Milli Sensory Systems and Actuators, Inc.

Thomas E Reed

Donato Cardarelli

Michele S Sapuppo

A pendulous oscillating gyroscope and accelerometer multisensor having an accelerometer input axis and a gyroscopic input axis, comprising: a fixed case; a servo driven member mounted to the case for sinusoidal oscillation about an accelerometer servo axis which is the same as the gyroscopic input axis; a torque summing member mounted to the servo driven member to allow rotational motion about an output axis transverse to the servo axis; a rotor driven member mounted to the torque summing member for sinusoidal oscillation about a reference axis transverse to both the output axis and the servo axis; and a pendulosity carried by at least one of the torque summing member and the rotor driven member to create a mass imbalance about an output axis, in which pendulosity torque due to acceleration along the accelerometer input axis causes a DC rotation of the torque summing member about the output axis. The rotor driven member is sinusoidally oscillated about the reference axis, and the servo driven member is sinusoidally oscillated about the servo axis. The two sinusoidal oscillations create a first gyroscopic torque, which causes DC rotation of the torque summing member about the output axis, and in which DC rotation of the fixed case about the gyroscopic input axis creates a second gyroscopic torque, which causes an AC oscillation of the torque summing member about the output axis. A measurement device determines the rotational motion of the torque summing member about the output axis. A controller responsive to the measurement device alters the oscillation of at least one of the oscillating members to create change in the first gyroscopic torque to counterbalance pendulosity torque. Acceleration along the input axis, and rotation about the servo axis, are both determined.

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Charlton, MA, United States of America

Thomas E Reed