Piezoelectric vibratory gyroscope as an angular velocity sensor

Abstract Guidelines are given for designing a piezoelectric vibratory gyroscope to be used as an angular velocity sensor. First, a basic equivalent circuit is given and an approximate equation is derived for sensitivity. Based on the equation, guidelines and issues related to improving sensitivity are discussed. The relationship between the output signal and difference in resonance frequencies of the driving and detecting sides is investigated for cases where the angular velocity is either constant or changing sinusoidally with time. The results are then used to determine the resonance frequencies. Furthermore, a design guideline based on an integral equivalent circuit, which has taken the effects of leakage output into consideration, is discussed and an approach is suggested for supporting the gyroscope. Finally, the performances of various gyroscopes are compared and the utility of a piezoelectric gyroscope as an angular velocity sensor is discussed.