SBIR Phase I: Chip-Scale Micromechanical Gyroscope for Angular Roation Detection, Stability and Control

这个小企业创新研究（SBIR）第一阶段项目将开发一种静电驱动和电容（或压电）检测的振动陀螺仪，频率为0.1 - 1 MHz，比目前商用MEMS陀螺仪使用的频率高得多，质量系数超过1000。由于高频，热约翰逊噪声（通常定义标准微机械陀螺仪的噪声底）大大降低了数量级。所提出的技术涉及一种双模方法，其中驱动力应用于谐振器的一个模式。在外部旋转作用下，该模式与第二模式耦合，通过静电或压电技术检测第二模式。使用这种方法，可以实现微米级芯片级陀螺仪，在晶圆规模上制造，其性能参数与高端战术级陀螺仪相比。微机械振动陀螺仪在惯性导航系统和汽车应用中具有越来越重要的意义。除了这些需要具有更好灵敏度和性能参数的设备的应用之外，消费电子产品中的许多新应用突然出现。特别是，手持设备，如蜂窝设备和GPS系统，以及游戏机，如任天堂Wii，现在都包括微型陀螺仪，作为现有微机械加速度计的低成本伴侣。这些应用本质上类似于汽车应用，其中陀螺仪用于检测角度旋转，提供行驶稳定，侧翻检测和更好的牵引力控制。开发高灵敏度、高稳定性的微机械陀螺仪对许多基础研究问题也具有重要意义，其中包括测量引力红移以验证广义相对论的预测。作为一种惯性系统，可以冷却到低温的高灵敏度陀螺仪也可以用于检测或限制新的基本自旋相关力。“这项奖励是根据2009年美国复苏和再投资法案（公法111-5）资助的。”

This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project will develop a vibratory gyroscope with electrostatic actuation and capacitive (or piezoelectric) detection at 0.1 - 1 MHz, a much higher frequency than the ones used by current commercial MEMS gyroscopes and with quality factors exceeding 1000. Because of the high frequencies, the thermal Johnson noise (which typically defines the noise floor for standard micromechanical gyroscopes) is reduced considerably by orders of magnitude. The proposed technology involves a two-mode approach in which the drive force is applied in one mode of the resonator. Under external rotation, this mode is coupled to a second mode, which is detected, either by electrostatic or piezoelectric technique. Using this approach, it is possible to achieve micron-sized chip-scale gyroscopes, manufactured on wafer scale, with performance parameters compared to high-end tactical grade gyroscopes. Micromechanical vibratory gyroscopes have increasing relevance in inertial navigation systems and automotive applications. Beyond these applications which require devices with better sensitivity and performance parameters, a host of new applications in consumer electronics have suddenly emerged. In particular, hand-held devices such as cellular devices and GPS systems, and gaming consoles such as the Nintendo Wii are now including miniature gyroscopes as low cost companion to existing micromachined accelerometers. These applications are in essence similar to the automotive applications in which the gyroscopes are used to detect angular rotation and provide ride stabilization, roll over detection and better traction control. Development of high sensitivity high stability micromechanical gyroscopes will also be of importance to a number of fundamental research questions, which include measuring gravitational red shift for validating the predictions of general relativity. As an inertial system, a highly sensitive gyroscope that can be cooled down to low temperatures can also be used to detect or put limits on new fundamental spin-dependent forces."This award is funded under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Public Law 111-5)."