US Patent 7113104 Giant magnetoresistance based gyroscope

A gyroscope (10) for determining rate of rotation includes a giant magnetoresistor (GMR) (14) attached to a mass (12) oscillating along a first axis. When the gyroscope (10) is rotated, the mass (12) also oscillates along a second axis perpendicular to the first axis. A magnetic element (16), which includes of a strip of magnetic bits (18), is disposed along the first axis, the second axis, or both. The magnetic bits (18) supply discrete magnetic fields. The GMR (14) changes in electrical resistance when exposed to these magnetic fields. A voltage sensor (20) and processor (34) are then utilized to calculate the rate of rotation.