Abstract: Vibratory tuning fork having a body of piezoelectric material with a base and a pair of tapered tines which extend from the base and decrease in lateral dimension from the base toward the tips of the tines. A crotch section at the base of the tines has an inner pair of faces which lie in crystallographic planes of the piezoelectric material and an outer pair of faces which lie in additional crystallographic planes of the material and extend between the inner pair of faces and the tines. An isolation slot is formed in the base adjacent to the crotch, with enlarged cut-outs at the ends of the slot to prevent the formation of facets and membranes across the slot.

Abstract: Inertial rate sensor and method in which in which a single output terminal is utilized for delivering a rate output signal during normal operation, interfacing with an external computer during a programming mode, and for providing a warning in the event of a failure. Access to the programming mode is permitted only when a predetermined sequence of conditions is met, and accidental initiation of the programming mode is virtually impossible. Compensation data is stored redundantly at two locations in an internal memory, and the data is read from both locations and compared to verify its validity. Signals are monitored at different points to detect the occurrence of failures.

Abstract: Redundant rate sensor and method in which inertial rate is monitored with a plurality of vibratory sensing elements mounted in a single enclosure, signals from the sensing elements are processed to provide an independent rate output signal for each of the sensing elements, and the independent rate output signals are delivered to a connector which is accessible externally of the enclosure.

Abstract: Redundant rate sensor and method in which inertial rate is monitored with a plurality of vibratory sensing elements mounted in a single enclosure, signals from the sensing elements are processed to provide an independent rate output signal for each of the sensing elements, and the independent rate output signals are delivered to a connector which is accessible externally of the enclosure.

Abstract: Tuning fork and method in which a pair of elongated tines having front and rear surfaces are disposed symmetrically about an axis, and balancing masses on the front surface of one tine and on the rear surface of the other tine are trimmed to reduce quadrature error and also to maintain mass balance between the tines.

Abstract: Vibratory tuning fork having a body of piezoelectric material with a base and a pair of tapered tines which extend from the base and decrease in lateral dimension from the base toward the tips of the tines. A crotch section at the base of the tines has an inner pair of faces which lie in crystallographic planes of the piezoelectric material and an outer pair of faces which lie in additional crystallographic planes of the material and extend between the inner pair of faces and the tines. An isolation slot is formed in the base adjacent to the crotch, with enlarged cut-outs at the ends of the slot to prevent the formation of facets and membranes across the slot.

Abstract: Vibratory tuning fork having a body of piezoelectric material with a base and a pair of tapered tines which extend from the base and decrease in lateral dimension from the base toward the tips of the tines. A crotch section at the base of the tines has an inner pair of faces which lie in crystallographic planes of the piezoelectric material and an outer pair of faces which lie in additional crystallographic planes of the material and extend between the inner pair of faces and the tines. An isolation slot is formed in the base adjacent to the crotch, with enlarged cut-outs at the ends of the slot to prevent the formation of facets and membranes across the slot.

Abstract: Single-ended tuning fork and method in which a body of piezoelectric material is formed with a base and a pair of elongated vibratory tines extending from the base, and drive and pickup electrodes are positioned side-by-side on the tines at substantially equal distances from the base.