Angular-rate detecting apparatus

An Angular-rate detecting apparatus includes four mass portions connected by at least one support beam, and the mass portions have respective individual vibration generators disposed thereon. The individual vibration generators excite the normal vibration mode by vibrating pairs of the mass portions adjacent to each other in opposite phases. Thus, the mass portions are forcibly vibrated in the normal vibration mode. Angular rate detectors detect displacements of inner frames of central mass portions as an angular rate about an axis perpendicular to a detection direction and also to a vibration direction when the inner frames are displaced in the detection direction while vibrating in the vibration direction.