Patent ID: 7401515

Claim:
An adaptive circuit for reducing vibration or shock induced errors in an inertial sensor, the inertial sensor including at least one proof mass at least one and sense electrode for sensing rotational motion of the sensor about a rate axis, the adaptive circuit comprising: a sense bias voltage source electrically connected to the at least one sense electrode and adapted to produce a charge on a corresponding proof mass of the at least one proof mass based at least in part on the rotational motion of the inertial sensor about the rate axis; at least one amplifier electrically connected to the at least one proof mass and adapted to output a rate signal based at least in part on the charge produced on the at least one proof mass; a means for detecting and/or anticipating the external vibration or shock on the inertial sensor; and a dampening resistive element adapted to dampen proof mass motion in response to the external vibration or shock on the inertial sensor, further comprising a dampening switch selector adapted to selectively switch-in the dampening resistive element and dampen proof mass motion when the external vibration or shock is detected and/or anticipated.