Tuning the Anti-Phase Mode Sensitivity to Vibrations of a MEMS Gyroscope

Abstract

This paper proposes a stiffness correction method to improve the resilience to vibration of a dual-mass MEMS gyroscope with a particular focus near the resonance frequency of the anti-phase drive mode (fDa), i.e., its operational mode. Because of its balanced shape, this operating mode is ideally insensitive to vibrations. However, fabrication imperfections generates a residual sensitivity to parasitic vibrations that can disturb normal operation of the sensor. This work shows that the application of a DC voltage (Vtr) at the drive actuation electrode enables to decrease this sensitivity by a factor of at least 30 because of the stiffness tuning of the dual-mass structure. Experiments are performed to confirm this assumption and an efficient stiffness correction method is proposed to improve device operation.

Keywords

• MEMS
• gyroscope
• anti-phase mode
• mechanical vibration
• stiffness correction