Angular velocity sensor

• US 6,134,961 A
• Filed: 06/24/1999
• Issued: 10/24/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 06/24/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Aisin Seiki Co., Ltd. (Aisin Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Aisin Seiki Co., Ltd. (Aisin Corp.)
• Inventors: Harada, Shinichi, Katoh, Manabu, Touge, Hiroshi
• Primary Examiner(s): MOLLER, RICHARD ALAN
• Application Number:
  US09/339,107
• Time in Patent Office: 488 Days
• Field of Search: 73/504.04, 73/504.03, 73/504.02, 73/504.16, 73/504.12
• US Class Current: 73/504.12
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 19/5719 using planar vibrating masses driven in a translation vibration along an axis

Abstract

An angular velocity sensor includes coupling beams supported afloat by highly flexible support beams so as to be movable relative to a substrate, with the support beams being flexible in the x-axis and a y-axis directions and being symmetrical with respect to the center of the sensor. A first vibrator and a second vibrator are supported by respective coupling beams through spring beams that are highly flexible in the x-direction, with the spring beams being symmetrical with respect to the x-axis passing through the center symmetrical to each other with respect to the y-axis passing through the center. Drive electrodes drive at least one of the first vibrator and the second vibrator to vibrate in the x-direction. First displacement detection electrodes detect a y-directional vibration of the first vibrator and second displacement detection electrodes detect a y-directional vibration of the second vibrator. Precision with respect to detecting the angular velocity is prevented from being lowered by electrical and mechanical disturbances.

Claims

1. An angular velocity sensor having a center comprising:

a loop spring beam which is flexible in an x-axis and a y-axis passing through the center of the sensor, said loop spring beam being supported by floating support members for being vibrated in directions extending along an xy-plane relatively to a substrate;

oscillation means for driving at least one point of said loop spring beam which intersects said x-axis or y-axis to vibrate in a direction in which said one axis extends;

a first drive frame and a second drive frame which are continuous with a respective intersection point of said loop spring beam with said x-axis, said first drive frame and second drive frame being located at positions symmetric with respect to said y-axis, and being supported afloat for movement relative to the substrate by support members that are flexible in the direction in which the x-axis extends;

a first vibrator disposed in said first drive frame and continuous with spring beams that are flexible in the y-direction, the first vibrator being continuous with said first drive frame;

a second vibrator disposed in said second drive frame and continuous with spring beams that are flexible in the y-direction, the first vibrator being continuous with said second drive frame;

first displacement detection means for detecting a y-directional vibration of said first vibrator; and

second displacement detection means for detecting a y-directional vibration of said second vibrator.

2. An angular velocity sensor according to claim 1, further comprising:

a third drive frame and a fourth drive frame which are respectively continuous with intersection points of said loop spring beam with said y-axis, said third and fourth frames being supported afloat to be movable relatively to said substrate by support members that are flexible in the direction in which said y-axis extends, said third and fourth frames being positioned symmetrically with respect to said x-axis;

a third vibrator disposed in said third drive frame and continuous with spring beams that are flexible in the x-direction, said third vibrator being continuous to said third drive frame;

a fourth vibrator disposed in said fourth drive frame and continuous with spring beams that are flexible in the x-direction, said fourth vibrator being continuous to said fourth drive frame;

third displacement detection means for detecting an x-directional vibration of said third vibrator; and

fourth displacement detection means for detecting an x-directional vibration of said fourth vibrator.

3. An angular velocity sensor according to claim 1, wherein said first and second vibrators each possess a shape of a frame, said first displacement detection means being located inside said first vibrator, said second displacement detection means being located inside said second vibrator.

4. An angular velocity sensor according to claim 1, wherein said floating support members that support said loop spring beam include first spring beams which cross said y-axis and are flexible in directions in which the y-axis extends, the support members that support said first and second driving frames including second spring beams which cross said x-axis and are flexible in directions in which the x-axis extends.

5. An angular velocity sensor according to claim 4, wherein said floating support members that support said loop spring beam and the support members that support said first and second driving frames also include a frame member and third spring beams, one end of each of said third spring beams being continuous with said frame member and an opposite end of each of said third spring beams being fixed to said substrate.

6. An angular velocity sensor having a center comprising:

coupling beams which are supported afloat by floating support members so as to be movable relative to a substrate, the floating support members being flexible in directions of an x-axis and a y-axis and being symmetrical with respect to the center of the sensor;

a first vibrator and a second vibrator supported by a respective one of said coupling beams through spring beams that are flexible in the x-direction, and symmetrical with respect to the x-axis passing through the center, and symmetrical to each other with respect to the y-axis passing through the center;

oscillation means for driving at least either of said first vibrator and said second vibrator to vibrate in the x-direction;

first displacement detection means for detecting a y-directional vibration of said first vibrator; and

second displacement detection means for detecting a y-directional vibration of said second vibrator.

7. An angular velocity sensor according to claim 6, wherein said first vibrator is located within and connected to a first frame and said second vibrator is located within and connected to a second frame, said first and second frames being symmetrically located with respect to said y-axis.

8. An angular velocity sensor having a center comprising:

a loop spring beam which is flexible in an x-axis and a y-axis passing through the center of the sensor, said loop spring beam being supported by floating support members for being vibrated in directions extending along an xy-plane relatively to a substrate;

oscillation means for driving at least one point of said loop spring beam to vibrate in a direction in which one of said x-axis and y-axis extends;

a first drive frame connected to the loop spring beam at a point at which the loop spring beam intersects one of said x-axis and y-axis;

a second drive frame connected to the loop spring beam at a point at which the loop spring beam intersects one of said x-axis and y-axis, said first drive frame and second drive frame being located at positions symmetric with respect to one of said x-axis and y-axis and being supported for movement relative to the substrate by support members that are flexible in the direction in which the x-axis extends;

a first vibrator that is connected with said first drive frame;

a second vibrator that is connected with said second drive frame;

first displacement detection means for detecting a y-directional vibration of said first vibrator; and

second displacement detection means for detecting a y-directional vibration of said second vibrator.