Vibration-type angular-velocity sensor

• US 5,578,754 A
• Filed: 12/15/1994
• Issued: 11/26/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 12/16/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nippondenso Co., Ltd. (DENSO Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nippondenso Co., Ltd. (DENSO Corporation)
• Inventors: Kanda, Tomoyuki, Kato, Kenzi
• Primary Examiner(s): Oda, Christine K.
• Application Number:
  US08/358,077
• Time in Patent Office: 712 Days
• Field of Search: 73/504.02, 73/504.04, 73/504.12, 73/504.14, 73/504.16, 310/329, 310/370, 29/25, 29/35, 29/595
• US Class Current: 73/504.12
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 19/56 Turn-sensitive devices using vibrating masses, e.g. vibratory angular rate sensors based on Coriolis forces

Abstract

A vibration-type angular-velocity sensor which can be reduced in size in the direction of the axis of the angular-velocity to be measured. A vibration body 11 comprises a pair of parallel driving plates 121 and 122 bent into a U-shape and extending in a Y direction, and a pair of detection plates 151 and 152 are so formed as to extend in mutually opposite directions in an X-axis direction by bending outwards the distal ends of the driving plates 121 and 122, respectively. The driving plates 121 and 122 are supported at a connecting plate 13 portion by a support member 14 in such a manner as to be capable of vibration. Piezoelectric devices 161 and 162 are bonded to the surfaces of the driving plates 121 and 122, respectively. When an A.C. voltage is applied, the driving plates are vibrated in mutually opposite directions. When a rotary angular-velocity, around the Z-axis of the sensor, generates a force in a Y-axis direction, due to the Coriolis effect, on the detection plates 151, 152, the Coriolis force is detected by piezoelectric devices 171 and 172. Accordingly, detection signals proportional to the angular-velocity are outputted from the detection piezoelectric devices 171 and 172.

Claims

1. A vibration angular-velocity sensor comprising:

a vibrating body which vibrates in an x-axis direction, said x-axis direction being perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the vibrating body; and

a Coriolis force detection device disposed on the vibrating body so as to extend in the x-axis direction, said Coriolis force detection device vibrating in the longitudinal direction when said Coriolis force detection device undergoes an angular velocity about a z-axis direction, said z-axis direction being perpendicular to both the x-axis and longitudinal directions,

wherein said Coriolis force detection device detects a Coriolis force generated in the longitudinal direction when said Coriolis force detection device vibrates in the longitudinal direction.

2. A vibration angular-velocity sensor according to claim 1, wherein said vibrating body comprises:

a connecting plate;

a first plate having a face and a second plate having a face, said first and second plates being disposed on the connecting plate such that the first, second and connecting plates form a U-shaped member, said first and second plates being parallel such that the first plate face opposes the second plate face,

wherein the first plate face and the second plate face are parallel with the longitudinal direction.

3. A vibration angular-velocity sensor according to claim 2, wherein said Coriolis force detection device disposed on said vibrating body comprises:

a third plate having a face disposed on a side of the first plate; and

a fourth plate having a face disposed on a side of the second plate,

wherein said third plate and said forth plate extend in opposition directions and wherein said faces of the third and the fourth plates are parallel with said connecting plate.

4. A vibration angular-velocity sensor according to claim 3, wherein a rectangular piezoelectric driving device is disposed on each of said first and second plates, said first and second plates vibrating in opposite directions when a voltage is applied to the piezoelectric driving device, and wherein a rectangular piezoelectric detection device is disposed on each of said third and fourth plates, said Coriolis force detection device detecting a voltage generated in said piezoelectric detection device when said third and fourth plates are vibrated by the Coriolis force.

5. A vibration angular-velocity sensor according to claim 2, wherein said Coriolis force detection device is a plate having opposed faces, said opposed faces of the Coriolis force detection device being parallel with each face of the first and the second plates, one end of said detection device plate being connected to a central portion of said connecting plate and the other end acting as a stationary end at a center of gravity of said vibrating body including the direction device plate.

6. A vibration angular-velocity sensor according to claim 5, wherein a rectangular piezoelectric driving device is disposed on each of said first and second plates, said first and second plates vibrating in opposite directions when a voltage is applied to the piezoelectric driving device, and wherein a rectangular piezoelectric detection device is disposed on each of said opposed faces of the detection device plate, said Coriolis force detection device detecting a voltage generated in said piezoelectric detection device when said detection device plate is vibrated by the Coriolis force.

7. A vibration angular-velocity sensor comprising:

a vibrating body having a longitudinal side disposed in a y-axis direction constructed and arranged to allow the vibrating body to vibrate in an x-axis direction at a predetermined frequency, said x-axis direction being perpendicular to the y-axis direction; and

a coriolis force detection device having an end disposed on the longitudinal side of the vibrating body so as to extend in the x-axis direction, said coriolis force detection device vibrating in the y-axis direction when said coriolis force detection device undergoes an angular velocity about a z-axis direction, said z-axis direction being perpendicular to both the x-axis and y-axis directions,

wherein said coriolis force detection device detects a coriolis force generated in the y-axis direction when said coriolis force detection device vibrates in the y-axis direction.

8. A vibration angular-velocity sensor according to claim 7, wherein said vibrating body comprises:

a connecting plate;

a first plate having a face and a second plate having a face, said first and second plates being disposed on the connecting plate such that the first, second and connecting plates form a U-shaped member, said first and second plates being parallel such that the first plate face opposes the second plate face,

wherein the first plate face and the second plate face are parallel with the y-axis direction.