MEMS SENSOR WITH BUILT-IN SELF-TEST
First Claim
1. A MEMS sensor system comprising:
- a test signal generator configured to generate a broad frequency band test signal, and a verification signal substantially identical to the test signal;
a microelectrical-mechanical system (MEMS) sensor element operatively connected to the test signal generator for generating a sensor output in response to the test signal;
a comparison component configured to generate an evaluation signal output based upon the verification signal and the test signal; and
an evaluation circuit operatively connected to the comparison component and configured to identify a mismatch between the verification signal and the sensor output based upon the evaluation signal.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and system for testing a MEMS sensor element during operation of a MEMS sensor system in one embodiment includes a test signal generator configured to generate a broad frequency band test signal, and a verification signal substantially identical to the test signal, a microelectrical-mechanical system (MEMS) sensor element operatively connected to the test signal generator for generating a sensor output in response to the test signal, a comparison component configured to generate an evaluation signal output based upon the verification signal and the test signal, and an evaluation circuit operatively connected to the comparison component and configured to identify a mismatch between the verification signal and the sensor output based upon the evaluation signal.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A MEMS sensor system comprising:
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a test signal generator configured to generate a broad frequency band test signal, and a verification signal substantially identical to the test signal; a microelectrical-mechanical system (MEMS) sensor element operatively connected to the test signal generator for generating a sensor output in response to the test signal; a comparison component configured to generate an evaluation signal output based upon the verification signal and the test signal; and an evaluation circuit operatively connected to the comparison component and configured to identify a mismatch between the verification signal and the sensor output based upon the evaluation signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 19, 20)
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7. A method of evaluating the response of a sensor element comprising:
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configuring a microelectrical-mechanical system (MEMS) sensor element to monitor a condition; applying a broad frequency band test signal to the MEMS sensor element; generating a sensor output based upon the test signal and the monitored condition; filtering the sensor output to remove signal components associated with the test signal; outputting the filtered sensor output to a control circuit; comparing a verification signal to the sensor output; and identifying mismatches between the verification signal and the sensor output based upon the comparison. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A MEMS sensor system comprising:
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a test signal generator configured to generate a broad frequency band test signal, and a verification signal substantially identical to the test signal; a microelectrical-mechanical system (MEMS) sensor element operatively connected to a monitored system and the test signal generator for generating a sensor output in response to the test signal and a sensed condition of the monitored system; a comparison component configured to generate an evaluation signal output based upon the verification signal and the test signal; an evaluation circuit operatively connected to the comparison component and configured to identify a mismatch between the verification signal and the sensor output based upon the evaluation signal; and a control circuit operatively connected to the MEMS sensor element for controlling the monitored system in response to the sensed condition. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification