect to said electrodes, amplifier means, having first and second input terminals, means coupling said position signal to said first and second input terminals, means coupling the output means to said power circuit for centering said rotor between said first and said second electrodes in response to said position signal, means applying a first predetermined portion of the amplified position signal between a reference point and said first input signal, and means applying a second predetermined portion of said amplified position signal between said reference point and said second input terminal with said first and said second predetermined portions being substantially equal but opposite in polarity.

Claim 7

Free rotor gyro comprising a rotor, first and second electrodes, a power circuit establishing an AC potential between said rotor and said electrodes to rotatably electrostatically support said rotor, sensing means inductively coupled to said power circuit developing a differential current signal which varies as the difference between the current passing through said first and said second electrodes, amplifier means having first and second input terminals, means applying said differential current signal to said first and said second input terminals, the output of said amplifier means inductively coupled to said power circuit so as to effect centering of said rotor between said electrodes in response to said differential current signal, means applying a first predetermined portion of the amplified position signal between the reference point and said first input terminal and means applying a second predetermined portion of said amplified position signal between said reference point and said second input terminal and said portions being substantially equal but opposite in polarity so as to effect cancellation thereof.

Claim 8

Free rotor gyro comprising a rotor, first and second electrodes, a power circuit establishing an AC potential between said rotor and said electrodes to rotatably electrostatically support said rotor, sensing means inductively coupled to said power circuit developing a differential current signal which varies as the difference between the current passing through said first and said second electrodes, amplifier means having first and second input terminals, means applying said differential current signal to said first and said second input terminals, the output of said amplifier means inductively coupled to said power circuit so as to effect centering of said rotor between said electrodes in response to said differential current signal, means applying a first predetermined portion of the amplified position signal between the reference point and said first input terminal and means applying a second predetermined portion of said amplified position signal between said reference point and said second input terminal and said portions being substantially equal but opposite in polarity so as to effect cancellation thereof.

Claim 9

A free rotor gyroscope comprising a rotor, first and second electrodes, a power circuit establishing an AC potential between said rotor and said electrodes to rotatably electrostatically support said rotor, sensing means developing a differential current position signal having an amplitude which varies as a function of the difference between the current passing through said first and second electrodes, amplifier means having first and second input terminals, means coupling said position signal to said first and second input signals, means applying the output of said amplifier across an AC voltage divider including an inductance inductively coupled to said power circuit to effect centering of said rotor between said first and second electrodes, impedance means connected between said first input terminal and said inductance so as to effect application of a first signal which varies as a function of the amplified position signal and in phase therewith, said inductance inductively coupled between said reference point and said second input terminal to effect application of a second signal which varies inversely as a function of the amplified position signal and said first and said second signal having substantially equal amplitude so as to effect cancellation therebetween.

Claim 10

A free rotor gyroscope comprising a rotor, first and second electrodes, a power circuit establishing an AC potential between said rotor and said electrodes to rotatably electrostatically support said rotor, sensing means developing a differential current position signal having an amplitude which varies as a function of the difference between the current passing through said first and second electrodes, amplifier means having first and second input terminals, means coupling said position signal to said first and second input signals, means applying the output of said amplifier across an AC voltage divider including an inductance inductively coupled to said power circuit to effect centering of said rotor between said first and second electrodes, impedance means connected between said first input terminal and said inductance so as to effect application of a first signal which varies as a function of the amplified position signal and in phase therewith, said inductance inductively coupled between said reference point and said second input terminal to effect application of a second signal which varies inversely as a function of the amplified position signal and said first and said second signal having substantially equal amplitude so as to effect cancellation therebetween.

Claim 11

A free rotor gyro comprising a rotor, first and second electrodes, a power circuit establishing an AC potential between said rotor and said electrodes, a transformer having a center tap primary and a tap secondary defining a reference point, the end of said primary being connected to said first and said second electrodes, power supply connnected between said rotor and said center tap for establishing an AC potential between said rotor and said electrodes to rotatably electrostatically support said rotor, amplifier means having first and second input terminals, one end of said secondary connected to said second input terminal and impedance means connected between said reference point and said first input terminal to effect application of a differential current signal which varies as a function of the difference between the current passing through said first and said second electrodes, the output of said amplifier being connected across said second winding and said impedance means to thereby effect application of a first signal between said reference point and said input terminal which varies as a function of the amplified position signal and said second winding inductively coupled to said first secondary winding to effect application of a second signal between said reference point and said second input terminal and said first and said second signals having substantially equal amplitude so as to effect cancellation therebetween.

Claim 12

A free rotor gyro comprising a rotor, first and second electrodes, a power circuit establishing an AC potential between said rotor and said electrodes, a transformer having a center tap primary and a tap secondary defining a reference point, the end of said primary being connected to said first and said second electrodes, power supply connnected between said rotor and said center tap for establishing an AC potential between said rotor and said electrodes to rotatably electrostatically support said rotor, amplifier means having first and second input terminals, one end of said secondary connected to said second input terminal and impedance means connected between said reference point and said first input terminal to effect application of a differential current signal which varies as a function of the difference between the current passing through said first and said second electrodes, the output of said amplifier being connected across said second winding and said impedance means to thereby effect application of a first signal between said reference point and said input terminal which varies as a function of the amplified position signal and said second winding inductively coupled to said first secondary winding to effect application of a second signal between said reference point and said second input terminal and said first and said second signals having substantially equal amplitude so as to effect cancellation therebetween.

Claim 13

An electrostatic bearing control circuit for controlling the support of a member between a pair of electrodes, an AC potential imposed on said electrodes, sensing means providing an AC position signal which varies as a function of the deflection of said member from a neutral position with respect to said electrodes, an amplifier amplifying said position signal, coupling means coupling the output of said amplifier to said pair of electrodes with such a manner as to polarity and phase to increase the net electrostatic force on said support member in a direction to restore said member toward a neutral center position and means substantially cancelling the output of said amplifier from being applied to the input of said amplifier.

Claim 14

An electrostatic bearing control circuit for controlling the support of a member between a pair of electrodes, an AC potential imposed on said electrodes, sensing means providing an AC position signal which varies as a function of the deflection of said member from a neutral position with respect to said electrodes, an amplifier amplifying said position signal, coupling means coupling the output of said amplifier to said pair of electrodes with such a manner as to polarity and phase to increase the net electrostatic force on said support member in a direction to restore said member toward a neutral center position and means substantially cancelling the output of said amplifier from being applied to the input of said amplifier.

Claim 15

An electrostatic bearing as set forth in claim 7 where one transformer couples said position signal to said amplifier and also operates as said coupling means.

Claim 16

An electrostatic support system for supporting a member between a pair of electrodes comprising in combination: electrostatic support circuit establishing an alternating potential between said member and said electrodes for electrostatically supporting said member; sensing means providing and alternating signal indicative of the displacement of said member from a centered position between said pair of electrodes; and impedance means responsive to said alternating signal and providing a signal to said electrostatic support circuit varying said alternating potential between said member and said electrodes so as to effect substantial centering of said member between said pair of electrodes.

Claim 17

An electrostatic support system for supporting a member between a pair of electrodes comprising in combination: electrostatic support circuit establishing an alternating potential between said member and said electrodes for electrostatically supporting said member; sensing means providing and alternating signal indicative of the displacement of said member from a centered position between said pair of electrodes; and impedance means responsive to said alternating signal and providing a signal to said electrostatic support circuit varying said alternating potential between said member and said electrodes so as to effect substantial centering of said member between said pair of electrodes.

Claim 18

An electrostatic support system for supporting a member between a pair of electrodes comprising in combination: electrostatic support circuit establishing an alternating potential between said member and said electrodes for electrostatically suppoRting said member; sensing means providing an alternating signal indicative of the displacement of said member from a centered position between said pair of electrodes; and positive impedance means responsive to said alternating signal and providing a signal to said electrostatic support circuit varying said alternating potential between said member and said electrodes so as to effect substantial centering of said member between said pair of electrodes.

Claim 19

An electrostatic support system for supporting a member between a pair of electrodes comprising in combination: electrostatic support circuit establishing an alternating potential between said member and said electrodes for electrostatically suppoRting said member; sensing means providing an alternating signal indicative of the displacement of said member from a centered position between said pair of electrodes; and positive impedance means responsive to said alternating signal and providing a signal to said electrostatic support circuit varying said alternating potential between said member and said electrodes so as to effect substantial centering of said member between said pair of electrodes.

Claim 20

The electrostatic support system of claim 2 wherein said provided signal of said impedance means is reflected through said sensing means ro said electrostatic support circuit.

Claim 21

The electrostatic support system of claim 2 wherein said sensing means is a transformer having a primary and a secondary winding, the primary winding of said transformer connected to said electrodes so as to sense the current flow between said electrodes and said supported member, the secondary of said transformer connected to said impedance means.