Patents Assigned to Atlantic Inertial Systems Limited
-
Patent number: 10866098Abstract: A vibrating structure angular rate sensor comprises a substrate; a plurality of supporting structures fixed to the substrate; an annular member flexibly supported by the plurality of supporting structures 204; a drive system arranged to apply a periodic driving force such that the annular member 202 oscillates, in use, in a primary mode of vibration at a resonant frequency f1, with an amplitude of motion that generates a restoring force from the plurality of supporting structures 204; and a pick-off system arranged to determine the amplitude of motion of a secondary mode of vibration at a resonant frequency f2, in which oscillation of the annular member 202 is induced by the Coriolis force resulting from an angular rate experienced by the sensor 100. In use, the restoring force has a non-linear relationship with the amplitude of motion and a number p of supporting structures is selected such that f1=f2.Type: GrantFiled: October 15, 2018Date of Patent: December 15, 2020Assignee: ATLANTIC INERTIAL SYSTEMS LIMITEDInventors: Stewart McWilliam, Atanas Popov
-
Patent number: 10816339Abstract: An annular resonator for a vibrating structure angular rate sensor comprises a planar annular member that lies in the X-Y plane and one or more supporting structures arranged to flexibly support the annular member in the X-Y plane. The one or more supporting structures each comprise a radial portion, extending radially from the annular member and having a first thickness in the X-Y plane, and a circumferential portion, extending circumferentially from the radial portion and having a second thickness in the X-Y plane, wherein the first thickness is greater than the second thickness.Type: GrantFiled: July 9, 2018Date of Patent: October 27, 2020Assignee: ATLANTIC INERTIAL SYSTEMS, LIMITEDInventor: Jason Baxter
-
Patent number: 10782147Abstract: A method for determining an operational characteristic of a vibrating structure gyroscope having a movable mass includes: driving the mass to oscillate along a first, predefined path; rotating the vibrating structure gyroscope so as to oscillate the mass along a second path, wherein the second path is different to the first, predefined path; sensing the oscillation of the mass along the second path so as to generate a sensing signal; converting the sensing signal into an in-phase signal and an out-of-phase signal using a demodulator, wherein the in-phase signal is in phase with the oscillation of the mass along the first path, and the out-of-phase signal is out of phase with the in-phase signal.Type: GrantFiled: February 26, 2018Date of Patent: September 22, 2020Assignee: ATLANTIC INERTIAL SYSTEMS LIMITEDInventors: Thomas Mansfield, Matthew Williamson
-
Patent number: 10775404Abstract: A method for closed loop operation of a capacitive accelerometer uses a single current source (62) and a single current sink (64) to apply an in-phase drive signal V1? to a first set of fixed capacitive electrode fingers and a corresponding anti-phase drive signal V2? to a second set of fixed capacitive electrode fingers. This provides a net electrostatic restoring force on the proof mass for balancing the inertial force of the applied acceleration and maintains the proof mass at a null position.Type: GrantFiled: June 26, 2015Date of Patent: September 15, 2020Assignee: ATLANTIC INERTIAL SYSTEMS, LIMITEDInventors: Kevin Townsend, Michael Durston, Douglas Sitch
-
Patent number: 10753745Abstract: There is provided a method of sensing a rotation rate using a vibrating structure gyroscope, said gyroscope comprising an electronic control system comprising one or more control loops, wherein at least one of said control loops comprises a filter having a variable time constant, said method comprising the steps of: determining or estimating a characteristic of the vibrating structure of said gyroscope; and adapting or varying said time constant of said filter with the determined or estimated characteristic of said vibrating structure.Type: GrantFiled: January 26, 2016Date of Patent: August 25, 2020Assignee: ATLANTIC INERTIAL SYSTEMS LIMITEDInventors: Kevin Townsend, Andrew Clifford, Nicholas Wilkinson
-
Patent number: 10746564Abstract: A method of determining whether parametric performance of an inertial sensor has been degraded comprises: recording first data output from an inertial sensor; then recording second data output from the inertial sensor; comparing the first data output with the second data output; and determining whether the parametric performance of the inertial sensor has been degraded based on the comparison between the first and second data output.Type: GrantFiled: August 5, 2016Date of Patent: August 18, 2020Assignee: ATLANTIC INERTIAL SYSTEMS, LIMITEDInventor: Christopher Gregory
-
Patent number: 10731986Abstract: A digitally controlled voltage controlled oscillator comprising an Nbit digital to analogue convertor arranged to receive a frequency change demand signal as a digital Nbit word, and having an output provided via an integrator to a voltage controlled oscillator configured to provide a frequency output.Type: GrantFiled: October 27, 2015Date of Patent: August 4, 2020Assignee: ATLANTIC INERTIAL SYSTEMS LIMITEDInventors: Kevin Townsend, Michael Durston
-
Patent number: 10670623Abstract: A capacitive accelerometer comprises: a substantially planar proof mass mounted to a fixed substrate by flexible support legs so as to be linearly moveable in an in-plane sensing direction. The proof mass comprises first and second sets of moveable capacitive electrode fingers. First and second sets of fixed capacitive electrode fingers interdigitates with the first and second sets of moveable electrode fingers respectively. A set of moveable damping fingers extend from the proof mass substantially perpendicular to the sensing direction, laterally spaced in the sensing direction. A set of fixed damping fingers mounted to the fixed substrate interdigitates with the set of moveable damping fingers and comprises an electrical connection to the proof mass so that the interdigitated damping fingers are electrically common. The damping fingers are mounted in a gaseous medium that provides a damping effect.Type: GrantFiled: August 11, 2016Date of Patent: June 2, 2020Assignee: Atlantic Inertial Systems LimitedInventors: Kiran Mysore Harish, Alan Malvern
-
Patent number: 10670400Abstract: A vibrating structure gyroscope includes an annular resonator arranged to vibrate in a plane in response to electrostatic driving forces and a set of capacitive drive electrodes arranged to apply a voltage creating an electrostatic driving force to excite a primary cos n? resonance along a primary axis at a primary frequency fP, such that Coriolis forces, resulting from an angular rate applied about an out-of-plane axis, induce a secondary cos n? resonance along a secondary axis at a secondary frequency fS. The gyroscope also includes digitally-controlled first and second sets to creating a static electrostatic balancing.Type: GrantFiled: September 27, 2018Date of Patent: June 2, 2020Assignee: ATLANTIC INERTIAL SYSTEMS, LIMITEDInventors: Kevin Townsend, Andrew Kazer
-
Patent number: 10571485Abstract: In a method for open loop operation of a capacitive accelerometer, a first mode of operation comprises electrically measuring a deflection of a proof mass (204) from the null position under an applied acceleration using a pickoff amplifier (206) set to a reference voltage Vcm. A second mode of operation comprises applying electrostatic forces in order to cause the proof mass (204) to deflect from the null position, and electrically measuring the forced deflection so caused. In the second mode of operation the pickoff amplifier (206) has its input (211) switched from Vcm to Vss, using a reference control circuit (209), so that drive amplifiers (210) can apply different voltages Vdd to the proof mass (204) and associated fixed electrodes (202).Type: GrantFiled: June 5, 2015Date of Patent: February 25, 2020Assignee: ATLANTIC INERTIAL SYSTEMS, LIMITEDInventors: Michael Durston, Kevin Townsend
-
Patent number: 10571271Abstract: An inertial measurement system comprising: a first, roll gyro with an axis oriented substantially parallel to the spin axis of the projectile; a second gyro and a third gyro with axes arranged with respect to the roll gyro; a controller, arranged to: compute a current projectile attitude from the outputs of the first, second and third gyros; operate a Kalman filter that receives a plurality of measurement inputs including at least roll angle, pitch angle and yaw angle and that outputs at least a roll angle error; initialise the Kalman filter with a roll angle error uncertainty representative of a substantially unknown roll angle; generate at least one pseudo-measurement from stored expected flight data; provide said pseudo-measurement(s) to the corresponding measurement input of the Kalman filter; and apply the roll angle error from the Kalman filter as a correction to the roll angle.Type: GrantFiled: April 27, 2018Date of Patent: February 25, 2020Assignee: ATLANTIC INERTIAL SYSTEMS LIMITEDInventors: Nicholas Mark Faulkner, John Keith Sheard
-
Patent number: 10563987Abstract: An inertial measurement system for a spinning projectile comprising: first (roll), second and third gyros with axes arranged such that they define a three dimensional coordinate system; at least a first linear accelerometer; a controller, arranged to: compute a current projectile attitude comprising a roll angle, a pitch angle and a yaw angle; compute a current velocity vector from the accelerometer; combine a magnitude of said velocity vector with an expected direction for said vector to form a pseudo-velocity vector; provide the velocity vector and the pseudo-velocity vector to a Kalman filter that outputs a roll gyro scale factor error calculated as a function of the difference between the velocity vector and the pseudo-velocity vector; and apply the roll gyro scale factor error from the Kalman filter as a correction to the output of the roll gyro.Type: GrantFiled: May 25, 2017Date of Patent: February 18, 2020Assignee: ATLANTIC INERTIAL SYSTEMS, LIMITEDInventors: Nicholas M. Faulkner, John Keith Sheard
-
Patent number: 10539421Abstract: An inertial measurement system (200) for a longitudinal projectile, comprising a first, roll gyro to be oriented substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the projectile; a second gyro and a third gyro with axes arranged with respect to the roll gyro such that they define a three dimensional coordinate system.Type: GrantFiled: October 27, 2015Date of Patent: January 21, 2020Assignee: ATLANTIC INERTIAL SYSTEMS, LIMITEDInventors: John Keith Sheard, Nicholas Mark Faulkner
-
Patent number: 10422811Abstract: A sensing structure for an accelerometer includes a support and a proof mass mounted to the support by flexible legs for in-plane movement in response to an applied acceleration along a sensing direction. The proof mass includes a plurality of moveable electrode fingers extending substantially perpendicular to the sensing direction and spaced apart in the sensing direction. The structure also includes at least one pair of fixed capacitor electrodes comprising first and second sets of fixed electrode fingers extending substantially perpendicular to the sensing direction and spaced apart in the sensing direction; the first set of fixed electrode fingers arranged to interdigitate with the moveable electrode fingers with a first offset in one direction from a median line therebetween, and the second set of fixed electrode fingers arranged to interdigitate with the moveable electrode fingers with a second offset in the opposite direction from a median line therebetween.Type: GrantFiled: February 16, 2015Date of Patent: September 24, 2019Assignee: ATLANTIC INERTIAL SYSTEMS, LIMITEDInventors: Alan Richard Malvern, Kiran Harish
-
Patent number: 10422642Abstract: A sensor comprises a substrate 16 and a sensor element 20 anchored to the substrate 16, the substrate 16 and sensor element 20 being of dissimilar materials and having different coefficients of thermal expansion, the sensor element 20 and substrate 16 each having a generally planar face arranged substantially parallel to one another, the sensor further comprising a spacer 26, the spacer 26 being located so as to space at least part of the sensor element 20 from at least part of the substrate 16, wherein the spacer 26 is of considerably smaller area than the area of the smaller of face of the substrate 16 and that of the sensor element 20.Type: GrantFiled: January 6, 2017Date of Patent: September 24, 2019Assignee: Atlantic Inertial Systems LimitedInventor: Christopher Paul Fell
-
Patent number: 10415977Abstract: A method of compensating for signal error is described, comprising: receiving a first signal from a first sensor, said first signal indicative of a movement characteristic; applying an error compensation to said first signal to produce an output signal; applying a variable gain factor to said error compensation; receiving a second signal from a second sensor indicative of said movement characteristic; wherein said error compensation is calculated using the difference between said output signal and said second signal, and said variable gain factor is calculated using said first signal.Type: GrantFiled: January 26, 2016Date of Patent: September 17, 2019Assignee: ATLANTIC INERTIAL SYSTEMS LIMITEDInventors: John Keith Sheard, Nicholas Mark Faulkner
-
Patent number: 10386166Abstract: A mounting system for mounting an electronic component (2) in a housing (8) comprises a visco-elastic damping element (14, 20) for damping the transmission of vibration from the housing (8) to the component (2) in use, and a support (24, 52) for supporting the component (2) in the housing (8) independently of the damping element (14, 20) whereby the weight of the component (2) is substantially or completely removed from the damping element (14, 20). The support (24, 52) is configured to be selectively releasable from the component (2) such that the component (2) is then supported only by the damping element (14, 20).Type: GrantFiled: March 4, 2016Date of Patent: August 20, 2019Assignee: ATLANTIC INERTIAL SYSTEMS LIMITEDInventor: Henry James Thomas
-
Patent number: 10378866Abstract: An assembly (2) for attachment to a projectile comprises a first part (4) and a second part (6) mounted for rotation relative to the first part (4) about an axis (A). There is an axial gap (G) between the first and second parts (4, 6). At least one plastically deformable element (34) is arranged within the gap (G) between the first and second parts (4, 6), the plastically deformable element (34) being such as to deform due to the closing of the axial gap (G) between the first and second parts (4, 6) during launch of the projectile.Type: GrantFiled: March 4, 2016Date of Patent: August 13, 2019Assignee: ATLANTIC INERTIAL SYSTEMS LIMITEDInventor: Henry James Thomas
-
Patent number: 10274511Abstract: A capacitive accelerometer including: at least one additional fixed capacitor electrode with a plurality of additional fixed capacitive electrode fingers extending along the sensing direction. The proof mass comprises a plurality of moveable capacitive electrode fingers extending from the proof mass along the sensing direction and arranged to interdigitate with the plurality of additional fixed capacitive electrode fingers of the at least one additional fixed capacitor electrode. A means is provided for applying a voltage to the at least one additional fixed capacitor electrode to apply an electrostatic force to the plurality of moveable capacitive electrode fingers that acts to pull the proof mass towards the at least one further fixed capacitor electrode and thereby reduces the lateral spacings between the movable capacitive electrode fingers of the proof mass and the first and second sets of fixed capacitive electrode fingers that provide electrostatic forces for sensing purposes.Type: GrantFiled: December 11, 2014Date of Patent: April 30, 2019Assignee: ATLANTIC INERTIAL SYSTEMS, LIMITEDInventor: Alan Malvern
-
Patent number: 10241128Abstract: A closed loop method of controlling a capacitive accelerometer uses two servo loops. A Vcrit servo loop uses an output signal (S2) modulated by a sine wave signal (S1). The Vcrit control signal adjusts the magnitude of the PWM drive signals applied to the fixed capacitor electrodes of the accelerometer, thereby optimising open loop gain.Type: GrantFiled: September 22, 2014Date of Patent: March 26, 2019Assignee: ATLANTIC INERTIAL SYSTEMS LIMITEDInventors: Alan Richard Malvern, Kiran Harish