The present invention relates to an angular velocity sensor utilized as a gyroscope and particularly, to a high-performance angular velocity sensor having a tuning-fork construction. The vibrator is formed of a metal base plate which is bent about 90 degrees along a center line defined by two opposite slits extending from their respective side edges to a central region of the metal base plate so that its two bent parts are orthogonal to each other. Two piezoelectric elements are bonded to the corresponding surfaces of the two parts of each vibrator which in turn serve as an actuator and a detector.

A system for assembling a hard crystal blank onto a base which includes connecting pins, using an apparatus providing self-locating and self-fixturing features, is described. The apparatus comprises a hard crystal blank supporting structure which provides vertical, horizontal and transverse locating features. The vertical, horizontal and transverse locating features are contiguous to the crystal supporting structure and locate the hard crystal blank to the crystal supporting structure. The hard crystal blank once located may be secured to the crystal supporting structure with a suitable adhesive. Connecting features for securing the crystal supporting structure to the base are provided. Once the crystal supporting structure has been secured to the base, the vertical, horizontal and transverse locating features are separated from the crystal supporting structure. The hard crystal blank and crystal supporting structure so assembled are precisely aligned to the base.

A vibrating gyroscope having a supporting structure of a vibrator including, for example, a substantially regular triangular prism-shaped vibrating body. The vibrating body is formed with materials generally generating a mechanical vibration such as a constant-elastic materials. On three side faces of the vibrating body, three piezoelectric elements are formed respectively. On a ridge-line portion of the vicinity of two nodal points of the vibrating body, for example, a substantially rectangular frame-shaped supporting member is secured. The supporting member is formed into a body by means of etching or press molding. In this case, long sides of the supporting member are formed so as to extend in an axial direction of the vibrating body. Short sides of the supporting member are bonded to the vibrating body by securing means such as welding, adhesives or soldering.

A shock load detection device mounted on a disk drive unit. The detection device is comprised of a piezoelectric polymer film encapsulated and electrically shielded by a metallic or metallic coated package. Electrical contacts are provided for on the piezoelectric polymer film and are connected to amplification and comparator circuitry which issues a write fault signal upon detection of external force in excess of a predetermined threshold. The shock sensor may be mounted on the computer disk drive of the unit in such a manner as to be at a 45.degree. angle to each of the x, y and z axis of the orthogonal coordinate system so that linear and torsional forces may be monitored.

A vibrating gyroscope includes a vibrator having a longitudinal direction and being capable of vibrating in a bending mode in a bending direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction. The vibrator has first and second nodes which elongate in a direction perpendicular to both the bending direction and the longitudinal direction and first, second, third and fourth supporting members connected to the vibrator such that the first node is interposed between the first and second supporting members and the second node is interposed between the third and fourth supporting members. The first node is located at the vicinity of either the first supporting member or the second supporting member, and the second node is located at the vicinity of either the third supporting member or the fourth supporting member.