Angular speed measuring transducer

Abstract

The invention concerns a transducer for measuring an angular velocity formed by a single piezoelectric tuning fork (21) that rotates at said angular velocity. The tuning fork includes two vibrating legs(23, 24) extending from a base (22), means (25a, 25b, 26a, 26b) exciting a first vibration of the tuning fork, arranged on the excitation leg (23), and means (27a, 27b, 28a, 28b) detecting a second vibration of the tuning fork generated in response to the first vibration and to a rotation of the tuning fork, arranged on the detection leg (24). The detection leg has a cross-shaped section including two top lateral faces (33, 34) and two bottom lateral faces (37, 38), separated by protruding parts (41, 42) projecting with respect to said faces. The detection means include first (27a) and second (28a) detection electrodes arranged facing each other, each being arranged on one of the top lateral faces (33, 34), such that the electrical field between the first and second detection electrodes is substantially rectilinear through the detection leg, and third (27b) and fourth (28b) detection electrodes arranged facing each other, each being arranged on one of the bottom lateral faces (37, 38), such that the electrical field between the third and fourth detection electrodes is substantially rectilinear through the detection leg.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.