Angular rate sensor having a tuning-fork structure
First Claim
1. An angular rate sensor comprising:
- a pair of sensor elements each including a vibratory piezoelectric detecting element and a vibratory piezoelectric drive element joined together end to end by a joint member in such a manner that said detecting and drive elements are oscillatable perpendicularly relative to each other; and
a resilient joint member joining respective free ends of said drive elements so as to form, jointly with said sensor elements, a tuning-fork structure having a longitudinal axis, said resilient lint member having a pair of opposite bonding surfaces facing the respective drive elements, each of said bonding surfaces having a first extent in a direction parallel to said longitudinal axis and a second extent in a direction perpendicular to said longitudinal axis of said tuning-fork structure, the ratio of said first extent to said second extent being in the range of 3;
10 to 7;
10.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An angular rate sensor of the type, using oscillation of piezoelectric elements, which includes a pair of sensor elements each including a vibratory piezoelectric detecting element and a vibratory piezoelectric drive element joined together by a joint member in longitudinal alignment and oriented substantially at right angles relative to each other, and a resilient joint member joining the pair of sensor elements at respective free ends of the drive elements so as to form, jointly with the sensor elements, a tuning-fork structure. The turning-fork structure has an improved joint structure between each of the driving elements and the resilient joint member, which has a thickness to width ratio of approximately 3:10 to 7:10 to enable the angular rate sensor to have a low resonance impedance and stable performance characteristics.
14 Citations
6 Claims
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1. An angular rate sensor comprising:
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a pair of sensor elements each including a vibratory piezoelectric detecting element and a vibratory piezoelectric drive element joined together end to end by a joint member in such a manner that said detecting and drive elements are oscillatable perpendicularly relative to each other; and a resilient joint member joining respective free ends of said drive elements so as to form, jointly with said sensor elements, a tuning-fork structure having a longitudinal axis, said resilient lint member having a pair of opposite bonding surfaces facing the respective drive elements, each of said bonding surfaces having a first extent in a direction parallel to said longitudinal axis and a second extent in a direction perpendicular to said longitudinal axis of said tuning-fork structure, the ratio of said first extent to said second extent being in the range of 3;
10 to 7;
10. - View Dependent Claims (2)
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3. An angular rate sensor comprising:
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a pair of sensor elements each including a vibratory piezoelectric detecting element and a vibratory piezoelectric drive element joined together end to end by a joint member in such a manner that said detecting and drive elements are oscillatable perpendicularly relative to each other; a resilient joint member joining respective free ends of said drive elements so as to form, jointly with said sensor elements, a tuning-fork structure having a longitudinal axis, said resilient joint member having a pair of opposite bonding surfaces facing the respective drive elements, each of said bonding surfaces having a first extent in a direction parallel to said longitudinal axis and a second extent in a direction perpendicular to said longitudinal axis of said tuning-fork structure, the ratio of said first extent to said second extent being in the range of 3;
10 to 7;
10; andwherein said resilient joint member includes a rectangular body and a pair of thin fins integral with said body and extending in a common direction from two opposite edges of said body, said rectangular body having two opposite side faces defining said bonding surfaces, said fins extending flush with said bonding surfaces, respectively.
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4. An angular rate sensor comprising:
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a pair of sensor elements each including a vibratory piezoelectric detecting element and a vibratory piezoelectric drive element joined together end to end in such a manner that said detecting and drive elements are oscillatable perpendicularly relative to each other; and a resilient joint member joining respective free ends of said drive elements so as to form, jointly with said sensor elements, a turning-fork structure having a longitudinal axis, said resilient joint member having a pair of opposite bonding surfaces facing the respective drive elements, each of said bonding surfaces having a first extent in a direction along said longitudinal axis and a second extent in a direction parallel to said longitudinal axis of said tuning-fork structure, the ratio of said first extent to said second extent being in the range of 3;
10 to 7;
10. - View Dependent Claims (5)
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6. An angular rate sensor comprising:
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a pair of sensor elements each including a vibratory piezoelectric detecting element and a vibratory piezoelectric drive element joined together end to end in such a manner that said detecting and drive elements are oscillatable perpendicularly relative to each other; and a resilient joint member joining respective free ends of said drive elements so as to form, jointly with said sensor elements, a turning-fork structure having a longitudinal axis, said resilient joint member having a pair of opposite bonding surfaces facing the respective drive elements, each of said bonding surfaces having a first extent in a direction along said longitudinal axis and a second extent in a direction parallel to said longitudinal axis of said turning-fork structure, the ratio of said first extent to said second extent being in the range of 3;
10 to 7;
10; andwherein said resilient joint member includes a rectangular body and a pair of thin fins integral with said body and extending in a common direction from two opposite edges of said body, said rectangular body having two opposite side faces defining said bonding surfaces, said fins extending flush with said bonding surfaces, respectively.
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Specification