Abstract: Inertial Measurement Units based on integrated designs to reduce alignment and assembly costs. Integration also leads to performance improvement, increased miniaturization and simplification as well as reduced cost. Also disclosed are gyroscopes and accelerometers that are identical, yet by their mechanization, can be made to act as separate sensors. Miniaturization and simplification is improved by combining instruments that can share a common member. Savings in space and complexity are also possible in the electronics when elements are shared.

Abstract: MEMS-Integrated IMUs are possible based on a common substrate that provides a common oscillatory drive for the operation of the gyroscopes and accelerometers. The common substrate becomes the stable member utilized in conventional IMUs. The advantages of the embodiments are smallest size, flexibility in how IMUs are configured, reduced electronics and a single package. MEMS integration also reduces uncertainties due to separately developed instruments based on different fabrication processes, materials, assembly and alignment.

Abstract: Inertial Measurement Units based on integrated designs to reduce alignment and assembly costs. Integration also leads to performance improvement, increased miniaturization and simplification as well as reduced cost. Also disclosed are gyroscopes and accelerometers that are identical, yet by their mechanization, can be made to act as separate sensors. Miniaturization and simplification is improved by combining instruments that can share a common member. Savings in space and complexity are also possible in the electronics when elements are shared.

Abstract: This invention relates to additional embodiments of the tuned flexure accelerometer (TFA) concept. The TFA reduces or eliminates the elastic restraint (also termed “spring stiffness”) of the reference mass support by means of oscillation to improve the ability to accurately measure distance, velocity or acceleration with the accelerometer. The invention also relates to tuning flexures in other applications such as mirrors so as to allow the mirror to hold rotation or translation position once moved, without additional torque or force.

Abstract: MEMS-Integrated IMUs are possible based on a common substrate that provides a common oscillatory drive for the operation of the gyroscopes and accelerometers. The common substrate becomes the stable member utilized in conventional IMUs. The advantages of the embodiments are smallest size, flexibility in how IMUs are configured, reduced electronics and a single package. MEMS integration also reduces uncertainties due to separately developed instruments based on different fabrication processes, materials, assembly and alignment.

Abstract: An oscillatory gyroscope is described with decoupled drive and sense oscillators and reduced cross-axis sensitivity. The gyroscope is fabricated using a plasma micromachining process on standard silicon wafers. The electrical isolation of the drive and sense functions of the gyroscope, contained within the same micromechanical element, reduce cross-coupling while obtaining high inertial mass and high sensitivity.

Abstract: This invention relates to the fabrication of planar inductive components whereby the design in cross-section describes a conductor surrounded by magnetic material along the length of the conductor; an electrical insulator is placed between the conductor and the magnetic material. Cases also apply where more than one independent conductor is used. The planar form allows integration of inductive components with integrated circuits. These inductive components can be embedded in other materials. They can also be fabricated directly onto parts.

Abstract: This invention describes the addition of mechanical reference members (MRM) to MEMS gyroscopes and accelerometers in order to enable the measurement of their scale factor and bias characteristics. The measurements can be made prior to or during operation of the instruments. This approach is attractive since MEMS devices are subject to drift of these characteristics with time, with the environment and with application conditions. The mechanical reference members are used to provide a rotation rate reference for the gyroscopes and an acceleration reference for the accelerometers.

Abstract: Disclosed is a Coriolis Oscillating Gyroscopic instrument, comprising: a Double Ended Tuning Fork (DETF) having two stems and two tines; a Torque Summing Member (TSM) rigidly coupled to the DETF stems; drives located at least partially on the TSM for vibrating the tines sinusoidally in opposition along a first axis, the tines' motion having a constant amplitude, a frequency and a phase; a case; a plurality of flexures connecting the TSM to the case, to allow the TSM and the DETF to rotationally oscillate together relative to the case about a second axis transverse to the first axis; and a sensor and associated instrumentation for resolving rotation of the TSM relative to the case.

Abstract: An oscillatory gyroscope is described based on a three gimbal structure whose output is the rotary deflection of the middle gimbal. Closed loop operation is achieved by the oscillatory interaction between the outer and inner gimbals. The gyro is referred to as CLOG (Closed Loop Oscillating Gyro). Two variations on the manner of achieving the closed loop are also described. The gyro can be implemented in a three dimensional configuration or in three planar configurations which can be fabricated using modern photolithographic, batch process fabrication technology similar to MEMS.

Abstract: A flat pack gyroscope fabricated of a number of discrete flat layers, which, when assembled together, accomplish a version of a single degree of freedom, spinning wheel gyroscope.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: A pendulous oscillating gyroscopic accelerometer, comprising: a fixed case; a servo driven member mounted to the case for oscillation about a servo axis; a torque summing member mounted to the servo driven member for rotation about an output axis transverse to the servo axis; a rotor driven member mounted to the torque summing member for oscillation about a reference axis transverse to both the output axis and the servo axis; 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; a first oscillation device for oscillating the rotor driven member about the reference axis, the oscillation having a first amplitude, a first frequency and a first phase; a second oscillation device for oscillating the servo driven member about the servo axis, the oscillation having a second amplitude, a second frequency and a second phase; a measurement device for determining the rotation of the torque summing member about the output axis resul

Abstract: A fiber optic resonance gyroscope which has a laser diode as the coherent light source and employs direct optical feedback to that laser diode from light propagating in one direction around a fiber optic resonance ring operating in the peak resonance mode, to maintain the laser output locked to the resonance frequency of the ring. Light propagated around the fiber optical ring in the opposite direction is phase and frequency modulated before being coupled to the ring and a portion of that light exiting the ring is photodetected, the resultant electrical signal being demodulated and used as an error control signal to maintain the modulation frequency at a specific value related to the resonance frequency of the ring for light transmitted in that direction. This error control signal is taken as the gyroscope output of the system.

Abstract: A temperature stable optical fiber includes an elongated, flexible optically transmissive core and associated circumferential cladding, and a heater for selectively heating said core and cladding. The heater includes a resistive film disposed about and in thermal contact with the outer surface of the cladding, whereby the temperatures of said core and cladding are controlled.

Abstract: A single-mode optical-fiber directional coupler including at least two optical fibers each having a core surrounded by a cladding material and having a region of reduced cladding diameter contiguous with a reduced-cladding diameter region of the other fiber throughout the length of an optical interaction area. Each reduced-cladding-diameter region is bounded on each end by a tapered region which gradually increases in diameter as it extends away from the reduced-cladding-diameter region toward a full-diameter region of each fiber. There is also a substrate and means for securing the reduced-cladding-diameter region to the substrate, means for supporting the fibers in their full-diameter region beyond each end of the optical interaction area, means for fastening the support means to the substrate and a medium surrounding the reduced-diameter regions and having an index of refraction similar to that of the cladding material.