US4386535A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Resonator restrained gyro
Assignee: Kearfott Guidance and Navigation Corp
•
Filing: 1980-09-12
•
Granted: 1983-06-07
•
Expires: 2000-09-12
Abstract
Abstract A gyro includes a rotatable hub with a flexing member centrally supporting a rotor. The rotor is further supported by a pair of piezoelectric force transducers angularly separated by 90 degrees. The rotor turns with the hub. Oscillators drive the transducers and, as the gyro undergoes angular displacement, the oscillators "follow" the instant natural frequency of the transducers. FM signals are generated which may be resolved into two digital signals indicative of angular rate about the gyro case X and Y axes.
Inventors
- 👤 William C. Albert
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 22:10
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01C; G01C19/00; G01C19/02; G01C19/04; G01C19/28; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T74/00; Y10T74/12; Y10T74/1261; Y10T74/1264; Y10T74/1275; Y10T74/1293
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 5
Claim 1
Independent Claim
136 words
A gyroscope comprising: a first member rotating about a spin axis; a second member rotating about the spin axis and positioned in spaced relation to the first member; flexible means securing the first and second rotating members together for permitting linked rotation therebetween; a plurality of oscillating means; a plurality of force sensing means respectively connected in circuit with the oscillating means, the force sensing means being physically angularly spaced from each other and connected between the first and second rotating members for producing a digital signal having a vibrational frequency dependent upon axial force along the spin axis as modulated by an input angular rate; and means connected in circuit with the oscillating means and the force sensing means for resolving the frequency modulated signal into components indicative of input rates about two orthogonal axes.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
136 words
A gyroscope comprising: a first member rotating about a spin axis; a second member rotating about the spin axis and positioned in spaced relation to the first member; flexible means securing the first and second rotating members together for permitting linked rotation therebetween; a plurality of oscillating means; a plurality of force sensing means respectively connected in circuit with the oscillating means, the force sensing means being physically angularly spaced from each other and connected between the first and second rotating members for producing a digital signal having a vibrational frequency dependent upon axial force along the spin axis as modulated by an input angular rate; and means connected in circuit with the oscillating means and the force sensing means for resolving the frequency modulated signal into components indicative of input rates about two orthogonal axes.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
The subject matter set forth in claim 1 together with means for detecting angular rotation of the second rotating member between quadrature reference points.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
54 words
The subject matter set forth in claim 1 wherein the first rotating member is a hub driven by a motor and further wherein the second rotating member is a gyroscope rotor positioned in planar spaced relation to the first rotating member and further wherein the force sensing means are transducers fabricated from crystal material.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
The subject matter set forth in claim 1 wherein the plurality of force sensing means comprises a pair of crystal transducers disposed 90 degrees apart from each other.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3147627A
Cited
US3267746A
Cited
US3413859A
Cited
US3354726A
Cited
US3438270A
Cited
US3479536A
Cited
US3470400A
Cited
US3584513A
Cited
US3608383A
Cited
GB1308205A
Cited
US3802276A
Cited
US4217787A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1986-06-06 | 1986-12-06 | 1987-06-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1990-06-06 | 1990-12-06 | 1991-06-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1994-06-06 | 1994-12-06 | 1995-06-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |