Patent ID: 6523410
Filing Date: 2003-02-25
Classification: G01C

Abstract:
An angular rate sensor comprising:a tuning fork oscillator having at least two arms and a base, including: a first oscillator member of a single crystalline piezoelectric material having at least two arms and a base joining the two arms; and a second oscillator member of the single crystalline piezoelectric material having a shape substantially identical to a shape of said first oscillator member, said first and second oscillator members being bonded directly to each other in a direction of a thickness and in a direction of a crystallographic axis so that opposite polarities of a piezoelectric effect may be developed along a widthwise direction of said first and second oscillator members; first, second, third, and fourth electrodes provided on a first main surface, a second main surface, an outer surface, and an inner surface of one of the arms of said tuning fork oscillator, respectively; a fifth electrode provided on one of first and second main surfaces of other arm of the arms of said tuning fork oscillator; and sixth and seventh electrodes provided on inner and outer surfaces of the other arm of said tuning fork oscillator, respectively; wherein, when said fifth electrode is provided on the first main surface, a driving voltage is applied to said second and fifth electrodes at a polarity identical to each other and applied to said first electrode at a polarity opposite to said second and fifth electrodes; and wherein, when said fifth electrode is provided on the second main surface, a driving voltage is applied to said second and fifth electrodes at polarities opposite to each other and applied to said first electrode at a polarity identical to said fifth electrode.