Angular rate sensing device
First Claim
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1. An angular rate sensing device comprises:
- an angular rate sensor having a base, an oscillator supported by the base so as to be oscillatable in x-and z-directions, a first driving means for driving the oscillator for oscillation in the x-direction, a second driving means for driving the oscillator for oscillation in the z-direction, and oscillation converting means for generating a first electric signal whose level oscillates in accordance with the oscillation in the z-direction;
synchronizing signal generating means for generating a synchronizing signal of an indicated frequency;
a first exciting means for supplying a first energizing voltage which is synchronized with the synchronizing signal to the first driving means;
a second exciting means for supplying a second energizing voltage to the second driving means for driving the oscillator in the z-direction;
amplitude detection means for generating a second electric signal which indicates an amplitude of a signal component which has a frequency of substantially the same with that of the synchronizing signal and which is in the first electric signal; and
frequency detecting means for supplying the second energizing voltage to the second driving means through the second exciting means and for detecting the resonant frequency of the oscillator from the amplitude of the second electric signal.
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Abstract
Angular rate sensor comprises a x-direction oscillator, a x-oscillation driver, a z-oscillation sensing element for detecting an angular rate and an additional z-oscillation driver for triggering a free damped oscillation of the oscillator in the z-direction. An electric sensing circuit energizes the z-oscillation driver for triggering the free damped oscillation and detects the frequency of the free damped oscillation. The frequency is the resonant frequency of the oscillator. Thereafter the electric sensing circuit energizes the x-oscillation driver with the detected frequency for detecting the angular rate.
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11 Claims
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1. An angular rate sensing device comprises:
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an angular rate sensor having a base, an oscillator supported by the base so as to be oscillatable in x-and z-directions, a first driving means for driving the oscillator for oscillation in the x-direction, a second driving means for driving the oscillator for oscillation in the z-direction, and oscillation converting means for generating a first electric signal whose level oscillates in accordance with the oscillation in the z-direction; synchronizing signal generating means for generating a synchronizing signal of an indicated frequency; a first exciting means for supplying a first energizing voltage which is synchronized with the synchronizing signal to the first driving means; a second exciting means for supplying a second energizing voltage to the second driving means for driving the oscillator in the z-direction; amplitude detection means for generating a second electric signal which indicates an amplitude of a signal component which has a frequency of substantially the same with that of the synchronizing signal and which is in the first electric signal; and frequency detecting means for supplying the second energizing voltage to the second driving means through the second exciting means and for detecting the resonant frequency of the oscillator from the amplitude of the second electric signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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Specification