Draft:Silicon Sensing
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Silicon Sensing Systems was founded in 1999 and is a 50/50 joint venture (JV) between Collins Aerospace,[1] based in the USA, and Sumitomo Precision Products,[2] of Japan. It supplies MEMS (micro-electro-mechanical systems) inertial sensors and related systems to many markets internationally. Head officed in Plymouth, UK the company employs approximately 140 people in the UK and Japan.
History
The Silicon Sensing Systems JV was originally formed between BAE Systems and Sumitomo Precision Products. The BAE Systems business is now owned by Colllins Aerospace.
Through Sumitomo Precision Products the business can trace its heritage to 1615 with Masatomo Sumitomo, he wrote the Founder's Precepts. A philosophy still used today by Sumitomo Precision Products. The inertial side of the business traces its history back to Elmer Sperry. In 1880, Elmer Sperry, "the father of modern navigation technology", opened his first factory. [3]
A further 100 years on, in 1985, engineers in what is now Collins Aerospace, invented the first Coriolis Vibrating Structure Gyroscope, paving the way for modern gyroscope technology, which is still used today. At the same time Sumitomo Precision Products begins research and development in micro electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) technology.
The two parent companies, Sumitomo Precision Products and Collins Aerospace, join forces in 1998, combining the vibrating structure gyro technology of Collins with Sumitomo's MEMS expertise. The following year, in 1999, Silicon Sensing Systems[1] was born.
The business's first MEMS gyroscope. MEMS gyroscopes, specifically MEMS angular rate sensors, are crucial for precisely measuring rate of turn (°/s) without a fixed reference point. This sets gyros apart from traditional rotation measurement tools like tachometers or potentiometers. The VSG03 was used in the first electronic stability system for automotive braking. It was also used in the popular self-balancing Segway. VSG technology has evolved into three generations – Inductive, Capacitive, and PZT. This evolution enables a diverse range of MEMS VSG gyros, spanning from cost-effective, precision chipscale sensors to FOG-grade high-performance MEMS Gyro modules.
This technology has gone on to transform the inertial sensing industry. Notably, used in MAYFLOWER AUTONOMOUS SHIP 3500-MILE TRANS-ATLANTIC VOYAGE[4]. The micro electro-mechanical system (MEMS) unit technology combined with impressive inertial performance, including exceptional bias stability and low noise characteristics, plus an embedded Kalman Filter based AHRS (attitude and heading reference system) algorithm. This precise 3-axis outputs of angular rate and acceleration, plus roll, pitch and heading angles, altitude and pressure, and temperature, at 200Hz – all critical to precise to the success of the autonomous ship navigation.
In 2003, Silicon Sensing Systems celebrated 100 years of gyroscopes.[5]
Technology
Silicon Sensing's inertial sensing products are based on its vibrating ring MEMS sensor. In this sensor design the silicon ring vibrates, like the rim of a wine glass, when powered up. Rotation (like twisting the wine glass stem) changes the vibrating mode due to Coriolis forces. These changes are detected electronically and are output as an analogue or digital signal proportional to the rotation rate. This ring-resonator construction overcomes mount sensitivity problems and is less shock sensitive than other vibrating structure-type gyros such as simple beam or tuning fork-based designs. The design also avoids the rotational components of dynamically tuned gyros (DTG) which render these sensitive to shock and mechanical degradation.
The company's MEMS accelerometers measure linear acceleration using capacitive technology. In these units the detector is formed of an orthogonal pair of sprung masses. Each mass provides the moving plate of a variable capacitance formed by an array of interlaced fingers. This structure also provides damping to avoid resonant gain. The company also manufactures its own inertial measurement units[4] made from its own, aforementioned, gyro and accelerometer technology.
References
- Collinsaerospace.com. 2024. Collins Aerospace. [online] Available at: <https://www.collinsaerospace.com/> [Accessed 3 April 2024].
- SPP.co.jp. 2024. [online] Available at: <https://www.spp.co.jp/English/> [Accessed 3 April 2024].
- Siliconsensing.com. 2024 Silicon Sensing | Visual timeline video. [online] Available at: <https://siliconsensing.com/about> [Accessed 3 April 2024].
- Unmanedsystemstechnology.com. 2024 100 years of gyroscopes. [online] Available at: <https://www.unmannedsystemstechnology.com/2013/03/silicon-sensing-celebrates-100-years-of-gyro-production/> [Accessed 3 April 2024].