VIBRATORY GYROSCOPIC RATE SENSOR

摘要

A three axis rate sensor includes a substantially planar vibratory resonator (5) having a substantially ring or hoop-like structure with inner (6) and outer peripheries extending around a common axis, drive means (22) for causing the resonator to vibrate in a Cos2theta vibration mode, carrier mode pick-off means (23) for sensing movement of the resonator (5) in response to the applied drive means, x-axis, y-axis and z-axis response mode, pick-off means (25, 27, 31) for detecting movement of the resonator in response to rotation about the x-axis, y-axis and z-axis, x-axis, y-axis and z-axis response mode drive means (24, 26, 30) for nulling said motion and support means (9) for flexibly supporting the resonator and for allowing the resonator (5) to vibrate relative to the support means (9) in response to the drive means (22) and the applied rotation wherein the support means (9) comprises only L support beams, where L NOTEQUAL 2, and k = 0, 1, 2 or 3.