Yaw rate detector and method for detecting yaw rate
First Claim
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1. A yaw rate detector for detecting the angular velocity of a traveling object, wherein the yaw rate detector comprises:
- an actuator substance having a predetermined shape and uniform density when at rest, wherein pressure changes are produced in the actuator substance when the detector is subjected to centrifugal force;
a body for retaining the actuator substance, the body comprising a flat circuit substrate for supporting the actuator substance and an upper housing cooperating with the circuit substrate to determine the thickness of the actuator substance;
a sensor located centrally within the actuator substance for reacting to pressure changes in the actuator substance, the sensor having a central axis, wherein the sensor simultaneously reacts to pressure changes at two points located in the actuator substance, wherein the two points are located on a center-line of the detector, on opposite sides of the central axis of the sensor, and at equal distances from the central axis of the sensor, the sensor being mounted on the circuit substrate and including a thin portion serving as a diaphragm wherein a diaphragm surface of the sensor is located half-way between the circuit substrate and the upper housing.
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Abstract
A yaw rate detector and method of detecting yaw rate. The detector includes a sensor surrounded by a uniformly distributed gel-like material. The gel-like material is retained in a certain shape by a pair of parallel surfaces. The pressure of the gel-like material is affected by centrifugal force, which is sensed by the sensor. The sensor simultaneously detects pressure changes in the gel-like material on opposite sides of the sensor, which permits the detector to sense the angular velocity of rotation of the sensor. The sensor is a semi-conductor pressure sensor formed on a circuit substrate.
25 Citations
13 Claims
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1. A yaw rate detector for detecting the angular velocity of a traveling object, wherein the yaw rate detector comprises:
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an actuator substance having a predetermined shape and uniform density when at rest, wherein pressure changes are produced in the actuator substance when the detector is subjected to centrifugal force; a body for retaining the actuator substance, the body comprising a flat circuit substrate for supporting the actuator substance and an upper housing cooperating with the circuit substrate to determine the thickness of the actuator substance; a sensor located centrally within the actuator substance for reacting to pressure changes in the actuator substance, the sensor having a central axis, wherein the sensor simultaneously reacts to pressure changes at two points located in the actuator substance, wherein the two points are located on a center-line of the detector, on opposite sides of the central axis of the sensor, and at equal distances from the central axis of the sensor, the sensor being mounted on the circuit substrate and including a thin portion serving as a diaphragm wherein a diaphragm surface of the sensor is located half-way between the circuit substrate and the upper housing. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A yaw rate detector for detecting the angular velocity of a traveling object, wherein the yaw rate detector comprises:
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an actuator substance having a symmetrical shape and uniform density when at rest, wherein pressure changes are produced in the actuator substance when the detector is subjected to centrifugal force; a body for retaining the actuator substance; a sensor located centrally within the actuator substance for reacting to pressure changes in the actuator substance, the sensor having a central axis, wherein the sensor simultaneously reacts to pressure changes in the actuator substance that occur at any two points in the actuator substance located on opposite sides of the sensor and at equal distances from the central axis of the sensor; and a slider located on each of two opposite sides of the sensor such that one side of each slider contacts the actuator substance wherein each slider is free to move along an axis. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method for detecting angular velocity, the method comprising:
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locating a sensor with a diaphragm surface in the center of an actuator substance to form a detector, wherein the actuator substance has a predetermined shape, thickness and a uniform density when at rest, the diaphragm surface being located at a position one half the entire thickness of the actuator substance; retaining the actuator substance in a body to permit displacement of the actuator substance only in predetermined directions when the detector is moved; deforming the sensor by pressure changes in the actuator, wherein the pressure changes are caused by motion of the detector; simultaneously detecting pressure changes in the actuator substance at two points in the actuator substance, upon motion of the detector, wherein the two points are located on a center-line of the detector, on opposite sides of the sensor, and at equal distances from the sensor.
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Specification