US 7,548,318 B2
	Dithering mechanism for eliminating zero-rate bias in a gyroscope
Igor Leonidovich Tchertkov, Concord, Calif. (US); Salisbury Edward Henry Aston, Concord, Calif. (US); Richard John August, Concord, Calif. (US); and Randall Jaffe, Clayton, Calif. (US)
Assigned to Custom Sensors & Technologies, Inc., Moorpark, Calif. (US)
Filed on Apr. 13, 2007, as Appl. No. 11/734,983.
Prior Publication US 2008/0252175 A1, Oct. 16, 2008
Int. Cl. G01C 19/70 (2006.01); G01P 3/00 (2006.01)

U.S. Cl. 356—476  [73/504.01]

22 Claims

1. A dithering mechanism for a gyroscope having a sensing element for monitoring rotation about an input axis, comprising: a first part mounted in a fixed position centered about a dither axis perpendicular to the input axis, a second part disposed coaxially of the first part and affixed to the sensing element, and a plurality of piezoelectrically driven flexure beams extending radially between the first and second parts for dithering the second part about the dither axis.