Angular velocity sensor

• US 8,336,380 B2
• Filed: 07/26/2007
• Issued: 12/25/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/09/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Kandori, Atsushi, Majima, Masao, Nagae, Kenichi
• Primary Examiner(s): CHAPMAN JR, JOHN E
• Application Number:
  US12/304,966
• Publication Number:
  US 20090193893A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,979 Days
• Field of Search: 735/041.2
• US Class Current: 73/504.12
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 19/5712 the devices involving a micromechanical structure

Abstract

Provided is an angular velocity sensor including: a reference vibrator supported so as to generate reciprocating rotational vibration about a first rotation axis as a center; a detection vibrator supported by the reference vibrator so as to generate reciprocating rotational vibration about a second rotation axis, which is different from the first rotation axis, as a center; a reference vibration generating unit for allowing the reference vibrator to generate reciprocating rotational vibration; and a detection unit for detecting a displacement amount of the detection vibrator with respect to the reference vibrator, which is in association with the reciprocating rotational vibration of the detection vibrator.

Claims

1. An angular velocity sensor comprising:

a support substrate;

a reference vibrator supported from a peripheral portion by a first support member formed on the support substrate so as to generate reciprocating rotational vibration about a first rotation axis as a center;

a detection vibrator supported from a peripheral portion by a second support member formed on the reference vibrator so as to generate reciprocating rotational vibration about a second rotation axis, which is different from the first rotation axis, as a center;

a reference vibration generating unit constructed to allow the reference vibrator to generate reciprocating rotational vibration; and

a detection unit coupled to the reference vibrator constructed to detect a relative displacement amount of the detection vibrator with respect to the reference vibrator, which is in association with the reciprocating rotational vibration of the detection vibrator, wherein the detection unit includes a unit for detecting an electrostatic capacity between the reference vibrator and the detection vibrator.

2. The angular velocity sensor according to claim 1, wherein the second support member has an X-shape in cross-section.

3. The angular velocity sensor according to claim 1, wherein the first rotation axis and the second rotation axis are orthogonal to each other.

4. The angular velocity sensor according to claim 3, wherein:

the detection vibrator has a flat-plate shape; and

the first rotation axis is perpendicular to a plane of the detection vibrator when the detection vibrator is placed at a neutral position.

5. An angular velocity sensor comprising:

a support substrate;

a reference vibrator supported from a peripheral portion by a first support member formed on the support substrate so as to generate reciprocating rotational vibration about a first rotation axis as a center;

a detection vibrator supported from a peripheral portion by a second support member formed on the reference vibrator so as to generate reciprocating rotational vibration about a second rotation axis, which is different from the first rotation axis, as a center;

a reference vibration generating unit constructed to allow the reference vibrator to generate reciprocating rotational vibration; and

a detection unit coupled to the reference vibrator constructed to detect a relative displacement amount of the detection vibrator with respect to the reference vibrator, which is in association with the reciprocating rotational vibration of the detection vibrator, wherein the reference vibrator and the detection vibrator are disposed so as to have an opposing surface, and at least one of the reference vibrator or the detection vibrator has a through-hole or a recessed portion on the opposing surface.

6. The angular velocity sensor according to claim 5, wherein the through-hole or the recessed portion is provided such that a number of the through-hole or the recessed portion becomes larger as distance between the through-hole or the recessed portion and the second rotation axis becomes larger.

7. The angular velocity sensor according to claim 5, wherein the first rotation axis and the second rotation axis are orthogonal to each other.

8. The angular velocity sensor according to claim 7, wherein:

the detection vibrator has a flat-plate shape; and

the first rotation axis is perpendicular to a plane of the detection vibrator when the detection vibrator is placed at a neutral position.

9. The angular velocity sensor according to claim 5, wherein the detection unit includes a strain detection unit including one of a piezoresistor or a piezoelectric element which is provided to a support portion for supporting the detection vibrator.

10. An angular velocity sensor comprising:

a support substrate;

a reference vibrator supported from a peripheral portion by a first support member formed on the support substrate so as to generate reciprocating rotational vibration about a first rotation axis as a center;

a first detection vibrator supported from a peripheral portion by a second support member formed on the reference vibrator so as to generate reciprocating rotational vibration about a second rotation axis, which is different from the first rotation axis, as a center;

a second detection vibrator supported by the reference vibrator so as to generate reciprocating rotational vibration about a third rotation axis, which is perpendicular to the second rotation axis, as a center,

a reference vibration generating unit constructed to allow the reference vibrator to generate reciprocating rotational vibration;

a detection unit coupled to the reference vibrator constructed to detect a relative displacement amount of the first detection vibrator with respect to the reference vibrator, which is in association with the reciprocating rotational vibration of the first detection vibrator and a relative displacement amount of the second detection vibrator with respect to the reference vibrator, which is in association with the reciprocating rotational vibration of the second detection vibrator.

11. The angular velocity sensor according to claim 10, wherein the first rotation axis and the second rotation axis are orthogonal to each other.

12. An angular velocity sensor comprising:

a support substrate;

a reference vibrator supported from a peripheral portion by a first support member formed on the support substrate so as to generate reciprocating rotational vibration about a first rotation axis as a center;

a first detection vibrator including a detection unit supported from a peripheral portion by a second support member so as to generate reciprocating rotational vibration about a second rotation axis, which is different from the first rotation axis, as a center;

a second detection vibrator including a detection unit supported from a peripheral portion by a third support member so as to generate reciprocating rotational vibration about a third rotation axis, which is different from the first rotation axis and the second rotation axis, as a center;

a reference vibration generating unit constructed to allow the reference vibrator to generate reciprocating rotational vibration; and

a detection unit constructed to detect a relative displacement amount of the first detection vibrator or the second detection vibrator with respect to the reference vibrator, which is in association with the reciprocating rotational vibration of the first detection vibrator or the second detection vibrator,

wherein the first detection vibrator and the second detection vibrator are configured so as to conduct reciprocating rotation together with the reference vibrator, about the first rotation axis as a center.

13. The angular velocity sensor according to claim 12, wherein each of the first detection vibrator and the second detection vibrator has four detection electrodes divided into quarters by a straight line parallel to the second rotation axis and a straight line parallel to the third rotation axis, and the four detection electrodes provided at the first detection vibrator and the four detection electrodes provided at the second detection vibrator are opposite to each other.