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Three-Dimensional Wafer-Scale Batch-Micromachined Angle/Angular Rate Microshell Resonator Gyroscope

Technology Benefits

Previously limited by planar geometries, the implementation of three-dimensional shell resonator gyroscopes on a wafer level was not feasible. A broad class of novel three-dimensional multi-material resonant structures and instruments for inertial applications is now enabled by the following new techniques: resonant micro-shells batch fabrication of various geometries (in combination with glass-blowing technology), three-dimensional metal patterning on the surfaces of micro-shells, and multi-material structures fabrication using shell array as a three-dimensional substrate.

Technology Application

The fabrication methods and designs for the novel three-dimensional batch-fabricated angle/angular rate micro-shell resonator gyroscope are suitable for mass production, thereby enabling portable, low-cost, and high precision inertial sensors for consumer, communications systems, civil and military navigation markets.

Detailed Technology Description

One implementation of the isotropic oscillator concept, the quartz hemispherical resonator gyroscope (HRG), demonstrated the potential of rate integrating gyroscopes with inertial grade performance. HRG, however, is extremely difficult to fabricate because individual meso-scale quartz shell is manually machined with high precision. Although conventional HRG is widely used for precision inertial navigation and guidance applications, it is not suitable for man-portable application because of its size, weight and power (SWAP) metrics. University researchers have developed wafer-level methods for a novel gyroscope design which allows batch fabrication of three-dimensional isotropic micro-shells of various geometries using extended glass-blowing technology. The gyroscope on-chip actuation and detection take advantage of proposed three-dimensional micromachining for metal patterning on the surfaces of micro-shells as well as wafer-level fabrication of multi-material structures using shell array as a three-dimensional substrate. The reported gyroscope is a three-dimensional isotropic oscillator, which measure angle/angular rate of the vehicle. The fundamental principle is the precession of the shell vibration axis in response to the inertial input, with the precession angle proportional to the rotation angle.

Supplementary Information

Patent Number: US8567247B2
Application Number: US2010893691A
Inventor: Shkel, Andrei M. | Trusov, Alexander A. | Prikhodko, Igor P. | Zotov, Sergei A.
Priority Date: 12 Oct 2009
Priority Number: US8567247B2
Application Date: 29 Sep 2010
Publication Date: 29 Oct 2013
IPC Current: G01C001900
US Class: 07350413 | 156145
Assignee Applicant: The Regents of the University of California
Title: Three-dimensional wafer-scale batch-micromachined sensor and method of fabrication for the same
Usefulness: Three-dimensional wafer-scale batch-micromachined sensor and method of fabrication for the same
Summary: Vibratory sensor e.g. three-dimensional wafer-scale batch-micro-machined stem resonator gyroscope such as rate integrating type stem resonator gyroscope and angular rate type stem resonator gyroscope, for use in a navigation application and a guidance application.
Novelty: Vibratory sensor e.g. angular rate type stem resonator gyroscope, for use in e.g. navigation application, has sensing electrode detecting vibratory characteristic in shell induced by interaction of shell with force or field

Industry

Electronics

Sub Category

Circuit Design

Application No.

8567247

Others

Additional Technologies by these Inventors

• Micromachined Gyroscope Design Allowing for Both Robust Wide-Bandwidth and Precision Mode-Matched Operation
• 3-D Folded MEMS Technology For Multi-Axis Sensor Systems
• Microfabrication of High Quality 3-D Structures Using Wafer-Level Glassblowing of Fused Quartz and Ultra Low Expansion Glasses

Tech ID/UC Case

20722/2010-231-0

Related Cases

2010-231-0

*Abstract

A novel design and fabrication methods of three-dimensional, wafer-scale, batch-fabricated angle/angular rate micro-shell resonator gyroscope with on-chip actuation and detection.

*IP Issue Date

Oct 29, 2013

*Principal Investigator

Name: Igor Prikhodko

Department:

Name: Andrei Shkel

Department:

Name: Alexander Trusov

Department:

Name: Sergei Zotov

Department:

Country/Region

USA