Patent ID: 7677099

Claim:
An angular rate sensor configured to measure angular velocity about an axis that is normal to a sensing plane of the angular rate sensor, the angular rate sensor comprising: a sensing subassembly comprising a substantially planar frame parallel to the sensing plane; a first proof mass disposed in the sensing plane; a second proof mass disposed in the sensing plane laterally to the first proof mass; and a linkage within the frame and connected to the frame, the linkage being connected to the first proof mass and to the second proof mass; an actuator for driving the first proof mass and the second proof mass into oscillation along a drive axis in the sensing plane, the actuator to drive the first proof mass and the second proof mass 180 degrees out-of-phase; a first transducer to sense motion of the frame in response to a Coriolis force acting on the oscillating first proof mass and the oscillating second proof mass in the sensing plane; and a base plate which is parallel to the sensing plane and to which the sensing subassembly is attached.