Patent ID: 6223597
Filing Date: 2001-05-01
Classification: G01C,Y10T

Abstract:
An angular rate sensor for determining an angular rate of rotation when the angular rate sensor experiences rotation about a given axis, comprising:an oscillator comprising a piezoelectric element including a pair of arms and a connecting portion connecting ends of the arms, said oscillator having a portion near a connection of the connecting portion and the pair of arms, said portion being trimmed for adjusting an oscillation characteristic of said oscillator;a drive electrode formed on an outer wall of said oscillator, said drive electrode being responsive to input of an excitation signal to oscillate the arms of said oscillator in a first direction perpendicular to length of said oscillator; anda pickup electrode formed on the outer wall of said oscillator, said pickup electrode electrically picking up oscillations of the arms in a second direction different from the first direction which indicate the angular rate acting on the angular rate sensor.