Angular velocity and acceleration sensor

An angular velocity and acceleration sensor in which a tuning-fork oscillator is vibrated on the main driven vibrating axis and displacement which crosses said main driven vibration axis at right angles is detected so that at least one of angular velocity and acceleration which crosses said main driven vibrating axis at right angles may be detected, said sensor comprising:

• a vacuum vessel in which said tuning-fork oscillator is mounted for operation in a vacuum environment;
• vibrating reeds associated with said tuning-fork oscillator formed so that the spring constant of said vibrating reeds on said main driven vibrating axis is substantially equal to that on the axis which crosses said main driven vibrating axis at right angles, said vibrating reeds having flat elements each with flat surfaces that are parallel to the main driven vibrating axis;
• said flat elements being integrally formed on said material as part of said vibrating reeds and located at the ends of said vibrating reeds;
• and
• means including a pair of driven electrodes for driving said tuning-fork oscillator positioned on opposite sides of said flat elements in parallel to said main driven vibrating axis and facing the flat surfaces of said flat elements.