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Angular velocity sensor

  • US 6,367,326 B1
  • Filed: 04/12/2000
  • Issued: 04/09/2002
  • Est. Priority Date: 07/10/1996
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. An angular velocity sensor comprising:

  • a substrate having an upper surface in an XY plane of an XYZ three dimensional coordinate system;

    a first weight body, a second weight body, a third weight body and a fourth weight body for carrying out rotational movement about a Z-axis of said coordinates system in a non-contact state with respect to the upper surface of the substrate, said Z-axis being perpendicular to said upper surface and constituting an axis of rotation for said weight bodies and said weight bodies being supported so that respective weight bodies can move independently;

    energy supply means for delivering energy to the first weight body so that the first weight body carries out a reversal rotational movement to traverse the positive X-axis in the clockwise and counterclockwise directions alternately while maintaining a fixed distance with respect to the upper surface of the substrate when no external force is applied, for delivering energy to the second weight body so that the second weight body carries out a reversal rotational movement to traverse the negative X-axis in the clockwise and counterclockwise directions alternately while maintaining a fixed distance with respect to the upper surface of the substrate when no external force is applied, for delivering energy to the third weight body so that the third weight body carries out a reversal rotational movement to traverse the positive Y-axis in the clockwise and counterclockwise directions alternately while maintaining a fixed distance with respect to the upper surface of the substrate when no external force is applied, and for delivering energy to the fourth weight body so that the fourth weight body carries out a reversal rotational movement to traverse the negative Y-axis in the clockwise and counterclockwise directions alternately while maintaining a fixed distance with respect to the upper surface of the substrate when no external force is applied, the rotational direction of the reversal rotational movement of the first weight body and the rotational direction of the reversal rotational movement of the second weight body being the same, the rotational direction of the reversal rotational movement of the third weight body and the rotational direction of the reversal rotational movement of the fourth weight body being the same and a rotational direction of the reversal rotational movement of the first and the second weight bodies and a rotational direction of the reversal rotational movement of the third and the fourth weight bodies being opposite;

    distance above positive X-axis measurement means for measuring a distance between the upper surface of the substrate and the first weight body when the first weight body passes above the positive X-axis; and

    distance above negative X-axis measurement means for measuring a distance between the upper surface of the substrate and the second weight body when the second weight body passes above the negative X-axis;

    distance above positive Y-axis measurement means for measuring a distance between the upper surface of the substrate and the third weight body when the third weight body passes above the positive Y-axis;

    distance above negative Y-axis measurement means for measuring a distance between the upper surface of the substrate and the fourth weight body when the fourth weight body passes above the negative Y-axis;

    first difference calculation means for obtaining a difference between a distance measured by the distance above positive X-axis measurement means and a distance measured by the distance above negative X-axis measurement means; and

    second difference calculation means for obtaining a difference between a distance measured by the distance above positive Y-axis measurement means and a distance measured by the distance above negative Y-axis measurement means;

    thereby to detect an angular velocity about the X-axis applied to the substrate on the basis of a difference obtained by the first difference calculation means and to detect an angular velocity about the Y-axis on the basis of a difference obtained by the second difference calculation means.

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