Patent ID: 8555717
Filing Date: 2013-10-15
Classification: G01C

Abstract:
1. A vibrating structure gyroscope, including: a substantially planar annular resonator; a substrate; at least one drive transducer arranged to cause the annular resonator to oscillate in a primary in-plane mode at a resonant frequency of the primary mode and having an associated flexible support including first and second leg members which have a radially-extending line of symmetry between them; a support arrangement including a plurality of flexible supports arranged to support the annular resonator from the substrate and to allow the annular resonator to oscillate in the primary in-plane mode and to oscillate in a secondary in-plane mode in response to an angular velocity applied around an axis substantially perpendicular to a plane of the annular resonator; and at least one pick-off transducer arranged to detect oscillation of the annular resonator in the secondary in-plane mode and having an associated flexible support including first and second leg members which have a radially-extending line of symmetry between them; wherein a magnetic field is arranged perpendicular to the plane of the annular resonator such that each drive transducer is located within the magnetic field; wherein said at least one drive transducer includes a metal track on the annular resonator and on the flexible supports, and has a continuous metal track comprising a first track section running from the substrate along the first leg member, along a section of the annular resonator and along the second leg member back to the substrate, said first and second leg members only carrying the metal track associated with a single drive transducer, wherein said at least one pick-off transducer is located in said magnetic field and has a continuous metal track comprising a first track section running from the substrate along the first leg member, along a section of the annular resonator and along the second leg member back to the substrate, said first and second leg members only carrying the metal track associated with a single pick-off transducer.