Vibrating Reed Grooves for Short Circuit Prevention

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing vibrating gyro elements face issues with proper driving due to misalignment or improper application of conductive adhesive, leading to contact between conductive fixing members and potential short circuits.

Innovation Solution

The design incorporates grooves between terminals on the support portions of the vibrating reed, which prevents contact between conductive fixing members and absorbs stress, ensuring reliable electrical continuity and preventing short circuits.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If three connecting terminals are disposed side-by-side along the x-axis direction, then electrical connection is achieved, but the risk of conductive adhesive contact between terminals increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveproper driving of gyro elementVSAvoidcontact between conductive fixing members

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The support portion is divided into a first support portion and a second support portion that are separated from each other. This segmentation physically isolates the terminals on each support portion, preventing conductive adhesive from contacting between terminals located on different support portions, thereby resolving the harmful effect while maintaining electrical connection functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The beam acts as an intermediary element that electrically connects the vibrating body to the support portion through wire connections. This intermediary structure allows electrical continuity to be achieved without requiring direct contact between conductive adhesive and multiple terminals, reducing the risk of short circuits.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of manufacture

If conductive adhesive application position or amount is not accurately controlled, then manufacturing is simpler, but the gyro element cannot be driven properly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconductive adhesive applicationVSAvoidalignment of gyro element

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

By segmenting the support structure into separate first and second support portions, the patent reduces the criticality of adhesive application precision. Even if adhesive application varies, the physical separation prevents catastrophic failures like short circuits, allowing for more tolerant manufacturing processes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The segmented support structure serves as a preemptive protective measure against manufacturing variations. By designing the structure to inherently prevent short circuits through physical separation, the patent cushions against the potential harmful effects of imprecise adhesive application or misalignment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

Data Source

PatentUS9209383B2Vibrator, vibrating device, and electronic apparatus

Publication Date: 2015.12.08 SEIKO EPSON CORP

AI summary

A vibrator includes: a vibrating reed having a vibrating body, first and second support portions supporting the vibrating body, and four beams coupling the first and second support portions with the vibrating body; electrodes disposed at the vibrating body; and terminals disposed at the first and second support portions and electrically connected with the electrodes via wires disposed at the beams. Between the terminals next to each other, a plurality of grooves spaced apart in a predetermined direction and extending in a direction intersecting the predetermined direction are disposed.