Abstract: An accelerometer sensor includes a casing, a pendulum fixed to the casing, a movable electrode carried by the pendulum and connected to a detection circuit, a first electrode and a second electrode rigidly attached to the casing to form, with the moving electrode, two capacitors of variable capacitance depending on a distance between the electrodes. The accelerometer sensor further includes a control unit that carries out detection operations to measure the variable capacitances of the capacitors. The control unit also performs a control operation of the movable electrode depending on the capacitances measured by applying a logic signal for controlling a switch for selective connection of the fixed electrodes to an excitation circuit delivering a control signal to the fixed electrodes in order to keep the pendulum in a predetermined position.

Abstract: An inertial rotation sensor comprising a vibratory resonator (1) associated with at least two first transducers (2.1) connected to a first electronic processor unit (5) via an electronic multiplexer member (6) in order to operate successively in a motor mode and in a detection mode and in order to supply a first detection signal. The vibratory resonator (1) is associated with at least two second transducers (2.2) that are connected via two load amplifiers (3.1), two anti-aliasing filters (3.2), and two ADCs (3.3) to a second electronic processor unit (4) in order to operate in detection mode and to supply a second detection signal. The sensor includes an electronic hybridizing unit (20) for forming a third detection signal from the first and second detection signals.

Abstract: An accelerometer sensor includes a casing, a pendulum fixed to the casing, a movable electrode carried by the pendulum and connected to a detection circuit, a first electrode and a second electrode rigidly attached to the casing to form, with the moving electrode, two capacitors of variable capacitance depending on a distance between the electrodes. The accelerometer sensor further includes a control unit that carries out detection operations to measure the variable capacitances of the capacitors. The control unit also performs a control operation of the movable electrode depending on the capacitances measured by applying a logic signal for controlling a switch for selective connection of the fixed electrodes to an excitation circuit delivering a control signal to the fixed electrodes in order to keep the pendulum in a predetermined position.

Abstract: The invention concerns a resonator 1 configured to be integrated into an inertial angular sensor, said resonator 1 comprising at least one mass suspended by mechanical springs 5, a number N of pairs Pi (2?i?N) of electrostatic springs 50, said resonator 1 defining at least four axes of symmetry S1, S2, S3 and S4, characterized in that: each pair Pi consists of two electrostatic springs 50 each having a privileged axis of action, these electrostatic springs 50 being positioned so that their respective axes form a right angle; for at least one spring of one of the pairs and one spring of another pair, the angle formed by these two springs is equal to a predefined angle.

Abstract: An accelerometer sensor having electrodes forming capacitors of capacitance that vary as a function of distances between the electrodes, a control unit being arranged to perform an operation of measuring the capacitances and a control operation that comprises selectively: a fine control stage in which a first voltage is applied between one of the stationary electrodes and the movable electrode, while the other stationary electrode is at the same potential as the movable electrode; and an extended control stage in which a second voltage is applied between one of the stationary electrodes and the movable electrode, the other stationary electrode being at the same potential as the movable electrode, and the second voltage being greater in absolute value than the first voltage. A method using such a sensor.

Abstract: The invention concerns a resonator 1 configured to be integrated into an inertial angular sensor, said resonator 1 comprising at least one mass suspended by mechanical springs 5, a number N of pairs Pi (2?i?N) of electrostatic springs 50, said resonator 1 defining at least four axes of symmetry S1, S2, S3 and S4, characterized in that: each pair Pi consists of two electrostatic springs 50 each having a privileged axis of action, these electrostatic springs 50 being positioned so that their respective axes form a right angle; for at least one spring of one of the pairs and one spring of another pair, the angle formed by these two springs is equal to a predefined angle.

Abstract: An accelerometer sensor having electrodes forming capacitors of capacitance that vary as a function of distances between the electrodes, a control unit being arranged to perform an operation of measuring the capacitances and a control operation that comprises selectively: a fine control stage in which a first voltage is applied between one of the stationary electrodes and the movable electrode, while the other stationary electrode is at the same potential as the movable electrode; and an extended control stage in which a second voltage is applied between one of the stationary electrodes and the movable electrode, the other stationary electrode being at the same potential as the movable electrode, and the second voltage being greater in absolute value than the first voltage. A method using such a sensor.

Abstract: An accelerometer sensor and method of controlling the sensor, the accelerometer sensor including at least one electrostatic pendular accelerometer having stationary first and second electrodes fastened to a housing and connected to an exciter circuit, and a third electrode carried by a pendulum connected to the housing, thereby being movable and being connected to a detector circuit. The exciter circuit has an output connected to a switch connected to the first and second electrodes, the switch having a first connection position and a second connection position for selectively connecting the first or second electrode to the exciter circuit. The detector circuit, the exciter circuit, the switch, and the detector circuit are connected to a control circuit arranged so the first and second electrodes are excited by pulse trains, thus keeping the pendulum in a setpoint position and determining an acceleration to which the pendulum is subjected.

Abstract: An accelerometer sensor and method of controlling the sensor, the accelerometer sensor including at least one electrostatic pendular accelerometer having stationary first and second electrodes fastened to a housing and connected to an exciter circuit, and a third electrode carried by a pendulum connected to the housing, thereby being movable and being connected to a detector circuit. The exciter circuit has an output connected to a switch connected to the first and second electrodes, the switch having a first connection position and a second connection position for selectively connecting the first or second electrode to the exciter circuit. The detector circuit, the exciter circuit, the switch, and the detector circuit are connected to a control circuit arranged so the first and second electrodes are excited by pulse trains, thus keeping the pendulum in a setpoint position and determining an acceleration to which the pendulum is subjected.

Abstract: Method of angular measurement by a resonator associated with a vibration setting device and with a vibration detector, which are linked to a processing circuit through which there travel control signals and measurement signals, the method comprising the steps of digitizing the measurement signals and of deducing an angular measurement from the measurement signals. The method comprises the steps of performing a spectral analysis of the digitized measurement signals so as to detect harmonic distortions therein and correcting at least some of the signals travelling through the processing circuit so as to attenuate the non-linearities.

Abstract: A method of correcting the gain of a capacitive member having electrodes that are movable relative to each other including the steps of successively applying to one of the electrodes, reduced bias voltages having opposite signs and a common value below a threshold for which a remanent field generated by said reduced bias voltages can be measured, making corresponding measurements of the output signals from the capacitive member; taking an average, and correcting the gain of the capacitive member as a function of the measured output signal.

Abstract: Method of angular measurement by means of a sensor comprising an axisymmetric resonator associated with means for setting the resonator into vibration and with means for detecting an orientation of the vibration with respect to a reference frame of the sensor, comprising the steps of applying a precession control so as to slave an orientation of the vibration to an angular setpoint value and of determining an angular measurement on the basis of the precession control. The method comprises a phase of modulating the angular setpoint value in such a way that the said setpoint value uniformly sweeps an angular span of ? radians and that a temporal derivative of the setpoint is deducted from the precession control prior to the determination of the angular measurement.

Abstract: A method of controlling an inertial rotation sensor has a vibrating resonator having control channels and detection channels. During an operating stage each control channel (C1, C2) is activated for a control duration and each detection channel (D1, D2) is activated for a detection duration, in which the control and detection durations are applied at an operating ratio. Duyring a starting stage the control and detection durations are applied at a ratio that is modified in comparison with the operating ratio, so as to increase the control duration.

Abstract: Method of angular measurement by means of a sensor comprising an axisymmetric resonator associated with means for setting the resonator into vibration and with means for detecting an orientation of the vibration with respect to a reference frame of the sensor, comprising the steps of applying a precession control so as to slave an orientation of the vibration to an angular setpoint value and of determining an angular measurement on the basis of the precession control. The method comprises a phase of modulating the angular setpoint value in such a way that the said setpoint value uniformly sweeps an angular span of ? radians and that a temporal derivative of the setpoint is deducted from the precession control prior to the determination of the angular measurement.

Abstract: Method of angular measurement by a resonator associated with a vibration setting device and with a vibration detector, which are linked to a processing circuit through which there travel control signals and measurement signals, the method comprising the steps of digitizing the measurement signals and of deducing an angular measurement from the measurement signals. The method comprises the steps of performing a spectral analysis of the digitized measurement signals so as to detect harmonic distortions therein and correcting at least some of the signals travelling through the processing circuit so as to attenuate the non-linearities.

Abstract: An inertial rotation sensor including a vibrating member having facing metal-plated portions forming a variable capacitance capacitor associated with a low impedance load circuit via a multiplexer/demultiplexer member.

Abstract: A method of controlling an inertial rotation sensor has a vibrating resonator having control channels and detection channels. During an operating stage each control channel (C1, C2) is activated for a control duration and each detection channel (D1, D2) is activated for a detection duration, in which the control and detection durations are applied at an operating ratio. During a starting stage the control and detection durations are applied at a ratio that is modified in comparison with the operating ratio, so as to increase the control duration.

Abstract: An inertial rotation sensor including a vibrating member having facing metal-plated portions forming a variable capacitance capacitor associated with a low impedance load circuit via a multiplexer/demultiplexer member.

Abstract: A method of correcting the gain of a capacitive member having electrodes that are movable relative to each other including the steps of successively applying to one of the electrodes, reduced bias voltages having opposite signs and a common value below a threshold for which a remanent field generated by said reduced bias voltages can be measured, making corresponding measurements of the output signals from the capacitive member; taking an average, and correcting the gain of the capacitive member as a function of the measured output signal.

Abstract: The method serves to compensates anisotropy in an inertial rotation sensor comprising a metallized vibrating bell (1) having a bias voltage applied thereto, the vibrating bell (1) having an edge (7) electrodes (5.1, 5.2), and the method comprises the steps of measuring, preferably by multiplexing, the anisotropy between the electrodes and of applying to the electrodes a fraction of the bias voltage that depends on the differences measured between the electrodes.