The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Aug. 31, 1999
Filed:
Jul. 30, 1997
Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha, Kariya, JP;
Abstract
An angular rate sensor comprises an oscillator excited for oscillation in x-direction, a movable electrode disposed in opposing relationship with a stationary electrode along z-direction, and a movable electrode support for transmitting the oscillation of the oscillator in the z-direction to the movable electrode while interrupting the transmission of the oscillation in the x-direction, and is formed by a micromachining operation. The movable electrode support includes an oscillator support beam continuing from the oscillator and extending in y-direction, an electrode support beam continuing from the oscillator support beam and extending in the x-direction, and a connector stem extending in the x-direction form the electrode support beam and connected to the movable electrode at a position which represents the center of gravity of the movable electrode. When a turning force about the y-axis is applied to the oscillator, Coriolis force is produced and causes the oscillator to undergo an elliptical motion, depicting an ellipse on an x-z plane. The electrode support beam and the oscillator support beam interrupt the x-component of the elliptical oscillation while transmitting only the z-component to the movable electrode. An electrical circuit connected to the movable electrode produces an electrical signal representing the z-component of the oscillation.