Concept of a Micro Gyroscope Using Electro-Conjugate Fluid (ECF) and Development of an ECF Micro Gyro-Motor

Abstract

We propose a novel micro gyroscope using electro-conjugate fluid. The electro-conjugate fluid (ECF) is a dielectric fluid that produces a powerful flow (ECF jet) when subjected to high DC voltage. Using the ECF, we developed a micromotor having no output axis (an ECF micro gyro-motor) in which a disk plate rotor rotates and floats due to the ECF jet. When angular velocity is applied to the ECF gyro-motor, the floating rotor declines against the stator. Measuring the deflection angle enables us to detect the angular velocity. We fabricated ECF micro gyro motors with a rotor diameter of 3mm and 1.5mm to obtain design guidelines for the ECF micro gyroscope, and developed an ECF micro gyroscope. Experiments confirm the possibility of the ECF micro gyroscope.