Patent attributes
The present invention provides a cheap angular velocity sensor capable of detecting angular velocity with high precision by using a vibrational mode which cannot be obtained by external vibration. The angular velocity sensor includes: a vibrator (2) made of a magnetostrictive material; a first coil (4) disposed along a first plane which includes an axis (A) of the vibrator (2), the first coil enclosing the vibrator; a supporter supporting the vibrator (2) at a position where the axis (A) crosses the surface of the vibrator (2), the supporter made of a nonmagnetic material; and a second coil (6) disposed along a second plane which crosses the first plane and includes the axis (A), the second coil enclosing the vibrator (2) and the first coil (4). The first coil (4) generates a magnetic field in the vibrator (2) on the basis of an excitation current supplied, thereby making the vibrator (2) vibrate in the direction of the magnetic field, and the second coil (6) detects a magnetic flux change caused by a change in the vibration of the vibrator (2), the change in the vibration occurring depending on angular velocity.
