Acceleration sensor and method for detecting an acceleration

• US 20060048574A1
• Filed: 09/29/2005
• Published: 03/09/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/01/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fraunhofer Gesellschaft Zur Foerderung Der Angewandten Forsching E.V.
• Original Assignee: Fraunhofer Gesellschaft Zur Foerderung Der Angewandten Forsching E.V.
• Inventors: Schenk, Harald, Drabe, Christian
• Granted Patent: US 7,059,189 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 73/514.150
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 15/00 Measuring acceleration; Measuring deceleration; Measuring shock, i.e. sudden change of acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 15/097 by vibratory elements

Abstract

An acceleration sensor comprises a mass, which can be deflected in a first direction and a second direction opposite to the first direction, a driving means effective to vibrate the mass, a detection means for detecting times when the mass passes a predetermined position when an acceleration is applied, and an evaluation means which detects the acceleration based on the detected times during acceleration and times when the mass passes the predetermined position when no acceleration is applied. Thereby, it is achieved that the acceleration is detected inexpensively and accurately.

Claims

1. An acceleration sensor, comprising:

a mass, which is deflectable in a first direction and a second direction opposite to the first direction;

a driver, which is effective to vibrate the mass;

a detector for detecting times when the mass passes a predetermined position when an acceleration is applied;

an evaluator, which detects the acceleration based on the detected times during acceleration and times when the mass passes the predetermined position when no acceleration is applied.

2. The acceleration sensor according to claim 1, wherein the evaluator is formed to determine a time difference between the detected times during acceleration and the times when the mass passes the predetermined position when no acceleration is applied, and to detect the acceleration based on the time difference.

3. The acceleration sensor according to claim 1, wherein the detector is formed to detect the vibration capacitively, inductively, piezoelectrically, piezoresistively, magnetorestrictively or optically.

4. The acceleration sensor according to claim 1, wherein the mass is deflectable in a further direction which differs from the first and second directions, wherein the detector is further formed to detect a deflection of the mass in the further direction;

wherein the evaluator is formed to detect an acceleration direction based on the deflection of the mass in the further direction.

5. The acceleration sensor according to claim 4, wherein the evaluator is formed to capacitively detect lateral vibrations.

6. The acceleration sensor according to claim 1, wherein the mass is coupled to a first and a second spring.

7. A method for detecting an acceleration based on a vibrating mass, comprising the steps of:

vibrating the mass;

detecting times when the mass passes a predetermined position when an acceleration is applied;

detecting the acceleration based on the detected times during acceleration and times when the mass passes the predetermined position when no acceleration is applied.

8. The method according to claim 7, comprising the steps of:

determining a time difference between the detected times during acceleration and the times when the mass passes the predetermined position when no acceleration is applied;

detecting the acceleration based on the time difference.