Patent attributes
A vibrational gyroscope includes a piezoelectric ring having a central opening, and a hemispherical resonator having a central opening and mounted over the opening of the central opening of the piezoelectric ring. A plurality of electrodes delivers a voltage to the piezoelectric ring. A plurality of electrodes provides signal readout that corresponds to angular velocity. The hemispherical resonator can be glued to the piezoelectric ring. The hemispherical resonator preferably vibrates in the third vibration mode. A plurality of capacitive electrodes can be located at nodes and at antinodes of the vibration of the hemispherical resonator, and provide a signal readout that corresponds to the angular velocity. The piezoelectric ring is segmented, non-segmented, or includes an outer segmented portion and an inner non-segmented portion. The inner non-segmented portion can be used to excite the resonator into a vibration mode, and the outer segmented portion provides a readout signal and is used to adjust the vibration of the resonator. The piezoelectric ring includes a conductive coating used to conduct excitation voltage to the piezoelectric ring.
