A sensor structure and a method for operating a vibrating sensor of angular velocity comprising a rotor mass and two linearly moving masses is disclosed. The sensor structure and method comprises a rotor mass, two linearly moving masses, and two T-shaped levers each coupled with the two linearly moving masses and to the rotor mass. The T-shaped levers enable the rotor mass and the two linearly moving masses to be excited into an anti-phase primary mode, where the direction of angular momentum of the rotor mass is opposite to the direction of angular momenta of the linearly moving masses. Angular momenta of the rotor mass and the linearly moving masses cancel each other to a high extent, so that the total sum of angular momentum of the structure is very small. Nominal frequency of the anti-phase primary mode is distinctively low as compared to nominal frequencies of other possible primary modes, such as a parallel phase primary mode.

A sensor structure and a method for operating a vibrating sensor of angular velocity comprising a rotor mass and two linearly moving masses is disclosed. The sensor structure and method comprises a rotor mass, two linearly moving masses, and two T-shaped levers each coupled with the two linearly moving masses and to the rotor mass. The T-shaped levers enable the rotor mass and the two linearly moving masses to be excited into an anti-phase primary mode, where the direction of angular momentum of the rotor mass is opposite to the direction of angular momenta of the linearly moving masses. Angular momenta of the rotor mass and the linearly moving masses cancel each other to a high extent, so that the total sum of angular momentum of the structure is very small. Nominal frequency of the anti-phase primary mode is distinctively low as compared to nominal frequencies of other possible primary modes, such as a parallel phase primary mode.

In a first aspect, the angular rate sensor comprises a substrate and a rotating structure anchored to the substrate. The angular rate sensor also includes a drive mass anchored to the substrate and an element coupling the drive mass and the rotating structure. The angular rate sensor further includes an actuator for driving the drive mass into oscillation along a first axis in plane to the substrate and for driving the rotating structure into rotational oscillation around a second axis normal to the substrate; a first transducer to sense the motion of the rotating structure in response to a Coriolis force in a sense mode; and a second transducer to sense the motion of the sensor during a drive mode. In a second aspect the angular rate sensor comprises a substrate and two shear masses which are parallel to the substrate and anchored to the substrate via flexible elements. In further embodiments, a dynamically balanced 3-axis gyroscope architecture is provided. Various embodiments described herein can facilitate providing linear and angular momentum balanced 3-axis gyroscope architectures for better offset stability, vibration rejection, and lower part-to-part coupling.

In a first aspect, the angular rate sensor comprises a substrate and a rotating structure anchored to the substrate. The angular rate sensor also includes a drive mass anchored to the substrate and an element coupling the drive mass and the rotating structure. The angular rate sensor further includes an actuator for driving the drive mass into oscillation along a first axis in plane to the substrate and for driving the rotating structure into rotational oscillation around a second axis normal to the substrate; a first transducer to sense the motion of the rotating structure in response to a Coriolis force in a sense mode; and a second transducer to sense the motion of the sensor during a drive mode. In a second aspect the angular rate sensor comprises a substrate and two shear masses which are parallel to the substrate and anchored to the substrate via flexible elements. In further embodiments, a dynamically balanced 3-axis gyroscope architecture is provided. Various embodiments described herein can facilitate providing linear and angular momentum balanced 3-axis gyroscope architectures for better offset stability, vibration rejection, and lower part-to-part coupling.

A microelectromechanical and/or nanoelectromechanical device having a fixed part, at least one suspended part configured to be moveable in the plane of the device with respect to the fixed part along at least one first direction and a first suspension means for suspending the suspended part. The first suspension means includes two suspension elements each having a first end fixed directly to the suspended part and a second end connected to the fixed part, each suspension element having a half-ellipse shape in the plane and extending between the first end and the second end, and the two suspension elements being arranged with respect to each other so as to form an ellipse.

A system is disclosed for suspension of a mobile mass, such as an inertial angular sensor, including a connection device including first and second connection elements connected to each other through a connection block and deformable in bending in a mobility plane so as to enable displacements relative to the connection block, of the mobile mass connected to the first connection element, and of another element of the system connected to the second connection element such as a support or another mobile mass respectively, along two distinct directions respectively. At least one of the connection elements is formed from two springs, connecting the connection block to the mobile mass or the other element of the system respectively. The connection element thus has improved linearity properties.

In a first aspect, the angular rate sensor comprises a substrate and a rotating structure anchored to the substrate. The angular rate sensor also includes a drive mass anchored to the substrate and an element coupling the drive mass and the rotating structure. The angular rate sensor further includes an actuator for driving the drive mass into oscillation along a first axis in plane to the substrate and for driving the rotating structure into rotational oscillation around a second axis normal to the substrate; a first transducer to sense the motion of the rotating structure in response to a Coriolis force in a sense mode; and a second transducer to sense the motion of the sensor during a drive mode. In a second aspect the angular rate sensor comprises a substrate and two shear masses which are parallel to the substrate and anchored to the substrate via flexible elements. In further embodiments, a dynamically balanced 3-axis gyroscope architecture is provided. Various embodiments described herein can facilitate providing linear and angular momentum balanced 3-axis gyroscope architectures for better offset stability, vibration rejection, and lower part-to-part coupling.

In a first aspect, the angular rate sensor comprises a substrate and a rotating structure anchored to the substrate. The angular rate sensor also includes a drive mass anchored to the substrate and an element coupling the drive mass and the rotating structure. The angular rate sensor further includes an actuator for driving the drive mass into oscillation along a first axis in plane to the substrate and for driving the rotating structure into rotational oscillation around a second axis normal to the substrate; a first transducer to sense the motion of the rotating structure in response to a Coriolis force in a sense mode; and a second transducer to sense the motion of the sensor during a drive mode. In a second aspect the angular rate sensor comprises a substrate and two shear masses which are parallel to the substrate and anchored to the substrate via flexible elements. In further embodiments, a dynamically balanced 3-axis gyroscope architecture is provided. Various embodiments described herein can facilitate providing linear and angular momentum balanced 3-axis gyroscope architectures for better offset stability, vibration rejection, and lower part-to-part coupling.

The invention related to a microelectromechanical systems gyroscope, which comprises a plurality of sensing modules sensing angular velocities on tri-axes, a plurality of outer frames set at outside of the sensing modules, and a plurality of driving shafts set between the frames respectively. The driving shafts are connected with two adjacent frames by first and second flexible connecting elements, respectively, and the frames are connected with the sensing modules by a plurality of transporting units. Thus, tri-axes sensing is provided.

A controller applies a predetermined voltage to a fixed part detection excitation electrode to vibrate a movable part in a second direction and simultaneously applies a predetermined voltage to a fixed part drive electrode to vibrate the movable part in a first direction. The controller acquires, of the movable part, a first resonance frequency along the first direction and a second resonance frequency along the second direction. The controller controls a drive spring adjustment part to adjust a spring constant of the drive spring, such that the first resonance frequency is maintained constant, and controls a detection spring adjustment part to adjust a spring constant of the detection spring such that the second resonance frequency is maintained constant. The controller detects the angular velocity based on a result of synchronously detecting signal from the fixed part detection electrode with the first resonance frequency.