Patent ID: 6427518
Filing Date: 2002-08-06
Classification: G01C

Abstract:
An apparatus for measuring a rotation rate, said apparatus comprisingan oscillatory hollow body (11) having an outer surface and made of elastic material; a plurality of electromechanical transducers (A, Aâ€²; B, Bâ€²; C,Câ€²; D, Dâ€²) arranged spaced apart from each other on said outer surface of said oscillatory hollow body; driver circuit means (12, 26) for exciting mechanical oscillations of at least a first (A, Aâ€²) of said electromechanical transducers by means of an electrical driver signal (UF,O) generated in said driver circuit means; damping circuit means (13, 24) for exciting mechanical oscillations of at least a second (D, Dâ€²) of said electromechanical transducers by means of an electrical damping signal (UF,D) generated in said damping circuit means; output circuit means (14, 19) for generating an output voltage that depends on the rotation rate, said output circuit means communicating with at least a third (C, Câ€²) of said electromechanical transducers, said at least a third of said electromechanical transducers emitting a damping oscillatory sensor signal (US,D) corresponding to an oscillation of said hollow body at a location where said at least a third electromechanical transducer is located, wherein said damping oscillatory sensor signal (US,D) is fed back to an input of said damping circuit means; and adjusting circuit means for adjusting said electrical damping signal (UF,D) fed to said at least a second (D,Dâ€²) of said electromechanical transducers; wherein said adjusting circuit means comprises a continuously adjustable potentiometer (31) connected between an output of said damping circuit means (13, 24) and said at least a second (D, Dâ€²) of said electromechanical transducers and wherein said continuously adjustable potentiometer (31) includes a variable resistor; whereby differences between transient response of said transducers in said damping and driver circuit means during self-testing and measurement operation modes may compensated.