Patent ID: 7415879
Filing Date: 2008-08-26
Classification: G01C,G01P

Abstract:
1. An angular velocity sensor comprising: a vibrator made of a magnetostrictive material in a disc shape in plan view; a first coil disposed along a first plane which includes an axis of the vibrator, the first coil enclosing the vibrator; a supporter supporting the vibrator at a position where the axis crosses the surface of the vibrator, the supporter made of a nonmagnetic material; and a second coil disposed along a second plane which crosses the first plane and includes the axis, the second coil enclosing the vibrator and the first coil, wherein one of the first and second coils generates a magnetic field in the vibrator on the basis of an excitation current supplied, thereby making the vibrator vibrate in the direction of the magnetic field, and the other one of the first and second coils detects a magnetic flux change caused by a change in the vibration of the vibrator, the change in the vibration occurring depending on angular velocity.