Method for operating a sensor system, and sensor system

• US 20100101323A1
• Filed: 10/19/2009
• Published: 04/29/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/29/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Kohn, Oliver
• Granted Patent: US 8,307,707 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 73/504.120
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 19/5712 the devices involving a micromechanical structure

Abstract

In a method for operating a sensor system including a substrate having a main plane of extension and an oscillating structure which is movable relative to the substrate, drive elements excite the oscillating structure to a torsional oscillation about an axis of oscillation running essentially perpendicular to the main plane of extension, first detection elements detect a first tilting movement of the oscillating structure about a first tilting axis essentially parallel to the main plane of extension, and further detection elements detect an angular acceleration of the substrate superposed to the torsional oscillation essentially about the axis of oscillation.

Claims

1. A method for operating a sensor system including a substrate having a main plane of extension and an oscillating structure movable relative to the substrate, comprising:

exciting, by drive elements, the oscillating structure to a torsional oscillation about an axis of oscillation extending substantially perpendicular to the main plane of extension; and

detecting, with the aid of first detection elements, a first tilting movement of the oscillating structure about a first tilting axis extending substantially parallel to the main plane of extension; and

detecting, with the aid of further detection elements, an angular acceleration of the substrate superposed to the torsional oscillation substantially about the axis of oscillation.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein a change in capacitance between a detection electrode on the substrate and a counter-detection electrode on the oscillating structure is detected with the aid of the further detection elements.

3. The method as recited in claim 2, wherein the torsional oscillation is generated capacitively with the aid of the drive elements, and wherein the drive elements include drive electrodes on the substrate and corresponding counter-drive electrodes on the oscillating structure, and wherein drive voltages are applied between the drive electrodes and the counter-drive electrodes.

4. The method as recited in claim 3, wherein the drive voltages are evaluated with the aid of the further detection elements.

5. The method as recited in claim 2, wherein the first tilting movement is capacitively detected with the aid of the first detection elements, and wherein the first detection elements include first electrodes on the substrate and corresponding first counter electrodes on the oscillating structure, and wherein a first change in capacitance between one of the first electrodes and one of the first counter electrodes is detected.

6. The method as recited in claim 2, further comprising:

detecting, with the aid of second further detection elements, a second tilting movement of the oscillating structure about a second tilting axis extending substantially parallel to the main plane of extension and substantially perpendicular to the first tilting axis, and wherein the second further detection elements include second electrodes on the substrate and corresponding second counter electrodes on the oscillating structure, and wherein a second change in capacitance between one of the second electrodes and one of the second counter electrodes is detected.

7. A sensor system, comprising:

a substrate having a main plane of extension;

an oscillating structure configured to be movable relative to the substrate;

drive elements for generating a torsional oscillation of the oscillating structure about an axis of oscillation extending substantially perpendicular to the main plane of extension;

first detection elements for detecting a first tilting movement of the oscillating structure about a first tilting axis extending substantially parallel to the main plane of extension; and

further detection elements for detecting an angular acceleration of the oscillating structure superposed to the torsional oscillation substantially about the axis of oscillation.

8. The sensor system as recited in claim 7, wherein the drive elements include drive electrodes on the substrate and corresponding counter-drive electrodes on the oscillating structure, and wherein the further detection elements are configured to evaluate drive voltages between the drive electrodes and the counter-drive electrodes.

9. The sensor system as recited in claim 8, wherein the further detection elements include detection electrodes on the substrate and corresponding counter-detection electrodes on the oscillating structure.

10. The sensor system as recited in claim 9, further comprising:

second further detection elements configured to detect a second tilting movement of the oscillating structure about a second tilting axis extending substantially parallel to the main plane of extension and substantially perpendicular to the first tilting axis.