Inertial force sensor

• US 9,605,963 B2
• Filed: 01/16/2015
• Issued: 03/28/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 01/24/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd. (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd. (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Ohuchi, Satoshi, Aizawa, Hiroyuki, Terada, Jiro, Ishida, Takami, Satou, Ichirou, Ohkoshi, Hideo, Ashimori, Yohei
• Primary Examiner(s): Chapman, Jr., John
• Application Number:
  US14/598,784
• Publication Number:
  US 20150122021A1
• Time in Patent Office: 802 Days
• Field of Search: 735/041.2, 735/041.6
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 19/56 Turn-sensitive devices using vibrating masses, e.g. vibratory angular rate sensors based on Coriolis forces
• 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: G01C 19/5642 using vibrating bars or beams
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 19/574 the devices having two sensing masses in anti-phase motion
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 15/097 by vibratory elements
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 15/18 in two or more dimensions

Abstract

An inertial force sensor includes a detecting device which detects an inertial force, the detecting device having a first orthogonal arm and a supporting portion, the first orthogonal arm having a first arm and a second arm fixed in a substantially orthogonal direction, and the supporting portion supporting the first arm. The second arm has a folding portion. In this configuration, there is provided a small inertial force sensor which realizes detection of a plurality of different inertial forces and detection of inertial forces of a plurality of detection axes.

Claims

1. An inertial force sensor comprising:

a detecting device which detects an inertial force wherein the detecting device includes;

a supporting portion,

a first support beam and a second support beam which are each connected to the supporting portion and extend along a first axis,

a first beam portion, a second beam portion, a third beam portion and a fourth beam portion which are each connected to the supporting portion, the first beam portion and the second beam portion each connected to the first support beam, the third beam portion and the fourth beam portion each connected to the second support beam, the first beam portion and the second beam portion being symmetrical about the first axis, the third beam portion and the fourth beam portion being symmetrical about the first axis, the first beam portion and the third beam portion being symmetrical about a second axis perpendicular to the first axis, and the second beam portion and the fourth beam portion being symmetrical about the second axis,

wherein each of the first, second, third, and fourth beam portions has a bend such that the beam portions extend in a direction away from the supporting portion, and

wherein the first beam portion, the second beam portion, the third beam portion and the fourth beam portion are each inclined at an acute angle relative to the first axis.

2. The inertial force sensor according to claim 1, wherein

an end of each of the first beam portion, second beam portion, third beam portion and fourth beam portion is capable of being driven, and

an angular velocity is detected by detecting Coriolis force corresponding to the driving.

3. The inertial force sensor according to claim 1, further comprising:

a first fixing beam and a second fixing beam each connected to the supporting portion.

4. The inertial force sensor according to claim 3, wherein the first fixing beam and the second fixing beam extend along the second axis.

5. The inertial force sensor according to claim 4, wherein the first fixing beam and the second fixing beam each connect to a base portion.

6. The inertial force sensor according to claim 1, wherein the detecting device is made of silicon.