Patent ID: 7348716
Filing Date: 2008-03-25
Classification: G01C

Abstract:
1. A piezoelectric gyro element for detecting angular velocities of directions of two axes comprising: a piezoelectric vibration body, which has a shape of a rectangular column with a rectangular section, the piezoelectric vibration body being fixed on one end; first driving electrodes formed on opposing first side faces of the piezoelectric vibration body; second and third driving electrodes formed separated from each other in the width direction of opposing second side faces of the piezoelectric vibration body; first pair of detecting electrodes formed on the opposing first side faces of the piezoelectric vibration body; and second pair of detecting electrodes formed on the opposing second side faces of the piezoelectric vibration body with each detecting electrode in each pair being on separate planes opposing each other on opposite faces of the piezoelectric body; wherein the piezoelectric vibration body is made to oscillate so that the other end thereof rotates in a circular path, by applying driving currents with phase differentials to each of the driving electrodes; and a center of the circular path shifts by a torque operating orthogonally to a rotational central axis of the oscillation; a bend of the piezoelectric vibration body, the bend being generated by a the torque being output as information from the detecting electrodes.