A whispering gallery mode inertial sensor includes a whispering gallery mode resonator; an evanescent coupler configured to couple with an evanescent field of the resonator so that light is transmitted to and received from the resonator by the coupler; a displacement sensor configured to determine a displacement of the resonator according to the light received from the resonator by the coupler; a controller configured to determine an acceleration and/or rate of rotations experienced by the resonator based on the displacement of the resonator, the controller being further configured to apply a restoring force to the resonator in a closed feedback loop based on the displacement of the resonator in order to maintain a predetermined mechanical state of the resonator; and a timing sensor configured to determine a timing signal based on an optical frequency comb produced by the resonator.

A vibrator device includes a vibrator element, a base, and a support configured to support the vibrator element with respect to the base. The support includes a frame shaped like a frame, a base mount disposed outside the frame, and fixed to the base, an element holder which is disposed inside the frame, and on which the vibrator element is mounted, a pair of first beams which extend along a first direction from the element holder, and couple the element holder and the frame to each other, and a pair of second beams which extend along a second direction from the frame, and couple the frame and the base mount to each other, and W1.sup.2/L1<30, in which a length in the first direction of the first beam is L1 (m), and a width in a direction perpendicular to the first direction of the first beam is W1 (m).

A vibrator device includes a vibrator element, a base, and a support configured to support the vibrator element with respect to the base. The support includes a frame shaped like a frame, a base mount disposed outside the frame, and fixed to the base, an element holder which is disposed inside the frame, and on which the vibrator element is mounted, a pair of first beams which extend along a first direction from the element holder, and couple the element holder and the frame to each other, and a pair of second beams which extend along a second direction from the frame, and couple the frame and the base mount to each other, and W1.sup.2/L1<30, in which a length in the first direction of the first beam is L1 (m), and a width in a direction perpendicular to the first direction of the first beam is W1 (m).

A vibrator device includes a vibrator element, and a support substrate configured to support the vibrator element. The vibrator element includes a drive arm provided with a drive signal electrode and a drive constant-potential electrode, and a detection arm provided with a detection signal electrode and a detection constant-potential electrode. The support substrate includes a base, and a drive signal interconnection electrically coupled to the drive signal electrode, a drive constant-potential interconnection electrically coupled to the drive constant-potential electrode, and a detection signal interconnection electrically coupled to the detection signal electrode all provided to the base, and the drive arm includes a first surface located at the support substrate side, and a second surface located at an opposite side to the first surface. Further, the drive constant-potential electrode is disposed on the first surface, and the drive signal electrode is disposed on the second surface.

A vibrator device includes a vibrator element, and a support substrate configured to support the vibrator element. The vibrator element includes a drive arm provided with a drive signal electrode and a drive constant-potential electrode, and a detection arm provided with a detection signal electrode and a detection constant-potential electrode. The support substrate includes a base, and a drive signal interconnection electrically coupled to the drive signal electrode, a drive constant-potential interconnection electrically coupled to the drive constant-potential electrode, and a detection signal interconnection electrically coupled to the detection signal electrode all provided to the base, and the drive arm includes a first surface located at the support substrate side, and a second surface located at an opposite side to the first surface. Further, the drive constant-potential electrode is disposed on the first surface, and the drive signal electrode is disposed on the second surface.

A vibrator device includes a vibrator element, and a support substrate disposed so as to be opposed to the vibrator element. The support substrate includes a base configured to support the vibrator element, a support configured to support the base, a plurality of beams configured to couple the base and the support to each other, and a drive signal interconnection, a drive constant-potential interconnection, a detection signal interconnection, and a detection constant-potential interconnection each laid around the base and the support passing the beams, and in predetermined one of the beams, at least one of the drive constant-potential interconnection and the detection constant-potential interconnection is disposed on a surface on the vibrator element side, and the detection signal interconnection is disposed on a surface on the opposite side.

A vibrator device includes a vibrator element, and a support substrate disposed so as to be opposed to the vibrator element. The support substrate includes a base configured to support the vibrator element, a support configured to support the base, a plurality of beams configured to couple the base and the support to each other, and a drive signal interconnection, a drive constant-potential interconnection, a detection signal interconnection, and a detection constant-potential interconnection each laid around the base and the support passing the beams, and in predetermined one of the beams, at least one of the drive constant-potential interconnection and the detection constant-potential interconnection is disposed on a surface on the vibrator element side, and the detection signal interconnection is disposed on a surface on the opposite side.

This disclosure reveals a resonator where at least one suspended inertial mass is driven into rotational oscillation by a piezoelectric drive transducer, or where the rotational motion of at least one suspended inertial mass is sensed by a piezoelectric sense transducer. The disclosure is based on the idea of suspending the inertial mass with a one-sided suspender arrangement, where only one suspender is attached to each anchor point, and on the optimal positioning of the suspender in relation to the effective center of gravity of the resonator. The resonator may be employed in a resonator system, a clock oscillator or a gyroscope.

This disclosure reveals a resonator where at least one suspended inertial mass is driven into rotational oscillation by a piezoelectric drive transducer, or where the rotational motion of at least one suspended inertial mass is sensed by a piezoelectric sense transducer. The disclosure is based on the idea of suspending the inertial mass with a one-sided suspender arrangement, where only one suspender is attached to each anchor point, and on the optimal positioning of the suspender in relation to the effective center of gravity of the resonator. The resonator may be employed in a resonator system, a clock oscillator or a gyroscope.

A rotation rate sensor includes a substrate and a drive structure that is movable relative to the substrate and is fastened to the substrate via a spring system that includes first and second spring components that each connects the drive structure and the substrate and that are joined by an intermediate piece, the drive structure being joined to the intermediate piece via the first portion, and the intermediate piece or a center area, which is at least partially situated between the first and second portions, being joined to the substrate via the second portion, the first and/or second portions having a respective varying base area in a respective main extension direction of the first and second portions, respectively.