PIEZOELECTRIC SENSOR DEVICE AND A METHOD FOR DETECTING CHANGE IN ELECTRIC CONSTANTS USING THE DEVICE

Abstract

A piezoelectric sensor device has a piezoelectric body vibrator consisting of the piezoelectric body which is sandwiched by a pair of electrodes, a power source which applies a voltage to the piezoelectric body vibrator so as to get excited for vibration, means for monitoring electric constants to detect changes in electric constants accompanied by vibration of the piezoelectric body. The change in electric constants in the piezoelectric body is detected as a change in frequency for vibration of the piezoelectric body corresponding to an electric constant under the determined conditions. The piezoelectric sensor device has a means to obtain the frequency value from frequencies at not less than two points giving a determined electric constant. According to the piezoelectric sensor device the dispersion in measured values due to change in vibration aptness of vibration system and the polarization state of piezoelectric body vibrator can be made smaller.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION AND RELATED ART STATEMENT

[0001] This invention relates to a sensor device using a piezoelectric body vibrator used for measuring features of fluid in terms of the coefficient of viscosity, specific gravity, and density, etc.

[0002] When those products being manufactured, to be used or sold in form of fluid such as chemicals, foods, lubricating oil, and car wax, etc. are placed under control on their manufacturing process and guaranteed in terms of their performance, it is important to measure the features of fluid in terms of the coefficient of viscosity, specific gravity, and density, etc. In recent years, in order to measure the features of such fluids, it is proposed to make use of a piezoelectric body vibrator, and in this regard, for example, in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 8-201265, a device for measuring coefficient of viscosity of fluids comprising a piezoelectric body vibrator consisting of piezoelectric body sandwiched by electrodes, a power source for applying a voltage for exciting vibration at the said piezoelectric body vibrator, and an electric constant monitoring means for detecting changes in electric constants accompanied by the vibration of piezoelectric body is disclosed.

[0003] In such a device, the piezoelectric body vibrator is made to vibrate in a fluid, and concurrently with mechanical resistance to be applied to the vibrator based on viscosity of the fluid, the changes in electric constants of piezoelectric body structuring the vibrator are detected, and the coefficient of viscosity of fluids, etc. are detected. Incidentally, the change in electric constants in the piezoelectric body is normally detected as a change in frequency for vibration of piezoelectric body corresponding to a certain electric constant under the determined conditions. Conventionally, for example, as shown in FIG. 6, as an electric constant phase &thgr; neighboring the resonance point is adopted, and the frequency fa where the value of this phase &thgr; becomes a was obtained at one point at either side (left in the present example) of the frequency fmax giving the maximum value of &thgr;.

[0004] Incidentally, even though fluids to be measured are same (in terms of coefficient of viscosity and specific gravity, etc.), when vibration aptness (for example, amplitude) in the vibration system has changed due to changes in the polarization state, additive to restrain vibration, changes in temperature, etc., a change occurs in the shape of &thgr;. Only with vibration aptness having been changed, in most cases, as shown in FIG. 7, the value of frequency fmax giving the maximum value of &thgr; almost remains unchanged, however, since inclination of the line changes, when &thgr; is a, the frequency will dramatically change from fa to fa′, resulting in dispersion in measured values in the above-described technique. As described above, the value of frequency fmax giving the maximum value of &thgr; almost remains unchanged, and therefore, it is possible to take for consideration a method where this fmax is measured, which, however, results in larger errors since the value of &thgr; remains almost unchanged before and after fmax.

[0005] In addition, the piezoelectric body vibrator is left subject to aging (being left alone at a room temperature or higher temperature under the Curie point) for several hours to several days to stabilize the polarization state after an electric field with the level higher than the coercive field has been applied for comparatively long period at a temperature close to the Curie point as polarization processing at its forming, the piezoelectric body vibrator to be used for such a sensor device is extraordinarily highly sensitive, but on the other hand, maintains poor stability in many cases, and therefore even if aging described above is provided, the change in polarization state (deterioration in polarization state, depolarization) is apt to occur due to application of stress, changes according to lapse of time, etc. And, when such a change in polarization state occurs, as shown in FIG. 8, not only the frequency, when &thgr; is a, will change from fa to fa′ but also frequency giving the maximum value of &thgr; will change from fmax to fmsx′, thus dispersion in measured values will grow further larger.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] The purpose of the present invention, which has been made taking such conventional problems into consideration, is to provide with a piezoelectric sensor device in which dispersion in measured values due to change in vibration aptness of vibration system and the polarization state of a piezoelectric body vibrator can be made smaller, as well as a method for detecting changes in electric constants involving the device.

[0007] According to the present invention, there is provided a piezoelectric sensor device comprising a piezoelectric body vibrator consisting of a piezoelectric body which is sandwiched by a pair of electrodes, a power source which applies a voltage to the piezoelectric body vibrator so as to get excited for vibration, a means for monitoring electric constants to detect changes in electric constants accompanied by vibration of the piezoelectric body, the change in electric constants in the piezoelectric body being detected as a change in frequency for vibration of the piezoelectric body corresponding to a electric constant under the determined conditions, and a means for obtaining the frequency value from frequencies at not less than two points giving a determined electric constant.

[0008] Also according to the present invention, there is provided a method for detecting change in electric constants comprising: using the above-described piezoelectric sensor device, and obtaining the frequency value as their average value of two points, which gives a same electric constant, closest to and putting therebetween the frequency where a change in the electric constant gives its extreme value.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009] FIG. 1 is an explanatory view explaining the detecting method using the device of the present invention based on the graph on the changes in phases corresponding to frequency.

[0010] FIG. 2 is an explanatory view explaining the detecting method using the device of the present invention based on the graph on the changes in phases corresponding to frequency.

[0011] FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view showing one example of the sensor element equipped in the device of the present invention.

[0012] FIG. 4 is a cross-section view along the X-X line in FIG. 3.

[0013] FIG. 5 is an explanatory view explaining the detecting method in the examples based on the graph on the changes in phases corresponding to frequency.

[0014] FIG. 6 is an explanatory view explaining the detecting method using the conventional devices based on the graph on the changes in phases corresponding to frequency.

[0015] FIG. 7 is a graph on the changes in phases corresponding to frequency showing the state when vibration aptness (amplitude) of vibration system changes.

[0016] FIG. 8 is a graph on the changes in phases corresponding to frequency showing the state when the polarization sate changes largely.

[0017] FIG. 9 is a graph on the changes in electric constants (phases) corresponding to frequency showing the state when measurement resolution capability for electric constants remains low.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0018] The piezoelectric sensor device according to the present invention is the one comprising means for obtaining the value of frequency of vibration of a piezoelectric body from frequencies at not less than two points giving the determined electric constant. And by comprising such means, in the detecting method using a device of the present invention, for example as shown in FIG. 1, it becomes possible to obtain the frequency values as their average value (faL and faR)/2 from faL and faR, which gives a determined same electric constant a, closest to and putting therebetween the frequency fmax where a change in the phase &thgr; being a electric constant gives its maximum value.

[0019] Obtaining a frequency value like this, even if the frequencies at two points giving the same electric constant a may change from faL and faR to faL′ and faR′ when the gradient of the line of phase &thgr; changes as shown in FIG. 1, without any change in the frequency fmax giving the maximum value, (faL+faR)/2 and (faL′+faR′)/2 will yield the same value, and therefore, compared with the conventional measurement obtaining the frequency at one point, it is influenced little due to changes in vibration aptness of a vibration system. Also, FIG. 2 is an example using two determined electric constants, wherein by the device of the present invention, frequencies faL and faR at two points giving a same electric constant a as well as frequencies fbL and fbR at two points giving a same electric constant b were obtained, and their average value (faL+faR+fbL+fbR)/4 was obtained as the frequency value.

[0020] Incidentally, the above-described device as well as the detecting method using it is effective where the value of frequency fmax giving the maximum value of electric constant &thgr; scarcely changes at changes in only vibration aptness of a vibration system, while in the cases where the polarization state of a piezoelectric body vibrator changes largely, as shown in FIG. 8, and the frequency under which &thgr; takes the largest value changes from fmax to fmax′, dispersion will arise in the detected frequency as a result of its influence. Therefore, in order to control such influence, the sensor device of the present invention preferably comprises a means to hold the polarization state of a piezoelectric body vibrator stable (a polarization processing means).

[0021] Thus, as mentioned above, the piezoelectric body vibrator to be used for a sensor device such as in the present invention has quality that its polarization state is apt to change easily, and this quality was a cause of leading to dispersion in measured values, while on the contrary taking advantage of the quality that is apt to change and thus easily subject to polarization and proceeding with measurement arranging polarization of the piezoelectric body vibrator to take place at a completely polarized with the said polarization processing means, it becomes possible to hold constant the polarization state of the piezoelectric body vibrator during measurement. Incidentally, such quality that is apt to be polarized extends its feature especially with combinations of materials and structures for the sensor element to be described later.

[0022] As a polarization processing means as described above, a power source making polarization processing take place on the piezoelectric body vibrator can be presented as an example, and by conducting measurement of frequency with this power source applying an electric field surpassing the coercive field of a piezoelectric body, thus the polarization state of the piezoelectric body vibrator can be held constant and the change in fmax as shown in FIG. 8 can be controlled. Although it is preferred, however, to conduct measurement always polarizing in this way in terms of holding the polarization state constant, there are problems where resolution capability gets worse with vibration to be controlled or durability of a piezoelectric body vibrator is adversely influenced since a voltage is always applied to the piezoelectric body vibrator.

[0023] In order to avoid such problems, it may be possible not to proceed with application of electric field to the piezoelectric body throughout during measurement, but to proceed with polarization processing for a predetermined time period whenever frequency is being measured. As for the polarization processing in this case, it is preferable to apply an electric field surpassing the coercive field of the piezoelectric body at a room temperature for not more than three seconds, more preferably for shorter time such as not more than one second. In addition, it is also preferable to apply an electric field surpassing the coercive field of the piezoelectric body similarly at a room temperature for not more than three seconds, more preferably for not more than one second in the opposite polarity, and thereafter further apply for not more than three seconds, more preferably for not more than one second in the positive polarity. In this way, when an electric field is applied in the opposite polarity in advance, stability of polarization is improved. Incidentally, the reason why the respective application time periods of electric fields are set preferably for not more than three seconds is that an instant application of electric field is sufficient and longer application leads to lengthening measurement time as well as increasing the power to be consumed.

[0024] In addition, when such polarization processing takes place, it is preferable to proceed with measurement after a certain time period has lapsed upon the polarization process. This means that the timing for measurement to be proceeded with after polarization processing should be kept constant. Therefore, the above-described certain time period, which is not limited in particular, and with the time period from the time of conclusion of the polarization processing to the time for measurement being kept constant, the measurement may take place just after the polarization processing, or measurement may take place in some time after the polarization processing. However, measurement should take place preferably during the period between immediately after polarization processing and 60 seconds thereafter, and further preferably during the period between 0.1 second to three seconds after polarization processing since it will be practically inconvenient if too much time is required from completion of polarization processing until when measurement takes place, which could lead to lengthening the measurement time period.

[0025] Incidentally, when such polarization processing has been conducted, electric charge is stored in a piezoelectric body after polarization processing, and such electric charge becomes a primary factor causing dispersion in measured values, therefore, in addition to the above-described polarization processing means, the device of the present invention should preferably comprise means for discharging the electric charge stored in a piezoelectric body after the polarization processing (discharging processing means). Such discharging processing means may be means for simply making a short circuit take place between both the terminals of the piezoelectric body vibrator, or may be means for making discharge take place gradually with a resistance to be inserted between both the terminals.

[0026] By conducting measurement after proceeding with discharging processing on a piezoelectric body after polarization processing by such a discharging processing means, it becomes possible to further decrease dispersion in measured values. Incidentally, when such discharging processing is conducted, it is preferable that measurement is conducted after a certain time period has lapsed after discharging processing similarly as in the case where the above described polarization processing is conducted. This means that the timing for measurement to be conducted after discharging processing is kept constant.

[0027] In detecting frequency of vibration of the piezoelectric body corresponding to electric constants under the determined conditions, in the mechanism to detect change in either one of the electric constants and the frequency against the remaining other one, means to substitute the other value corresponding to one value with a value to be calculated from the other some values corresponding to some values within a range having that one value as a center are also preferably comprised in the sensor device of the present invention.

[0028] For example, in the case where the measurement resolution capability of electric constants is lower and a plurality of frequencies giving a same electric constant exist as shown in the graph in FIG. 9 on changes in electric constants (phase) for frequency, the accuracy for measurement of frequency is deteriorated and dispersion grows larger. In such cases, by the above-described means, as shown with X symbol in the drawing, the value of an electric constant corresponding to a frequency is substituted with a value to be calculated from the electric constant corresponding to frequencies within a certain range around it, thereby the measurement resolution capability for the apparent electric constant is improved, and as a result, the accuracy on measurement of frequency is improved and dispersion is decreased. Incidentally, in the X symbol in FIG. 9, the value of electric constant is substituted by the running average consisting of three points with two points sandwiching the remaining point, however, the above-described calculation method is not limited thereto.

[0029] As aforementioned, the present invention has been explained based on phase as an example for electric constants, however, the electric constant is not limited to phase, but any of loss factor, phase, resistance, reactance, conductance, susceptance, inductance, and capacitance, etc. is applicable. Any means for monitoring an electric constant which is to be comprised in the device of the present invention will do if it detects any of those electric constants.

[0030] In the sensor device of the present invention, the piezoelectric body vibrator preferably constructs a sensor element integrated with a base body having the following structure. The base body has thin-plate-shaped vibration part on one surface of which the piezoelectric body vibrator is fixed and a cavity which can lead a fluid to the other surface of the vibration part. FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view showing one example of the sensor element which has been constructed by making such base body and piezoelectric body vibrator together into one body, and FIG. 4 a cross-section view along the X-X line therein.

[0031] A base body 30 is structured by laminating a thin-plate-shaped vibration plate 20, a frame 32 and a base plate 34 having a through hole 38. The base body 30 structured in this way has a vibration part 22 in the shape of thin walled portion, and a piezoelectric body vibrator 10 is fixed on one surface of this vibration part 22. The shape of the vibration part 22 is not limited in particular, but various shapes can be adopted with their thickness being preferably between 1 and 100 &mgr;m and further preferably between 3 and 50 &mgr;m and further preferably between 5 and 20 &mgr;m.

[0032] In addition, the base body 30 has a cavity 36, and this cavity 36 is formed so as to be capable of leading the fluid to be measured the features of which is to be measured, to the other surface of the vibration part 22 (the surface located in the opposite side of the surface where the piezoelectric body vibrator has been fixed) via a through hole 38. The shape of the cavity 36 is not limited in particular. Moreover, the through hole 38 may be one or may be plural in terms of its number as long as a fluid to be measured can be introduced into the cavity 36.

[0033] The piezoelectric body vibrator 10 has been formed where a pair of electrodes 14a and 14b are joined onto both the surfaces of a piezoelectric body 12. Lead parts 16a, 16b of electrodes 14a, 14b are connected to a power source to excite the piezoelectric body vibrator 10 for vibration, and to a means for monitoring electric constants to detect changes in electric constants accompanied by vibration of the piezoelectric body 12. When a voltage is applied to the piezoelectric body 12 via electrodes 14a, 14b, the polarization takes place, and the piezoelectric body vibrator 10 together with the vibration part 22 is bent and vibrated in the direction of thickness of the piezoelectric body vibrator 10 as well as of the vibration part 22. The thickness of the piezoelectric body 12 is preferably between 1 and 100 &mgr;m and further preferably between 5 and 50 &mgr;m and furthermore preferably between 5 and 30 &mgr;m.

[0034] The piezoelectric body 12 may be dense or porous, and in the case of being porous, the porosity rate is preferably not more than 40 percent. In addition, the piezoelectric body 12 may consist of one layer or may have a lamination structure with two or more layers. When the lamination structure with two or more layers is adopted, each layer may be established in a lying position or may be established in a standing position. The electrodes 14a, 14b are supposed to have an appropriate thickness, however, the thickness is preferably between 0.1 and 50 &mgr;m.

[0035] In the sensor element having such a structure, when the fluid to be measured is made to flow into the cavity 36 from the through hole 38 to contact the vibration part 22, and a voltage is applied to the piezoelectric body 12 so that vibration takes place in the piezoelectric body 12 and the vibration part 22, the vibration form of the piezoelectric body 12 changes, in accordance with changes in the coefficient of viscosity, further the electric constants of the piezoelectric body change in accordance with change in the vibration form of the piezoelectric body 12. The present invention provides measurement of features of a fluid to be measured, by thus relating the features of the fluid to be measured to the vibration form of a piezoelectric body, and detecting changes in electric constants accompanied by changes in that vibration form with a means to monitor electric constants.

[0036] Next, the material of each component of the sensor element will be explained. The base body 30 is preferably made of ceramics. For example, stabilized zirconium oxide, aluminum oxide, magnesium oxide, mullite, aluminum nitride, silicon nitride, and glass, etc. may be used. The stabilized zirconium oxide is preferable since it has higher mechanical strength, higher toughness, and lower chemical reactivity with the piezoelectric body and electrodes in spite of thinness of the vibration part.

[0037] For a piezoelectric body 12, piezoelectric ceramics can be preferably used, however, electrostrictive ceramics or ferroelectric ceramics may also be used. As ceramics to be used as a piezoelectric body, choices to be adopted are, for example, ceramics containing lead zirconate, lead magnesium niobate, lead nickel niobate, lead zinc niobate, lead manganese niobate, lead antimony stannate, lead titanate, lead manganese tungstate, lead cobalt niobate, barium titanate, etc. or ingredients with any of these in combination.

[0038] Those ceramics where oxide such as lanthanum, calcium, strontium, molybdenum, tungsten, barium, niobium, zinc, nickel, and manganese, etc., or any combination of these, or other chemical compounds are further added to the aforementioned ceramics appropriately may also be used. For example, it is preferred to use ceramics consisting of lead magnesium niobate, lead zirconate, and lead titanate as principal ingredient and further including lanthanum and strontium, etc.

[0039] The electrode 14a is preferably a solid-state at a room temperature and formed of a conductive metal. Choices to be adopted are, for example, a single metal or an alloy containing aluminum, titanium, chromium, ferrum, cobalt, nickel, copper, zinc, niobium, molybdenum, ruthenium, rhodium, silver, tin, tantalum, tungsten, iridium, platinum, gold, lead, etc.

[0040] The electrode 14b to be made contact-connected with diaphragm 20 is preferably joined together without using adhesive, and therefore, is a metal with higher melting point, and may be exemplified with a single metal or alloy containing platinum, ruthenium, rhodium, palladium, iridium, titanium, chromium, molybdenum, tantalum, tungsten, nickel, cobalt, etc. in optional combination. Among them, platinum metal such as platinum, rhodium, and palladium, or those with silver-platinum, platinum-palladium, and the like alloy as principal ingredient containing them can be especially preferably used since the resulting substance has higher melting point and higher chemical stability. Moreover, cermets containing these metals with higher melting point and ceramics such as alumina, zirconium oxide, silicon oxide, glass, etc. may be used.

[0041] Next, a method for forming a sensor element is being explained. The base body can be made one body by laminating the shaped layer being a green sheet or a green tape with thermal pressure attachment, and subsequently with sintering. For example, in the base body 10 shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, a three-layer green sheets or green tapes processed in the respective shapes of diaphragm 20 and the frame 32 and the base plate 34 are laminated.

[0042] The layers may also be formed by compression molding, casting, or injection molding, and the space may be provided by cutting, machining, laser processing, or pressing. The shaped layer does not need to have the same thickness each other, however, its shrinkage due to sintering is preferably set to keep the same level.

[0043] As a method for forming a piezoelectric body vibrator 10 on one surface of the vibration part 22, there is a method in which a piezoelectric body is molded by compression molding method using metal molds or tape molding method using slurry materials, etc. and that presintering piezoelectric body is laminated to the vibration part in the presintering base body with thermal compression attachment, and simultaneously sintered, thereby the base body and the piezoelectric body are formed. In this case, the electrode needs to be formed in advance in the base body or a piezoelectric body by the film forming method which is described later.

[0044] Sintering temperature of a piezoelectric body is appropriately set according to materials which structures it, and in general 800 to 1400° C., or preferably 1000 to 1400° C. In this case, in order to control the composition of a piezoelectric body, it is preferred to conduct sintering under presence of evaporation source of the components of piezoelectric body material.

[0045] On the other hand, in the film forming method, electrode 14b, piezoelectric body 12, and electrode 14a are laminated in this order at the vibration part 22 to form the piezoelectric body vibrator 10. The publicly known film forming methods, for example, a thick film method such as screen printing, a brushing method such as dipping, etc., a thin film method such as ion beam, sputtering, vacuum deposition, ion plating, chemical vapor deposition (CVD), and plating, etc., and so forth are appropriately used, however they are not intended to limit the scope of the invention in anyway. Among them, the screen printing method is preferable since it provides stable manufacturing.

[0046] Forming a piezoelectric body like this by way of film forming method is particularly preferable since the piezoelectric body is superior in reliability and reproducibility and moreover easily integrated because it allows the piezoelectric body vibrator and the vibration part to be connected as a unity without using adhesive. The shape of such film may also form an appropriate pattern. Pattern forming may be employed, using screen printing method, photolithography method, etc. and pattern forming may also be employed removing the unnecessary portions by way of laser machining, slicing, and mechanical process such as ultrasonic machining, etc.

[0047] Respective films (12, 14a, 14b) may be made to form a one-body structure with the base body subject to thermal processing at each time the respective film be formed, or after these films are formed, these films may be formed as one body with the base body subject to simultaneous thermal processing. Examples Further details of the invention will be explained according to examples as follows, to which, however, the invention should not be deemed to be limited.

EXAMPLE 1

[0048] Using piezoelectric sensor device comprising a sensor element with a structure shown in FIG. 4, and based on the graph (FIG. 5) plotting the change in phase for frequency, the following three kinds of detecting methods A through C were conducted for ten measurements each, involving 40%-H2SO4 as a fluid to be measured, and dispersion (the difference between the largest value and the smallest value of the measured values) in measured values in each detecting method was examined. The results are shown in Table 1.

[0049] (Detecting Method A)

[0050] The frequency fmax being vibration of the piezoelectric body when its phase &thgr; reached maximum was measured.

[0051] (Detecting Method B)

[0052] Only f−70° L, being the frequency of vibration of the piezoelectric body when its phase &thgr; was −70° and being located left, next to the frequency fmax giving a maximum value of &thgr;, was measured.

[0053] (Detecting Method C)

[0054] f−70° L, being the frequency of vibration of the piezoelectric body when its phase &thgr; was −70° and being located left, next to the frequency fmax giving a maximum value of &thgr;, as well as f−70° R, being located right, were measured and the average value of the both (f−70° L+f−70° R)/2 was calculated. 1 TABLE 1 Detecting method Frequency (Hz) Dispersion (Hz) A 150000 700 B 145000 450 C 150000 150

[0055] As shown in Table 1, it is found that dispersion in the detecting method C which can be performed with a device according to the invention gets smaller compared with the detecting method A and the detecting method B which have been conventionally conducted.

EXAMPLE 2

[0056] Using a sensor device with a piezoelectric body vibrator having a polarization state more apt to change than that in piezoelectric sensor device used in the above-described example 1, ten measurements each, involving 40%-H2SO4 as a fluid to be measured were performed, under a condition where polarization processing was not provided to the piezoelectric body vibrator in the detecting method C in the above-described example 1 as well as under a condition where polarization processing or polarization processing as well as discharging processing were provided in the following four kinds of processing methods A through D, and dispersion (the difference between the largest value and the smallest value of the measured values) in measured values in each processing method was examined. The results are shown in Table 2.

[0057] (Processing Method A)

[0058] Measurement was performed with an electric field of 30V being applied to the piezoelectric body.

[0059] (Processing Method B)

[0060] Measurement was performed after an electric field of 30V had been applied to the piezoelectric body for one second and thereafter one second had lapsed.

[0061] (Processing Method C)

[0062] Measurement was performed after an electric field of 30V had been applied to the piezoelectric body for one second and subsequently both the terminals of the piezoelectric body vibrator had been short circuited for one second and thereafter one second had lapsed.

[0063] (Processing Method D)

[0064] Measurement was performed after an electric field of −30V had been applied to the piezoelectric body for one second, and subsequently an electric field of 30V had been applied for one second and further subsequently the both terminals of the piezoelectric body vibrator had been short circuited for one second and thereafter one second had lapsed. 2 TABLE 2 Processing method Dispersion (Hz) Without Processing 400  A 30 B 50 C 25 D 20

[0065] As shown in Table 2, it is found that dispersion in the measured values gets smaller compared with the case without processing when a condition where polarization processing or polarization processing as well as discharging processing were provided in the above-described processing methods A through D.

[0066] As explained above, according to the present invention, vibration aptness of vibration system and dispersion in measured values due to change in the polarization state of the piezoelectric body vibrator can be made smaller and thus accuracy in detection can be improved.

Claims

1. A piezoelectric sensor device comprising:

a piezoelectric body vibrator consisting of a piezoelectric body sandwiched by a pair of electrodes;

a power source which applies a voltage to said piezoelectric body vibrator so as to get excited for vibration,

means for monitoring electric constants to detect changes in electric constants accompanied by vibration of the piezoelectric body, the change in electric constants in the piezoelectric body being detected as a change in frequency for vibration of the piezoelectric body corresponding to an electric constant under the determined conditions; and

means for obtaining the frequency value from frequencies at not less than two points giving a determined electric constant.

2. The piezoelectric sensor device according to

claim 1, further comprising means for substituting the other value corresponding to one value with a value to be calculated from the other some values corresponding to some values within a range having that one value as a center, in detecting frequency of vibration of said piezoelectric body corresponding to electric constants under the determined conditions, in the mechanism to detect change in either one of said electric constant and the frequency against the remaining other one, means for substituting the other value corresponding to one value with a value to be calculated from the other value corresponding to one value within a range having that other value as a center.

3. The piezoelectric sensor device according to

claim 1, wherein the electric constant is one selected from the group consisting of loss factor, phase, resistance, reactance, conductance, susceptance, inductance, and capacitance.

4. The piezoelectric sensor device according to

claim 2, wherein the electric constant is one selected from the group consisting of loss factor, phase, resistance, reactance, conductance, susceptance, inductance, and capacitance.

5. The piezoelectric sensor device according to

claim 1, further comprising a sensor element comprising the piezoelectric body vibrator and a base body having thin-plate-shaped vibration section on one surface of which the piezoelectric body vibrator is fixed and a cavity which can lead a fluid to the other surface of the vibration section.

6. The piezoelectric sensor device according to

claim 2, further comprising a sensor element comprising the piezoelectric body vibrator and a base body having thin-plate-shaped vibration section on one surface of which the piezoelectric body vibrator is fixed and a cavity which can lead a fluid to the other surface of the vibration section.

7. The piezoelectric sensor device according to

claim 1, further comprising means for keeping the polarization state of the piezoelectric body vibrator constant.

8. The piezoelectric sensor device according to

claim 2, further comprising means for keeping the polarization state of the piezoelectric body vibrator constant.

9. The piezoelectric sensor device according to

claim 7, wherein the means for keeping the polarization state of the piezoelectric body vibrator constant is a power source making polarization processing take place on the piezoelectric body vibrator.

10. The piezoelectric sensor device according to

claim 8, wherein the means for keeping the polarization state of the piezoelectric body vibrator constant is a power source making polarization processing take place on the piezoelectric body vibrator.

11. The piezoelectric sensor device according to

claim 9, further comprising means for discharging the electric charge stored in the piezoelectric body after the polarization processing.

12. The piezoelectric sensor device according to

claim 10, further comprising means for discharging the electric charge stored in the piezoelectric body after the polarization processing.

13. A method for detecting change in electric constants, comprising:

using a piezoelectric sensor device comprising: a piezoelectric body vibrator consisting of a piezoelectric body sandwiched by a pair of electrodes; a power source which applies a voltage to said piezoelectric body vibrator so as to get excited for vibration, means for monitoring electric constants to detect changes in electric constants accompanied by vibration of the piezoelectric body, the change in electric constants in the piezoelectric body being detected as a change in frequency for vibration of the piezoelectric body corresponding to an electric constant under the determined conditions; and means for obtaining the frequency value from frequencies at not less than two points giving a determined electric constant, and

obtaining the frequency value as their average value of two points, which gives a same electric constant, closest to and putting therebetween the frequency where a change in the electric constants gives its extreme value.

14. A method for detecting change in electric constants, comprising:

using a piezoelectric sensor device comprising: a piezoelectric body vibrator consisting of a piezoelectric body sandwiched by a pair of electrodes; a power source which applies a voltage to said piezoelectric body vibrator so as to get excited for vibration, means for monitoring electric constants to detect changes in electric constants accompanied by vibration of the piezoelectric body, the change in electric constants in the piezoelectric body being detected as a change in frequency for vibration of the piezoelectric body corresponding to an electric constant under the determined conditions; and means for obtaining the frequency value from frequencies at not less than two points giving a determined electric constant, and

performing measurement of the frequency applying an electric field surpassing the coercive field of the piezoelectric body.

15. A method for detecting change in electric constants, comprising:

using a piezoelectric sensor device comprising: a piezoelectric body vibrator consisting of a piezoelectric body sandwiched by a pair of electrodes; a power source which applies a voltage to said piezoelectric body vibrator so as to get excited for vibration, means for monitoring electric constants to detect changes in electric constants accompanied by vibration of the piezoelectric body, the change in electric constants in the piezoelectric body being detected as a change in frequency for vibration of the piezoelectric body corresponding to an electric constant under the determined conditions, means for obtaining the frequency value from frequencies at not less than two points giving a determined electric constant, means for keeping the polarization state of the piezoelectric body vibrator constant, and a power source making polarization processing take place on the piezoelectric body vibrator, as means for keeping the polarization state of the piezoelectric body vibrator constant, and

proceeding with polarization processing with the power source making polarization processing take place on the piezoelectric body vibrator whenever frequency is being measured.

16. The detecting method according to

claim 15, wherein the polarization processing is performed by applying an electric field surpassing the coercive field of the piezoelectric body at a room temperature for not more than three seconds.

17. The detecting method according to

claim 15, wherein the polarization processing is performed by applying an electric field surpassing the coercive field of the piezoelectric body at a room temperature for not more than three seconds in the opposite polarity, and thereafter further applying for not more than three seconds in the positive polarity.

18. The detecting method according to

claim 15, wherein measurement of the frequency is conducted after a certain time period has lapsed after the polarization processing has been performed.

19. A method to detect change in electric constants, comprising:

using a piezoelectric sensor device comprising: a piezoelectric body vibrator consisting of a piezoelectric body sandwiched by a pair of electrodes; a power source which applies a voltage to said piezoelectric body vibrator so as to get excited for vibration, means for monitoring electric constants to detect changes in electric constants accompanied by vibration of the piezoelectric body, the change in electric constants in the piezoelectric body being detected as a change in frequency for vibration of the piezoelectric body corresponding to an electric constant under the determined conditions; means for obtaining the frequency value from frequencies at not less than two points given a determined electric constant, means for keeping the polarization state of the piezoelectric body vibrator constant, a power source making polarization processing take place on the piezoelectric body vibrator, as means for keeping the polarization state of the piezoelectric body vibrator constant, and means for discharging the electric charge stored in the piezoelectric body after the polarization processing, and

discharging the electric charge stored in the piezoelectric body after the polarization processing is performed by means for discharging the electric charge stored in the piezoelectric body after the polarization processing.

20. The detecting method according to

claim 19, wherein measurement of the frequency is conducted after a certain time period has lapsed after the discharging processing has been performed.