Angular velocity sensor, electronic apparatus, and moving object

• US 9,587,944 B2
• Filed: 10/30/2014
• Issued: 03/07/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Original Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Inventors: Nishizawa, Ryuta, Nakagawa, Keiji, Shimizu, Norifumi
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel, Harshad R
• Assistant Examiner(s): Shah, Samir M
• Application Number:
  US14/528,496
• Publication Number:
  US 20150114114A1
• Time in Patent Office: 859 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 19/5614 Signal processing
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 3/02 Devices characterised by the use of mechanical means

Abstract

An angular velocity sensor includes fixing units, a base portion, beam portions that support the base portion with respect to the fixing units, driving vibrating arms connected to the base portion, and detection vibrating arms connected to the base portion. When a width of a detection frequency band is set to f1 [Hz], a resonance frequency in a rotational vibration mode in which the base portion rotates and vibrates around a detection axis with respect to the fixing units in association with the deformation of the beam portions is set to f2 [Hz], and a detuning frequency is set to f3 [Hz], the relation of f1<f2<f3 is satisfied.

Claims

1. An angular velocity sensor comprising:

a fixing unit;

a base portion;

a supporting unit that supports the base portion with respect to the fixing unit;

a vibration unit that is connected to the base portion;

a detection unit that is connected to the base portion and vibrates by an action of a Coriolis force based on an angular velocity around a detection axis; and

a detection circuit electrically connected to the detection unit,

wherein a width of a detection frequency band of the detection circuit is f1 Hz,

a detuning frequency corresponding to a difference between a resonance frequency of the vibration unit and a resonance frequency of the detection unit is tuned to f3 Hz,

the supporting unit includes a plurality of beams each having a respective bending portion, and

a resonance frequency f2 Hz in a rotational vibration mode in which a mass constituted by the base portion, the vibration unit, and the detection unit rotationally vibrates around the detection axis with respect to the fixing unit in association with deformation of the supporting unit is greater than f1 and is less than f3 Hz.

2. The angular velocity sensor according to claim 1, wherein the rotational vibration mode is a primary rotational vibration mode.

3. The angular velocity sensor according to claim 2, wherein a relation of 1.4≦

(f3/f2) is satisfied.

4. An electronic apparatus comprising the angular velocity sensor according to claim 3.

5. A moving object comprising the angular velocity sensor according to claim 3.

6. The angular velocity sensor according to claim 2, wherein a relation of (f3/f2)≦

4 is satisfied.

7. An electronic apparatus comprising the angular velocity sensor according to claim 6.

8. A moving object comprising the angular velocity sensor according to claim 6.

9. The angular velocity sensor according to claim 2, wherein a Q value in the primary rotational vibration mode is equal to or greater than 5 and equal to or less than 100.

10. An electronic apparatus comprising the angular velocity sensor according to claim 9.

11. A moving object comprising the angular velocity sensor according to claim 9.

12. The angular velocity sensor according to claim 2, wherein a relation of (f1/f2)≦

0.5 is satisfied.

13. An electronic apparatus comprising the angular velocity sensor according to claim 12.

14. A moving object comprising the angular velocity sensor according to claim 12.

15. An electronic apparatus comprising the angular velocity sensor according to claim 2.

16. A moving object comprising the angular velocity sensor according to claim 2.

17. An electronic apparatus comprising the angular velocity sensor according to claim 1.

18. A moving object comprising the angular velocity sensor according to claim 1.