Method and system of exciting a driving vibration in a vibrator

• US 7,089,793 B2
• Filed: 03/17/2004
• Issued: 08/15/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/20/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Original Assignee: NGK Insulators Limited, Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Inventors: Kobayashi, Yoshihiro, Yokoi, Shoji
• Primary Examiner(s): RAEVIS, ROBERT R
• Application Number:
  US10/803,176
• Publication Number:
  US 20040182184A1
• Time in Patent Office: 881 Days
• Field of Search: 73/13.8, 735/142.9, 73/32.A, 73/645.3, 73/544.1, 738/625.9, 737/02, 73/18.2, 73/18.3
• US Class Current: 73/514.29
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 19/56 Turn-sensitive devices using vibrating masses, e.g. vibratory angular rate sensors based on Coriolis forces

Abstract

An object of the present invention is to reduce a rise time required for stabilizing the vibration state of a vibrator and the scale of a circuit needed for the activation of a driving vibration in exciting the driving vibration in the vibrator. A driving vibration is excited in a vibrator 1 for outputting a detection signal generated based on the driving vibration and a physical value, and the physical value is measured based on the detection signal. The driving vibration is excited using a circuit 9A for self-excited vibration having a CR oscillator 5A to generate an oscillation loop together with the vibrator 1. An activating signal of rectangular wave is applied on the vibrator 1 using the CR oscillator 5A to start the driving vibration in the vibrator 1.

Claims

1. A method of exciting a driving vibration in a vibrator for outputting a detection signal generated based on said driving vibration and a physical value and for measuring said physical value based on said detection signal, wherein said driving vibration is excited using a closed-loop circuit comprising a CR oscillator having an input and an output, said method comprising the steps of:

applying an activating signal of rectangular wave from said output of said CR oscillator to said vibrator to start said driving vibration; and

passing the signal from said vibrator to said input of said CR oscillator.

2. A system for exciting a driving vibration in a vibrator for outputting a detection signal generated based on said driving vibration and a physical value and for measuring said physical value based on said detection signal,

said system comprising a closed-loop circuit for exciting said driving vibration, said circuit comprising a CR oscillator having an input and an output for applying an activating signal of rectangular wave from said output of said CR oscillator to said vibrator to start said driving vibration and for receiving the signal from said vibrator into said input of said CR oscillator.

3. A method of exciting a driving vibration in a vibrator for outputting a detection signal generated based on said driving vibration and a physical value and for measuring said physical value based on said detection signal, wherein said driving vibration is excited using a closed-loop circuit comprising a ring oscillator having an input and an output, said method comprising the steps of:

applying an activating signal of rectangular wave from said output of said ring oscillator to said vibrator to start said driving vibrations; and

passing the signal from said vibrator to said input of said ring oscillator.

4. A system for exciting a driving vibration in a vibrator for outputting a detection signal generated based on said driving vibration and a physical value and for measuring said physical value based on said detection signal,

said system comprising a closed-loop circuit for exciting said driving vibration, said circuit comprising a ring oscillator having an input and an output for applying an activating signal of rectangular wave from said output of said ring oscillator to said vibrator to start said driving vibration and for receiving the signal from said vibrator into said input of said ring oscillator.