Tuning Fork Vibration Structure for In-Phase Mode Suppression
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Solution Overview
Problem
Vibration devices with tuning fork mechanisms and catch and release mechanisms suffer from the generation of in-phase vibration modes, which interfere with the elimination of adverse effects from translational motion such as acceleration, leading to suboptimal performance in sensors like gyrosensors.
Innovation Solution
The introduction of a connection unit with a composite spring constant K, which connects movable units vibrating in orthogonal directions, suppresses the in-phase mode by ensuring a higher resonant frequency for the in-phase mode than the anti-phase mode, and meets specific frequency and Q-factor conditions to inhibit in-phase vibration generation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If a catch and release mechanism is adopted for the vibration device comprising the TF mechanism, then power consumption is drastically reduced, but a vibration component in the in-phase mode is generated in addition to the anti-phase mode
Solution Approach 1:
A connection unit is introduced as an intermediary element between the first and second movable units. This connection unit has a specific spring constant that couples the two movable units and suppresses the in-phase vibration mode while allowing the anti-phase mode to dominate. The connection unit acts as a mediator that selectively filters out the harmful in-phase vibrations without interfering with the useful anti-phase vibrations, thus resolving the contradiction between power consumption reduction and in-phase vibration suppression.
Solution Approach 2:
The spring constant of the connection unit is carefully selected and adjusted as a key parameter to achieve the desired vibration mode suppression. By changing the spring constant parameter of the connection unit, the resonant frequency of the in-phase mode is shifted relative to the anti-phase mode, allowing selective suppression of the in-phase component while maintaining the anti-phase vibration. This parameter optimization enables the system to maintain low power consumption while eliminating harmful in-phase vibrations.
2Object-generated harmful factors
If the resonant frequency of the in-phase mode is made higher than the anti-phase mode, then the in-phase vibration mode is suppressed, but the device complexity increases due to the connection unit with composite spring constant
Solution Approach 1:
The connection unit serves multiple functions simultaneously: it mechanically couples the first and second movable units, provides a restoring force to suppress in-phase vibrations, and acts as a frequency-selective filter. By designing the connection unit with a composite spring constant that incorporates both the connection element and the movable units themselves, the patent achieves in-phase mode suppression without requiring additional complex components, thus maintaining relatively simple device architecture while achieving the desired vibration control.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This configuration effectively suppresses the in-phase vibration mode, allowing for improved performance in gyrosensors by ensuring that only anti-phase modes are predominantly generated, thus enhancing the accuracy and effectiveness of the sensor.
Implementation Method 1
a connection unit configured to connect the first movable unit and the second movable unit together, wherein the following relationship is satisfied: fi>(1+1/(2Qa))fa
Implementation Method 2
a resonant frequency of the first movable unit in an in-phase mode is denoted by fi, a resonant frequency of the first movable unit in an anti-phase mode is denoted by fa, and a Q factor of resonance of the first movable unit in the anti-phase mode is denoted by Qa
Data Source
AI summary
According to one embodiment, a vibration device includes a first movable unit including first and second movable portions arranged in a direction parallel to a first axis and enabled to vibrate in the direction parallel to the first axis, a second movable unit enabled to vibrate in a direction parallel to a second axis perpendicular to the first axis, and a connection unit configured to connect the first and second movable units together, wherein the following relationship is satisfiedfi>(1+1/(2Qa))fa where a resonant frequency of the first movable unit in an in-phase mode is denoted by fi, a resonant frequency of the first movable unit in an anti-phase mode is denoted by fa, and a Q factor of resonance of the first movable unit in the anti-phase mode is denoted by Qa.