Kabushiki Kaisha Suwa Seikosha

Minoru Inoue

Shigeru Kogure

Eishi Momosaki

A mode coupled tuning fork type quartz crystal vibrator utilizing two different vibrational modes is provided. The vibrator includes at least one electrode on each tuning fork arm for adjusting the resonant frequency of the main vibration and an electrode for adjusting the frequency-temperature characteristic of the vibrator. The main vibration is in the flexural mode (F.sub.1) and the sub-vibration is in the torsional mode (T.sub.0). The resonant frequency of the first overtone in the flextural mode is designated by f.sub.F and the resonant frequency of the fundamental vibration in the torsional mode is denoted by f.sub.T. The difference between f.sub.F and f.sub.T defined as .DELTA.f=f.sub.F -f.sub.T determines the frequency-temperature characteristics of the mode coupled vibrator. The electrodes for adjusting f.sub.F are substantially triangular in shape and the electrodes for adjusting f.sub.T are substantially rectangular in shape. These electrodes are disposed at positions near the top of each tuning fork arm and on both principal surfaces of the vibrators. The resonant frequencies are adjusted by removing a portion of electrode material or adding a strip of metal to the electrode. Preselected oscillation frequency and frequency-temperature characteristics in the form of a cubic curve at ambient temperatures are obtained by first adjusting .DELTA.f to a preselected value .DELTA.f.sub.O and then adjusting f.sub.F to a preselected value f.sub.F0 at the same time maintaining .DELTA.f at the value .DELTA.f.sub.0.

Mode coupled tuning fork type quartz crystal vibrator and method of

A tuning fork type quartz crystal vibrator has electrodes formed on its surfaces with the electrodes being divided into separated portions along the length of the tuning fork arms such that opposite electric fields and charges are juxtaposed in the same arm. Dividing the electrode at a location along the tuning fork arms where strains induced during vibration reverse direction, enhances the ability to induce vibrations. A low resonant resistance and high capacity ratio are provided for an overtone frequency of flexual vibrations.

Electrode for tuning fork type quartz crystal vibrator

Cutting a quartz tuning fork crystal vibrator at a preferred angle and with a thickness which establishes a close coupled relationship between the flexural and torsional modes of vibration of the arms or tines produces a vibrator having a highly favorable cubic frequency temperature characteristic at predetermined frequencies. Weight added to the ends of the vibrating tines reduces the frequency of both flexural and torsional vibration, whereas weight added at nodal points in the flexural vibration primarily reduces only the torsional vibrational mode. Accordingly, a wide range of frequency adjustments is possible. Deviations from the desired crystal operating frequency due to manufacturing variances are adjustable by sequential weight modifications while the desirable cubic temperature characteristic is retained. High accuracy over a wide temperature range permits operation in oscillator circuits at relatively low frequencies and with attendant low power consumption. Close coupling between vibrational modes occurs when the difference between the flexural and torsional frequencies is .ltoreq.0.15 of the flexural frequency. The principles for dimensioning the crystal, and adjusting thickness and weight, are applicable to both fundamental and overtone frequencies.

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Suwa, Japan

Minoru Inoue