Patent ID: 8272267
Filing Date: 2012-09-25
Classification: G01C

Abstract:
1. An angular velocity sensor comprising: a base plate; four driven mass portions arranged to face the base plate with gaps provided therebetween and arranged at different locations in a circumferential direction about a central portion and which are point-symmetrical with respect to the central portion; a coupling beam interconnecting the four driven mass portions and flexurally deforming when the four driven mass portions are displaced in a horizontal direction parallel or substantially parallel to the base plate; four connecting portions extending radially about the central portion, each arranged between two adjacent ones of the driven mass portions in the circumferential direction, and connected to the coupling beam; driven beams disposed respectively in the four connecting portions and supporting the connecting portions to be displaceable in a lengthwise direction thereof when the coupling beam is flexurally deformed; driving elements arranged to vibrate the four driven mass portions in the circumferential direction about the central portion in a state in which two adjacent ones of the driven mass portions in the circumferential direction are vibrated in opposite phases; detecting mass portions disposed respectively in the four driven mass portions; detecting beams disposed between the detecting mass portions and the driven mass portions and supporting the detecting mass portions to be displaceable in a direction of thickness of the base plate; and displacement detecting elements arranged to detect displacements of the detecting mass portions in the direction of thickness of the base plate.