Angular rate sensor

[0002] This application is a U.S. National Phase Application of PCT International Application PCT/JP99/04897.

[0003] 1. Field of the Invention

[0004] The present invention relates to an angular rate sensor.

[0005] 2. Background of the Invention

[0006] As a known angular rate sensor of the prior art, there is disclosed one in page 26 through page 33 of the Journal of Nippondenso Engineering Society (Vol. 38, No. 3, 1994). This angular rate sensor comprises an exciting unit for providing a tuning fork vibrator with vibration, a means for detecting a vibration level of the vibrator, a detection means for detecting Coriolis' force generated responsive to an angular rate, a first amplifier for amplifying an output signal of the means for detecting vibration level, a rectifier circuit for rectifying an output signal of the first amplifier to obtain a DC voltage, a comparator of an output voltage of the rectifier circuit with a reference voltage, and a variable gain amplifier connected to the exciting unit in a manner that a vibrating amplitude of the tuning fork vibrator is controlled to be constant by varying an amplification factor for amplifying a voltage, which is produced by shifting phase of an output voltage of the first amplifier by 90 degrees according to an output voltage of the comparator.

[0007] The prior art technique described above has not been sufficient to ensure reliability of the angular rate sensor, as it is difficult to make a detection when there is an open circuit in a connecting line between a detecting electrode and a detection circuit, a change in sensitivity due to deterioration of the detecting electrode, or a breakdown developed in the detection circuit.

[0008] An angular rate sensor includes an exciting unit for providing a vibrator with vibration a means for detecting a vibration level of the vibrator, a first detection means for detecting Coriolis' force generated responsive to an angular rate, a second detection means for detecting a signal of a reverse polarity to that of the first detection means, a driving circuit for taking as an input a signal from the means for detecting vibration level and outputting a signal to the exciting unit, and a first detection circuit and at second detection circuit wherein detected signals are being input respectively from the first detection means and the second detection means. A structure as described above is able to realize the angular rate sensor having a function of detecting even a change in sensitivity due to a breakdown and deterioration, with remarkably improved reliability.

[0009] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an angular rate sensor of a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

[0010] FIG. 2 is a plain view depicting an electrode arrangement of an angular rate sensor element block of the same first exemplary embodiment;

[0011] FIGS. 3(a) and 3(b) are graphical representations showing input-output characteristics in the same first exemplary embodiment;

[0012] FIG. 4 is a block diagram of an angular rate sensor of a second exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

[0013] FIG. 5 is a block diagram of an angular rate sensor of a third exemplary embodiment of the present invention; and

[0014] FIG. 6 is a block diagram of an angular rate sensor of a fourth exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[0015] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an angular rate sensor of a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a plan view that depicts in detail an electrode arrangement of an angular rate sensor element block of the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, designated at a numeral 1 is a tuning fork vibrator of the angular rate sensor, composed of a crystal, characters 2aand 2bare electrodes formed on the tuning fork vibrator 1 to constitute an exciting unit, a numeral 3 is another electrode formed on the tuning fork vibrator 1 to constitute a means for detecting a vibration level of the tuning fork vibrator 1, numerals 4 and 5 are a first detecting electrode for detecting Coriolis' force generated responsive to an angular rate, and a second detection electrode for detecting a signal of a reverse polarity to that of the first detection electrode, both formed on the tuning fork vibrator 1 to constitute detection means, a numeral 6 is a driving circuit, numerals 7 and 8 are a first and a second detection circuits for converting electric charges detected and input by the first and the second detecting electrodes into voltages corresponding to a magnitude of the angular rate, and numerals 9 and 10 are a first and a second output terminals for signals of the angular rate sensor, provided in the first and the second detection circuits.

[0016] The angular rate sensor element block la is composed of the tuning fork vibrator 1 the electrodes 2a, 2band 3 formed on the tuning fork vibrator 1, and the first detecting electrode 4 and the second detecting electrode 5 formed on the tuning fork vibrator 1. A reference numeral 11 designates a first amplifier, numeral 12 a second rectifier, numeral 13 a smoothing circuit, numeral 14 a variable gain amplifier, numerals 15aand 15ba second amplifier and a third amplifier, numerals 16aand 16ba fourth amplifier and a fifth amplifier, numerals 17aand 17ba first phase shifting circuit and a second phase shifting circuit, numerals 18aand 18ba first phase detector and a second phase detector, numeral 19 a comparator for detecting a vibration timing of the tuning fork vibrator 1, numerals 20aand 20ba first low-pass filter and a second low-pass filter, numerals 21aand 21ba first adjustment means and a second adjustment means, numerals 21cand 21fa first DC amplifier and a second DC amplifier, numerals 21dand 21ga first amplification factor adjusting resistor and a second amplification factor adjusting resistor, and numerals 21eand 21ha first offset adjusting unit and a second offset adjusting unit.

[0017] The driving circuit 6 comprises the first amplifier 11 for taking as an input an electric charge generated in the electrode 3 formed on the tuning fork vibrator 1 to constitute the means of detecting vibration level, the rectifier 12 for rectifying an output voltage of the first amplifier 11, the smoothing circuit 13 for smoothing all output voltage of the rectifier 12, the variable gain amplifier 14 for taking as an input an output voltage of the first amplifier 11 and for varying an amplification factor according to an output voltage of the smoothing circuit 13, the second amplifier 15afor amplifying an output voltage of the variable gain amplifier 14, and the third amplifier 15bfor producing an output of a reverse phase to the second amplifier 15a.

[0018] The first amplifier 11 is called an I-V converter, or a current amplifier, for converting an electric charge input thereto into a voltage, and it comprises an operational amplifier and a feedback resistor. This structure operates in a manner that an input terminal always remains at 0 volt, for which an expression that “an input is imaginary shorted” is used. This is a useful circuit means, in the case of the driving circuit 6 which deals with a weak signal and processes the signal requiring no shift in phase as it performs a synchronous detection, because influences of a capacitive component of the electrode 3, a capacitance, an inductance, and the like of a wiring through the driving circuit 6 can be precluded, even if they are involved, as an effect of it that the input voltage is maintained to be zero at all the time. The rectifier 12 and the smoothing circuit 13 compose a circuit to change a magnitude of an electric charge produced in the electrode 3 into a DC voltage, and the voltage obtained here represents a vibration level of the tuning fork vibrator 1. The variable gain amplifier 14 inputs an output of the first amplifier 11 as well as all output of the smoothing circuit 13, and amplifies the output signal of the first amplifier 11 large, if the output voltage of the smoothing circuit 13 is small (when vibration of the tuning fork vibrator 1 is small), and reduces its amplification factor, on the contrary, if the output of the smoothing circuit 13 is large (when the vibration level of the tuning fork vibrator 1 is large). Vibration of the tuning fork vibrator 1 can be kept constant by the variable gain amplifier 14. Furthermore, it is safe to say that the operation is carried out in a manner that the output of the smoothing circuit 13 becomes constant, taking into account a change in efficiency of the electrode 3, if the change occurs due to a change in temperature, etc. These circuits are important in order to keep a sensitivity of the angular rate sensor constant, since the Coriolis' force generated in the tuning fork vibrator 1, expressed by Fc=2 mvΩ, is directly proportional to a vibrating velocity “v”.

[0019] The first and the second detection circuits 7 and 8 respectively comprise the fourth amplifier 16aand the fifth amplifier 16bfor taking electric charges produced in the first detecting electrode 4 and the second detecting electrode 5 as their inputs, and outputting voltages proportional to amounts of these electric charges, the first phase shifting circuit 17aand the second phase shifting circuit 17bfor shifting phase of the output voltages of the fourth amplifier 16aand the fifth amplifier 16bby 90 degrees, the first phase detector and the second phase detector, 18aand 18b, for carrying out phase detection with a timing signal output by the comparator 19 for detecting a vibration timing of the tuning fork vibrator 1, and the first adjustment means and the second adjustment means, 21aand 21b, for DC-amplifying output voltages that appear after output signals of these phase detectors 18aand 18bpass through the first low-pass filter and the second lowpass filter 20aand 20b. Furthermore, the first adjustment means and the second adjustment means respectively include the first DC amplifier and the second DC amplifier, 21cand 21f, the first amplification factor adjusting resistor and the second amplification factor adjusting resistor, 21dand 21g, and the first offset adjusting unit and the second offset adjusting unit, 21eand 21h, for independently adjusting their amplification factors, offsets and temperature dependency of the offsets.

[0020] The tuning fork vibrator 1 keeps vibrating at all the time, as driving signals are sent to the electrodes 2aand 2brespectively by the second amplifier 15aand the third amplifier 15bof the driving circuit 6. When a rotational angular rate is impressed upon this tuning fork vibrator 1, electric charges generated by the Coriolis' force are detected by the first detecting electrode 4 and the second detecting electrode 5. Outputs shown in FIG. 3(a) and FIG. 3(b) are obtained respectively from the first and the second output terminals 9 and 10 of the first and the second detection circuits 7 and 8, since the first detecting electrode 4 and the second detecting electrode 5 are arranged in such a manner as to obtain electric charges of reverse polarity with respect to each other. It is therefore possible to detect an abnormal condition by way of observing the voltages of the first and the second output terminals 9 and 10 at all the time, even when an abnormality occurs with any of the first detecting electrode 4, the second detecting electrode 5, the first detection circuit 7, the second detection circuit 8, and their wiring. In addition, the output voltage increases when an angular rate input is (+) (a clockwise rotation is defined as positive), and the output voltage decreases when the angular rate input is (−), as in FIG. 3(a). It is apparent from the figure that a sensitivity characteristic gained from the output terminal 9 is +20 mV/deg/sec. In FIG. 3(b), on the other hand, the output voltage decreases when the angular rate input is (+), and the output voltage increases when the angular rate input is (−). It is also obvious from the figure that the sensitivity characteristic gained from the output terminal 10 is −20 mV/deg/sec.

[0021] FIG. 4 is a block diagram of an angular rate sensor of a second exemplary embodiment of this invention. In FIG. 4, same structural components as those of FIG. 1 are referred to by the same numerals and the detailed description will be omitted, whereas only different components will be described in detail. In FIG. 4, a reference numeral 50 designates a differential operation means, and a numeral 51 designates a comparator means.

[0022] There is composed of the differential operation means 50 for performing a subtractive operation between an output voltage from a first output terminal 9 provided in a first detection circuit 7 and an output voltage from a second output terminal 10 provided in a second detection circuit 8. A practical sensitivity of 40 mV/deg/sec is gained from the differential operation means 50. Therefore, twice as large the output sensitivity is attained as compared to the output sensitivity gained only from one side. Furthermore, it is possible to double a dynamic range within an input range of detecting an angular rate, if the sensitivity is adjusted to the ordinary level (the output level only from one side).

[0023] In addition, there is composed of the comparator means 51 for performing an additive operation of a voltage derived by subtracting the reference voltage of 2.5V from the output voltage of the first output terminal 9 and another voltage derived by subtracting the reference voltage of 2.5V from the output voltage of the second output terminal 10.

[0024] According to this structure, an output voltage of 2.5V is obtained at both the first output terminal 9 and the second output terminal 10, when an angular rate input is zero, thereby gaining an output signal of zero for both of them, when subtractive operations are made for differences from a reference voltage of 2.5V. Naturally, ail additive operation of these output signals results in zero. Since the comparator means 51 performs an additive operation of a voltage derived by subtracting the reference voltage of 2.5V from the output voltage of the first output terminal 9 and another voltage derived by subtracting the reference voltage of 2.5V from the output voltage of the second output terminal 10, it is capable of detecting even a slight abnormality of every modes such as an abnormality with a first detecting electrode 4 or a second detecting electrode 5, an open or a short circuiting of wiring, a failure of the first detection circuit 7 or the second detection circuit 8, and so on.

[0025] FIG. 5 is a block diagram of an angular rate sensor of a third exemplary embodiment of this invention. In FIG. 5, same structural components as those of FIG. 1 are referred to by the same numerals and the detailed description will be omitted, whereas only different components will be described in detail.

[0026] In FIG. 5, a reference numeral 22 designates a first level judgment circuit comprising comparators 23 and 24, and an OR gate 25. The comparators 23 and 24 are given as an input an output voltage of a smoothing circuit 13, and the OR gate 25 outputs a signal in either of cases when this voltage becomes lower than a prescribed voltage range, or when it becomes larger than the prescribed voltage range. In other words, it outputs a warning when a vibration level of a tuning fork vibrator 1 exceeds a prescribed range (when, for instance, a heavy impact is applied externally, the vibration is obstructed by something hitting the tuning fork vibrator 1, and so on). The first level judgment circuit 22 also outputs a warning when the vibration level of the tuning fork vibrator 1 does not reach a prescribed level immediately after a power supply is turned on.

[0027] A second and a third level judgment circuits 29aand 29bare respectively composed of detection circuits 26aand 26b, smoothing circuits 27aand 27b, and comparators 28aand 28b, wherein detected signals from the first detecting electrode 4 and the second detecting electrode 5 are respectively detected by the detection circuits 26aand 26b, and they are judged of their levels by the comparators 28aand 28bafter they are converted into DC voltages by the smoothing circuits 27aand 27b, thereby becoming capable of outputting them as abnormal signals from the comparator 28aor 28b, if abnormal signals are produced in the first detecting electrode 4 and the second detecting electrode 5 due to a mechanical impact and the like. If the abnormal signal is output by either of the comparators 28aand 28b, it is output from an OR gate 30. In addition, if there is an output from either of the OR gate 25 and the OR gate 30, it is output from another OR gate 31.

[0028] A comprehensive diagnosis of the angular rate sensor can be realized accordingly.

[0029] FIG. 6 is a block diagram of an angular rate sensor of a fourth exemplary embodiment of this invention. In FIG. 6, same structural components as those of FIG. 1 are referred to by the same numerals and the detailed description will be omitted, whereas only different components will be described in detail.

[0030] In FIG. 6, a fourth amplifier 16ain a first detection circuit 7 is composed of operational amplifiers 36, 37 and 38, and a first detecting electrode 4 is connected to an input terminal 34 of the first detection circuit 7 via a wiring. In wiring patterns 39 and 40 formed adjacent to the wiring connected to the input terminal 34 on a substrate 41, the wiring pattern 40 is grounded, and the wiring pattern 39 is connected to an input terminal 35 of the first detection circuit 7. The input terminals 34 and 35 are connected respectively to negative inputs of the operational amplifiers 36 and 37, and a subtraction is made by the operational amplifiers 38 after conversion of an electric charge into a voltage. Because of the above structure, external disturbances may be input similarly into the input terminals 34 and 35. Diffraction due to inducement of voltages applied to electrodes 2aand 2b, diffraction due to electrostatic capacities in the wiring patterns, electromagnetic field from external radiation, and so on are thought to be examples of the external disturbances. Since their influences are input to the input terminals 34 and 35 in the like manner, they can be removed as synchronized signals by the operational amplifier 38. Besides the above, since every other structure of a fifth amplifier 16bin a second detection circuit 8, connection to a second detecting electrode 5, and so on are composed similarly, their details are omitted.

[0031] According to the present invention, as described above, there is provided a duplexed system from detecting electrodes formed on a vibrator to detection circuits, so as to be capable of observing and comparing their respective output signals at all the time, thereby realizing an immediate judgement of an abnormality in the event a failure occurs in either of them.

[0032] Moreover, since output voltages of reverse polarity are obtainable with respect to an input angular rate, not only is it capable of gaining twice as great sensitivity by computing a difference between these output voltages, but also is possible to double a dynamic range within an input range of detecting the angular rate, when the sensitivity is set at the ordinary level.

[0033] Reference Numerals

[0034] 1 Tuning fork vibrator

[0035] 1aAngular rate sensor element block

[0036] 2aand 2bExciting electrode

[0037] 3 Electrode for detecting a vibration level

[0038] 4 First detecting electrode

[0039] 5 Second detecting electrode

[0040] 6 Driving circuit

[0041] 7 First detection circuit

[0042] 8 Second detection circuit

[0043] 9 First output terminal

[0044] 10 Second output terminal

[0045] 11 First amplifier

[0046] 12 Rectifier

[0047] 13 Smoothing circuit

[0048] 14 Variable gain amplifier

[0049] 15aSecond amplifier

[0050] 15bThird amplifier

[0051] 16aFourth amplifier

[0052] 16bFifth amplifier

[0053] 17aFirst phase shifting circuit

[0054] 17bSecond phase shifting circuit

[0055] 18aFirst phase detector

[0056] 18bSecond phase detector

[0057] 19, 23, 24, 28aand 28bComparator

[0058] 20aFirst low-pass filter

[0059] 20bSecond low-pass filter

[0060] 21aFirst adjustment means

[0061] 21bSecond adjustment means

[0062] 21cFirst DC amplifier

[0063] 21fSecond DC amplifier

[0064] 21dFirst amplification factor adjusting resistor

[0065] 21gSecond amplification factor adjusting resistor

[0066] 21eFirst offset adjusting unit

[0067] 21hSecond offset adjusting unit

[0068] 22 First level judgment circuit

[0069] 25, 30, and 31 OR gate

[0070] 26aand 26bDetection circuit

[0071] 27aand 27bSmoothing circuit

[0072] 29aSecond level judgment circuit

[0073] 29bThird level judgment circuit

[0074] 34 and 35 Input terminal

[0075] 36, 37, and 38 Operational amplifier

[0076] 39 and 40 Wiring pattern

[0077] 41 Substrate

[0078] 50 Differential operation means

[0079] 51 Comparator means