1. An improvement in a vibratory structure gyroscope comprising:
an outer proof mass having a corresponding center of mass; and
an inner proof mass having a corresponding center of mass, where the corresponding centers of mass of the outer proof mass and the inner proof mass are approximately co-located.
2. The improvement of claim 1, where the inner proof mass is nested within the outer proof mass.
3. The improvement of claim 1,
where the inner proof mass is in the shape of a rectangular prism and the outer proof mass is in the shape of a frame;
where the inner proof mass is in the shape of a disk and outer mask is in the shape of a ring;
where both the inner proof mass and outer proof mass are in the shape of a frame;
where both the inner and outer proof masses are in the shape of rings; or
where the inner and outer proof masses are in the shape of multiple concentric rings coupled to each other through spokes.
4. The improvement of claim 1, further comprising:
actuators which vibrate the inner and outer proof masses in anti-phase translational motion; or
actuators which vibrate the inner and outer proof masses in a higher order Wineglass or Lame mode.
5. The improvement of claim 1, further comprising actuators which vibrate the two proof masses in synchronicity.
6. The improvement of claim 5, further comprising a flexural connection between inner and outer proof masses and where the synchronization of the vibratory motion is accomplished by the flexural connection between inner and outer proof masses.
7. The improvement of claim 6, further comprising means for utilizing a closed loop algorithm acting on the inner and outer proof masses to synchronize the vibratory motion.
8. The improvement of claim 1, further comprising:
means for vibrating the inner and outer proof masses in an anti-phase linear vibratory motion with approximately equal inertial forces, such that the net force generated due to vibratory motion is approximately zero;
means for vibrating the inner and outer proof masses in an in-phase linear vibratory motion such that the net force generated due to vibratory motion is non-zero;
means for vibrating the inner and outer proof masses in an anti-phase torsional vibratory motion with approximately equal rotational inertia, such that the net torque generated due to vibratory motion is approximately zero;
means for vibrating the inner and outer proof masses in an in-phase torsional vibratory motion such that the net torque generated due to vibratory motion is non-zero;
means for sensing linear motion of the inner and outer proof masses along x, y or z axis to measure angular velocity of the gyroscope along x, y or z axis;
means for sensing linear motion along x, y or z axis to measure linear acceleration of the gyroscope along x, y or z axis;
means for sensing torsional motion along x, y or z axis of the inner and outer proof masses to measure angular velocity of the gyroscope along x, y or z axis; or
means for sensing torsional motion along x, y, z axis to generate a timing reference signal.
9. The improvement of claim 1,
where the gyroscope is anchored to the inner proof mass;
where the gyroscope is anchored to the outer proof mass; or
where the gyroscope is anchored to both the inner and outer proof masses.
10. The improvement of claim 1, further comprising:
parallel plate electrodes located on the inner and outer proof masses, which parallel plate electrodes are used to drive and sense the vibratory motion of the inner and outer proof masses through electrostatic transduction;
comb finger electrodes located on the inner and outer proof masses, which comb finger electrodes are used to drive and sense the vibratory motion through electrostatic transduction; or
electrodes coupled to the inner and outer proof masses and a plurality of shuttles coupled to the inner and outer proof masses for the purpose of decoupling vibratory motion from the electrodes.
11. The improvement of claim 1, further comprising a pressure membrane and a mechanical element coupled to the pressure membrane to measure pressure in addition to inertial forces.
12. The improvement of claim 1, further comprising a source of current coupled to the mechanical element making the mechanical element sensitive to magnetic fields, changing vibration amplitude, phase or frequency of the inner and outer proof masses in the presence of magnetic fields.
13. An electronic device for measuring inertial force comprising:
a processor configured to calculate inertial measurements;
a memory coupled to the processor; and
a gyroscopic mechanical element comprised of two vibratory parts having a common center of mass and generating inertial information communicated to the processor, and where the center of mass of the two vibratory parts are approximately co-located.
14. The electronic device of claim 13, further comprising a pressure membrane, where the gyroscopic mechanical element is attached to the pressure membrane, generates pressure information communicated to the processor, and where the processor is configured to calculate absolute or gage pressure in addition to inertial measurements.
15. The electronic device of claim 13, further comprising a source of current coupled through the gyroscopic mechanical element, which current makes the gyroscopic mechanical element sensitive to magnetic fields and where the processor is configured to calculate magnetic fields in addition to inertial measurements.
16. The electronic device of claim 13, further comprising an absorptiondesorption element coupled to the gyroscopic mechanical element, which absorptiondesorption element changes the total mass or stiffness of the gyroscopic mechanical element in the presence of a specific chemicalbiological substance to measure concentration of a specific chemicalbiological substance in the environment.
17. An electronic device for measuring pressure comprising:
a processor configured to calculate pressure forces;
a memory coupled to the processor;
a gyroscopic sensor having two vibrator parts and providing amplitude, phase or frequency information communicated to the processor, where the two vibratory parts have an approximately matched common center of mass; and
a pressure membrane coupled to the gyroscopic sensor that changes the vibration amplitude, phase or frequency of the gyroscopic sensor proportionally to the pressure change.
18. An electronic device for measuring magnetic fields comprising:
a processor configured to calculate magnetic fields;
a memory coupled to the processor;
a gyroscopic sensor having two vibrator parts and providing amplitude, phase or frequency information communicated to the processor, where the two vibratory parts have an approximately matched common center of mass; and
a source of current coupled to the gyroscopic sensor making it sensitive to magnetic fields (Lorentz Force Magnetometer).
19. An electronic device for measuring concentration of chemical or biological substances comprising:
a processor configured to calculate an amount of chemical or biological substance in an environment;
a memory coupled to the processor;
a gyroscopic sensor having two vibrator parts and providing amplitude, phase or frequency information communicated to the processor, where the two vibratory parts have an approximately matched common center of mass; and
an absorptiondesorption element coupled to the gyroscopic sensor which changes the total mass or stiffness of the gyroscopic sensor when a specific chemicalbiological substance is present on or in the absorptiondesorption element.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A network interface system for transferring a data packet between a host system and a network, the network interface system comprising:
a buffer being capable of storing the data packet; and
a controller with filtering capability, the controller being capable of monitoring the data packet and generating a control signal to control a disposition of the data packet,
wherein the data packet is passed if the control signal is a pass signal and the data packet is dropped if the control signal is a drop signal.
2. The network interface system of claim 1, wherein the controller comprises a filter for monitoring the data packet and generating the control signal.
3. The network interface system of claim 2, wherein the filter comprises:
a rule set for storing a plurality of rules from the host system; and
at least one match engine for matching the data packet with the plurality of rules and generating the control signal according to a matching result.
4. The network interface system of claim 3, wherein each of the plurality of rules comprises:
a field for indicating at least one parameter of the data packet;
a reference content that is compared with the at least one parameter of the data packet; and
an action for indicating the disposition of the data packet if the rule is matched by the data packet.
5. The network interface system of claim 3, wherein the match engine is a content match engine.
6. The network interface system of claim 3, wherein the match engine is a header match engine.
7. The network interface system of claim 1, wherein the controller comprises a regulator for allocating a priority to the data packet, the data packet being transferred according to the priority.
8. The network interface system of claim 7, wherein the regulator comprises a match engine for determining the priority of the data packet based on a plurality of predetermined rules.
9. The network interface system of claim 8, wherein the regulator further comprises a plurality of queues, the data packet being arranged in one of the plurality of queues according to the determined priority and the data packet being transferred according to the determined priority.
10. A method for transferring a data packet between a host system and a network via a network interface system, the method comprising the steps of:
(a) receiving the data packet;
(b) monitoring the data packet;
(c) matching the data packet with a plurality of rules from the host system;
(d) generating a control signal base upon a matching result;
(e) dropping the data packet if the control signal is a drop signal; and
(f) passing the data packet if the control signal is a pass signal.
11. The method of claim 10, further comprising allocating a priority to the data packet, the data packet being transferred according to the priority.
12. A computer system for communicating with a network, comprising:
an input device for taking input from users;
a microcontroller for performing operations based on the inputs from the users; and
a network interface system for transferring a data packet between the computer and the network, the network interface system comprising:
a buffer being capable of storing the data packet; and
a controller with filtering capability, the controller being capable of monitoring the data packet and generating a control signal to control a disposition of the data packet,
wherein the data packet is passed if the control signal is a pass signal and the data packet is dropped if the control signal is a drop signal.
13. The computer system of claim 12, wherein the controller further comprises a filter for monitoring the data packet and generating the control signal.
14. The computer system of claim 13, wherein the filter comprises:
a rule set for storing a plurality of rules from the computer system; and
at least one match engine for matching the data packet with the plurality of rules and generating the control signal according to a matching result.
15. The computer system of claim 14, wherein the match engine is a content match engine.
16. The computer system of claim 14, wherein the match engine is a header match engine.
17. The computer system of claim 12, wherein the controller comprises a regulator for allocating a priority to the data packet, the data packet being transferred according to the priority.
18. The computer system of claim 17, wherein the regulator comprises a match engine for determining the priority of the data packet based on a plurality of predetermined rules.
19. The computer system of claim 18, wherein the regulator comprises a plurality of queues, the data packet being arranged in one of the plurality of queues according to the determined priority and the data packet being transferred according to the determined priority.