Navigation-Grade ASIC Gyro Front-End and Controller

Existing navigation-grade sensors are too large, cost too much, and use too much power. Fortunately, micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) have shown a great deal of promise in reducing the cost, size, weight, and power (C-SWAP) of inertial sensors. Nonetheless, further improvements are required to achieve navigation-grade performance, especially in the development of front-end micro-electronics for MEMS-based devices. During Phase I, Toyon investigated the requirements for a front-end electronic system that is capable of supporting both piezoelectric and capacitive-based drive and/or sense mechanisms for navigation-grade Coriolis vibratory gyroscopes (CVG). Investigations into the front-end requirements of gradient-field-based sensors were also carried out. While it was determined that an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) front-end is technically feasible, albeit costly, in order to meet the solicitation sensitivity and dynamic range requirements, it will likely need to be two ASICs instead of one. Therefore, Toyon proposes to build and demonstrate a two-board brassboard system: one for the analog components (for sensitivity), and the other for the mixed-signal components (for dynamic range). The brassboard will be completed within the first nine months of the program and will be verified prior to finalizing the ASIC design. ASIC fabrication will be completed on a follow-on program.