Angular velocity sensor making use of tuning fork vibration
First Claim
1. An angular velocity sensor comprising:
- a fixed frame having an inner void;
a tuning fork vibrator positioned within said inner void and having a pair of vibrating elements that oscillate in opposite directions when an electrical input is applied thereto, said vibrating elements being structured and arranged to generate a torque about a tuning axis when said fixed frame is rotated about the tuning axis;
a detection torsional vibrator positioned within said inner void around said tuning fork vibrator and coupled thereto, said detection torsional vibrator producing a torsional vibration in response to the torque generated by said vibrating elements, said torsional vibration having a magnitude substantially proportional to an angular velocity of said fixed frame about the tuning axis; and
at least one buffer torsional vibrator circumscribing said detection torsional vibrator and coupling said detection torsional vibrator to said fixed frame for reducing distortion of the torsional vibration of said detection torsional vibrator.
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Abstract
The present invention relates to an angular velocity sensor comprising a tuning fork vibrator which exerts a tuning fork vibration by receiving a driving input and which generates a torque around the axis of a tuning fork owing to Coriolis force by undergoing a rotational action around the center of the tuning fork. The sensor has a detection torsional vibrator which exerts torsional vibration owing to the torque generated by the tuning fork vibrator, whereby the angular velocity sensor detects a rotational angular velocity around the axis of the tuning fork based upon the magnitude of the vibration of the detection torsional vibrator. At least one buffer torsional vibrator is positioned around the detection torsional vibrator for moderating external transmission energy loss of the torsional vibration of the detection torsional vibrator.
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Citations
13 Claims
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1. An angular velocity sensor comprising:
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a fixed frame having an inner void; a tuning fork vibrator positioned within said inner void and having a pair of vibrating elements that oscillate in opposite directions when an electrical input is applied thereto, said vibrating elements being structured and arranged to generate a torque about a tuning axis when said fixed frame is rotated about the tuning axis; a detection torsional vibrator positioned within said inner void around said tuning fork vibrator and coupled thereto, said detection torsional vibrator producing a torsional vibration in response to the torque generated by said vibrating elements, said torsional vibration having a magnitude substantially proportional to an angular velocity of said fixed frame about the tuning axis; and at least one buffer torsional vibrator circumscribing said detection torsional vibrator and coupling said detection torsional vibrator to said fixed frame for reducing distortion of the torsional vibration of said detection torsional vibrator. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. An angular velocity sensor comprising:
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a fixed frame oriented in a reference plane and having an inner void, said fixed frame being adapted for rotation about a tuning axis parallel to said reference plane; a tuning fork vibrator positioned within said inner void and having a pair of vibrating elements that oscillate in opposite directions perpendicular to said tuning axis and parallel to said reference plane when an electrical input is applied thereto, said vibrating elements being structured and arranged to generate a torque about said tuning axis when said fixed frame is rotated about the tuning axis; a detection torsional vibrator positioned within said inner void around said tuning fork vibrator, said detection torsional vibrator coupling said tuning fork vibrator to said fixed frame such that said tuning fork vibrator and said detection torsional vibrator can rotate around said tuning axis relative to said fixed frame, said detection torsional vibrator producing a torsional vibration in response to the torque generated by said vibrating elements, said torsional vibration having a magnitude substantially proportional to an angular velocity of said fixed frame about the tuning axis. - View Dependent Claims (13)
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Specification