An inertial force sensor includes: an acceleration detection element; a temperature sensor that detects an ambient temperature of the acceleration detection element; a bridge circuit that processes an output signal from the acceleration detection element; an AD converter that converts an analog signal output from the bridge circuit into a digital signal, and outputs the digital signal; a calculation circuit that performs calculation on the output signal from the AD converter; and a storage that stores correction data for correcting a variation in the output signal from the AD converter due to a temperature change. The correction data are coefficients of a formula expressed by a calibration curve that is a quadratic or higher-degree curve, and the storage stores, as the correction data, the coefficients of the calibration curve of each of a plurality of patterns that differ between a predetermined temperature or more and less than the predetermined temperature.

An inertial force sensor includes: an acceleration detection element; a temperature sensor that detects an ambient temperature of the acceleration detection element; a bridge circuit that processes an output signal from the acceleration detection element; an AD converter that converts an analog signal output from the bridge circuit into a digital signal, and outputs the digital signal; a calculation circuit that performs calculation on the output signal from the AD converter; and a storage that stores correction data for correcting a variation in the output signal from the AD converter due to a temperature change. The correction data are coefficients of a formula expressed by a calibration curve that is a quadratic or higher-degree curve, and the storage stores, as the correction data, the coefficients of the calibration curve of each of a plurality of patterns that differ between a predetermined temperature or more and less than the predetermined temperature.

To improve durability against impact, a quartz crystal resonator element includes a recess in a plan view. The quartz crystal resonator element further includes a first principal surface and a second principal surface that are front and rear surfaces facing away from each other and a side surface disposed between the first principal surface and the second principal surface, and the side surface is formed of flat surfaces and curved surfaces formed by dry etching and alternately arranged. The quartz crystal resonator element preferably has a base and at least one resonating arm extending from the base.

To improve durability against impact, a quartz crystal resonator element includes a recess in a plan view. The quartz crystal resonator element further includes a first principal surface and a second principal surface that are front and rear surfaces facing away from each other and a side surface disposed between the first principal surface and the second principal surface, and the side surface is formed of flat surfaces and curved surfaces formed by dry etching and alternately arranged. The quartz crystal resonator element preferably has a base and at least one resonating arm extending from the base.

A rotation-rate sensor having a substrate with main extension plane, for detecting a rotation rate, extending in a direction parallel/orthogonal to the main plane; the sensor including a primary/secondary pair of seismic masses; the primary pair having first/second primary masses; the secondary pair having first/second secondary masses; the first/second primary masses being movable relative to the substrate along a primary deflection direction extending parallel to the main plane; the first/second secondary masses being movable relative to the substrate along a secondary deflection direction extending parallel to the main plane; the first/second primary masses and the first/second primary masses being movable antiparallel or parallel to one another corresponding to the deflection direction, essentially extending orthogonally to the secondary deflection direction; and the primary pair and/or secondary pair being drivable so that, based on sensor rotation, the Coriolis force leads to deflection of the first/second primary masses and/or the first/second secondary masses.

A rotation-rate sensor having a substrate with main extension plane, for detecting a rotation rate, extending in a direction parallel/orthogonal to the main plane; the sensor including a primary/secondary pair of seismic masses; the primary pair having first/second primary masses; the secondary pair having first/second secondary masses; the first/second primary masses being movable relative to the substrate along a primary deflection direction extending parallel to the main plane; the first/second secondary masses being movable relative to the substrate along a secondary deflection direction extending parallel to the main plane; the first/second primary masses and the first/second primary masses being movable antiparallel or parallel to one another corresponding to the deflection direction, essentially extending orthogonally to the secondary deflection direction; and the primary pair and/or secondary pair being drivable so that, based on sensor rotation, the Coriolis force leads to deflection of the first/second primary masses and/or the first/second secondary masses.

The present invention relates to a method for operating a rotation sensor for detecting a plurality of rates of rotation about orthogonal axes (x,y,z). The rotation sensor comprises a substrate, driving masses, X-Y sensor masses, and Z sensor masses. The driving masses are driven by drive elements to oscillate in the X-direction. The X-Y sensor masses are coupled to the driving masses, and driven to oscillate in the X-Y direction radially to a center. When a rate of rotation of the substrate occurs about the X-axis or the Y-axis, the X-Y sensor masses are jointly deflected about the Y-axis or X-axis. When a rate of rotation of the substrate occurs about the Z-axis, the X-Y sensor masses are rotated about the Z-axis, and the Z sensor masses are deflected substantially in the X-direction.

The present invention relates to a method for operating a rotation sensor for detecting a plurality of rates of rotation about orthogonal axes (x,y,z). The rotation sensor comprises a substrate, driving masses, X-Y sensor masses, and Z sensor masses. The driving masses are driven by drive elements to oscillate in the X-direction. The X-Y sensor masses are coupled to the driving masses, and driven to oscillate in the X-Y direction radially to a center. When a rate of rotation of the substrate occurs about the X-axis or the Y-axis, the X-Y sensor masses are jointly deflected about the Y-axis or X-axis. When a rate of rotation of the substrate occurs about the Z-axis, the X-Y sensor masses are rotated about the Z-axis, and the Z sensor masses are deflected substantially in the X-direction.

A multi-axis MEMS gyroscope includes a micromechanical detection structure having a substrate, a driving-mass arrangement, a driven-mass arrangement with a central window, and a sensing-mass arrangement which undergoes sensing movements in the presence of angular velocities about a first horizontal axis and a second horizontal axis. A sensing-electrode arrangement is fixed with respect to the substrate and is set underneath the sensing-mass arrangement. An anchorage assembly is set within the central window for constraining the driven-mass arrangement to the substrate at anchorage elements. The anchorage assembly includes a rigid structure suspended above the substrate that is elastically coupled to the driven mass by elastic connection elements at a central portion, and is coupled to the anchorage elements by elastic decoupling elements at end portions thereof.

A multi-axis MEMS gyroscope includes a micromechanical detection structure having a substrate, a driving-mass arrangement, a driven-mass arrangement with a central window, and a sensing-mass arrangement which undergoes sensing movements in the presence of angular velocities about a first horizontal axis and a second horizontal axis. A sensing-electrode arrangement is fixed with respect to the substrate and is set underneath the sensing-mass arrangement. An anchorage assembly is set within the central window for constraining the driven-mass arrangement to the substrate at anchorage elements. The anchorage assembly includes a rigid structure suspended above the substrate that is elastically coupled to the driven mass by elastic connection elements at a central portion, and is coupled to the anchorage elements by elastic decoupling elements at end portions thereof.