Sensing apparatus and electronic equipment using the sensing apparatus

• US 6,810,735 B2
• Filed: 02/03/2003
• Issued: 11/02/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 02/04/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Pioneer Corporation
• Original Assignee: Pioneer Corporation
• Inventors: Kaneko, Hitoshi, Okamoto, Tatsuya, Endo, Isao
• Primary Examiner(s): Chapman, John E.
• Application Number:
  US10/356,597
• Publication Number:
  US 20030146358A1
• Time in Patent Office: 638 Days
• Field of Search: 734/93, 734/31, 73/13.7, 73/13.8, 73/17.5, 73/17.7, 73/17.8, 73/18.2, 73/18.6, 735/041.6, 735/143.2, 248/274.1, 74/52.2
• US Class Current: 73/493
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 19/5607 using vibrating tuning forks double-ended tuning forks using planar vibrating masses suspended at opposite ends G01C19/5719
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 1/023 for acceleration measuring devices
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 15/125 by capacitive pick-up
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 15/18 in two or more dimensions

Abstract

A sensing apparatus comprises a sensing unit and a supporting unit. The sensing unit detects a direction and an amount of physical quantity applied thereto. The sensing unit has a detection reference axis along which the direction and the amount of the physical quantity are detected. The supporting unit stationarily supports the sensing unit. The sensing unit is inclined relative to the supporting unit by a predetermined angle so that a difference in angle between the detection reference axis and the direction of the physical quantity actually applied to the sensing unit when detecting the direction and the amount of the physical quantity is reduced.

Claims

1. A sensing apparatus comprising:

a sensing unit for detecting a direction and an amount of physical quantity applied thereto, the sensing unit having a detection reference axis along which the direction and the amount of the physical quantity are detected; and

a supporting unit for stationarily supporting the sensing unit, the supporting unit comprising a base member and a mounting member secured to the blase member;

wherein;

the mounting member has a slit formed therein;

the sensing unit has a counter-slit formed therein; and

the sensing unit is mounted on the mounting member so that the counter-slit of the sensing unit engages with the slit of the mounting member, the sensing unit being inclined at an angle relative to the supporting unit, the angle being predetermined so as to reduce a difference in angle between the detection reference axis and the direction of the physical quantity actually applied to the sensing unit when detecting the direction and the amount of the physical quantity.

2. A sensing apparatus comprising:

a sensing unit for detecting a direction and an amount of physical quantity applied thereto, the sensing unit having a detection reference axis along which the direction and the amount of the physical quantity are detected; and

a supporting unit for stationarily supporting the sensing unit;

wherein;

the sensing unit is inclined at an angle relative to the supporting unit, the angle being predetermined so as to reduce a difference in angle between the detection reference axis and the direction of the physical quantity actually applied to the sensing unit when detecting the direction and the amount of the physical quantity;

the sensing unit comprises a plurality of detection discs disposed in parallel with each other and a supporting shaft passing through a center of each of the detection discs to support the detection discs thereon, the supporting shaft serving as the detection reference axis; and

the supporting shaft is secured to the supporting unit.

3. The sensing apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein:

the detection discs comprise a stationary electrode, which is stationarily supported on the supporting shall and a pair of movable electrodes, which are supported on the supporting shaft on opposite sides of the stationary electrode so as to be movable in a direction of the supporting shaft.

4. Electronic equipment to be mounted on a movable body, comprising:

a main body; and

a sensing apparatus provided in said main body, the sensing apparatus comprising (i) a sensing unit for detecting a direction and an amount of physical quantity applied thereto, the sensing unit having a detection reference axis along which the direction and the amount of the physical quantity are detected; and

(ii) a supporting unit for stationarily supporting the sensing unit, the supporting unit comprising a base member and a mounting member secured to the base member;

wherein;

the mounting member has a slit formed therein;

the sensing unit has a counter-slit formed therein; and

the sensing unit is mounted on the mounting member so that the counter-slit of the sensing unit engages with the slit of the mounting member, the sensing unit being inclined at an angle relative to the supporting unit, the angle being predetermined so as to reduce a difference in angle between the detection reference axis and the direction of the physical quantity actually applied to the sensing unit when detecting the direction and the amount of the physical quantity.

5. Electronic equipment to be mounted on a movable body, comprising:

a main body; and

a sensing apparatus provided in the main body, the sensing apparatus comprising (i) a sensing unit for detecting a direction and an amount of physical quantity applied thereto, the sensing unit having a detection reference axis along which the direction and the amount of the physical quantity are detected; and

(ii) a supporting unit for stationarily supporting the sensing unit;

wherein;

the sensing unit is inclined at an angle relative to the supporting unit, the angle being predetermined so as to reduce a difference in angle between the detection reference axis and the direction of the physical quantity actually applied to the sensing unit when detecting the direction and the amount of the physical quantity;

the sensing unit comprises a plurality of detection discs disposed in parallel with each other and a supporting shaft passing through a center of each of the detection discs to support the detection discs thereon, the supporting shaft serving as the detection reference axis; and

the supporting shaft is secured to the supporting unit.

6. The electronic equipment as claimed in claim 5, wherein:

the detection discs comprise a stationary electrode, which is stationarily supported on the supporting shaft and a pair of movable electrodes, which are supported on the supporting shaft on opposite sides of the stationary electrode so as to be movable in a direction of the supporting shaft.