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US 4,899,587 AGranted
Method for sensing rotation using vibrating piezoelectric elements
AssigneePiezoelectric Technology Investors, Limited
InventorJuergen H. Staudte
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AssigneePiezoelectric Technology Investors, Limited
InventorJuergen H. Staudte
Estimating the term…
A vibratory angular rate sensor system preferably consists of a Z-cut quartz plate forming a mounting frame with a rectangular opening. Within the opening are mounted two pairs of tines. Each pair of tines is parallel to each other, one pair forming the drive tines and the other pair the output tines. Each corresponding set of two tines is disposed along the same axis having a common stem or base. The tines are secured by four bridges integral with the frame and connected to the stem. The arrangement is such that the pair of input tines vibrates in opposition to each other, while the pair of output tines vibrates with one tine going up while the other moves downwardly. As a result, the angular rate sensors drive frequency and the structural torque frequency are unequal. Therefore large displacements of the stem are unnecessary.
A method of sensing rotation, comprising the steps of:
In a method for sensing angular rate by the use of a dual fork structure having first and second interconnected forks lying in planes and carried by a support structure with the first fork having a major axis of symmetry, coupling energy into the first fork to cause vibratory motion of the first fork in the plane of the first fork and sensing vibratory motion of the second fork in a direction normal to the plane of the second fork caused by vibration and rotation of the first fork to provide a measure of the input angular rate about the major axis of symmetry of the first fork, said vibratory motions of the first and second forks being isolated from vibrations of the support structure.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.