Gyroscopic apparatus and electronic apparatus including same

• US 20020139186A1
• Filed: 03/15/2002
• Published: 10/03/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Murata Manufacturing Co Limited
• Original Assignee: Murata Manufacturing Co Limited
• Inventors: Mori, Akira
• Granted Patent: US 6,796,177 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 73/504.04
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 19/56 Turn-sensitive devices using vibrating masses, e.g. vibratory angular rate sensors based on Coriolis forces

Abstract

A gyroscopic apparatus includes two gyro sensors having substantially the same structure. The two gyro sensors are arranged on first and second major surfaces, respectively, of a mounting base so that the gyro sensors have an approximately 180-degree rotation symmetry about a virtual rotation axis penetrating the mounting base substantially parallel thereto in the same direction as rotation detecting axes. The outputs of the two gyro sensors are added, and the sum is output. Thus, the output of the gyroscopic apparatus is much less susceptible to impact from a specific direction, and a high detection accuracy can be maintained.

Claims

1. A gyroscopic apparatus comprising:

first and second gyro sensors having substantially the same structure; and

an adder arranged to add the outputs of the first and second gyro sensors;

wherein the first and second gyro sensors are arranged so that signals output in response to an angular velocity applied thereto have the same sign and that signals output in response to an impact applied thereto have opposite signs.

2. A gyroscopic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first and second gyro sensors are arranged to have an approximately 180-degree rotation symmetry about a virtual rotation axis which is in the direction of rotation detecting axes.

3. A gyroscopic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second gyro sensor is arranged at a position defined by parallel translating the first gyro sensor which is rotated by approximately 180 degree about a virtual rotation axis which is in the direction of rotation detecting axes.

4. A gyroscopic apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a mounting base having first and second major surfaces, wherein the first gyro sensor is disposed on the first major surface of the mounting base and the second gyro sensor is disposed on the second major surface of the mounting base.

5. A gyroscopic apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a mounting base, wherein the first and second gyro sensors are disposed on one of the surfaces of the mounting base.

6. A gyroscopic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first and second gyro sensors comprise vibrating gyroscopes having vibrating masses.

7. An electronic apparatus comprising a gyroscopic apparatus according to claim 1.

8. An electronic apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the electronic apparatus is one of a video camera, a digital camera, a navigation apparatus, a vehicle-rollover detector, and a vehicle-attitude detector.

9. A gyroscopic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first and second gyro sensors are arranged so as to output signals of substantially equal magnitude with the same sign.

10. A gyroscopic apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the adder determines the sum of the output signals and outputs the difference which is a double value.

11. A gyroscopic apparatus comprising:

first and second gyro sensors having substantially the same structure; and

a subtracter arranged to determine the difference between the outputs of the first and second gyro sensors;

wherein the first and second gyro sensors are arranged so that signals output in response to an angular velocity applied thereto have opposite signs and that signals output in response to an impact applied thereto have the same sign.

12. A gyroscopic apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the first and second gyro sensors are arranged to have an approximately 180-degree rotation symmetry about a virtual rotation axis which is substantially perpendicular to rotation detecting axes.

13. A gyroscopic apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the second gyro sensor is arranged at a position defined by parallel translating the first gyro sensor which is rotated by approximately 180 degrees about a virtual rotation axis which is substantially perpendicular to rotation detecting axes.

14. A gyroscopic apparatus according to claim 11, further comprising a mounting base having first and second major surfaces, wherein the first gyro sensor is disposed on the first major surface of the mounting base and the second gyro sensor is disposed on the second major surface of the mounting base.

15. A gyroscopic apparatus according to claim 11, further comprising a mounting base, wherein the first and second gyro sensors are disposed on one of the surfaces of the mounting base.

16. A gyroscopic apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the first and second gyro sensors comprise vibrating gyroscopes having vibrating masses.

17. An electronic apparatus comprising a gyroscopic apparatus according to claim 11.

18. An electronic apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the electronic apparatus is one of a video camera, a digital camera, a navigation apparatus, a vehicle-rollover detector, and a vehicle-attitude detector.

19. A gyroscopic apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the first and second gyro sensors are arranged so as to output signals of substantially equal magnitude with opposite signs.

20. A gyroscopic apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the subtracter determines the difference between the output signals and outputs the difference which is a double value.