A miniature yaw rate sensor for intelligent chassis control

A yaw rate sensor designed for automotive chassis-control and vehicle navigation applications and currently in production for General Motor's StabiliTRAK integrated chassis control system (offered on certain models of the 1997 Cadillac) is described. It consists of a unique micromachined double-ended quartz tuning fork and senses the yaw rate via the Coriolis effect. Electrical and environmental performance data is presented together with salient features of the double-ended tuning fork geometry, associated electronics, sensor construction and calibration methodology.