Method for the functional checking of an inertial sensor and inertial sensor

• US 20130042664A1
• Filed: 08/15/2012
• Published: 02/21/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 08/16/2011
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Thorsten Balslink
• Inventors: Wrede, Martin, Petzold, Klaus, Kuhlmann, Burkhard, Tellermann, Uwe, Brockmann, Markus, Keck, Marian, Balslink, Thorsten
• Application Number:
  US13/586,282
• Publication Number:
  US 20130042664A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 73/1.38
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 19/5762 the sensing mass being connected to a driving mass, e.g. driving frames
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 25/005 initial alignment, calibration or starting-up of inertial devices
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 15/097 by vibratory elements
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 15/125 by capacitive pick-up
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 21/00 Testing or calibrating of apparatus or devices covered by the preceding groups

Abstract

A method for providing functional checking of an inertial sensor, a first test signal having a first frequency being fed in at a test electrode of the inertial sensor for exciting a vibration of a vibration mass and a first response signal corresponding to the vibration mass is recorded, a second test signal having a second frequency different from the first frequency being fed in at the test electrode, a second response signal corresponding to the vibration mass being recorded, and the two response signals being evaluated. Also described is an inertial sensor.

Claims

1. A method for providing functional checking of an inertial sensor, the method comprising:

feeding a first test signal having a first frequency in at a feed-in electrode of the inertial sensor to excite a vibration of a vibration mass;

recording a first response signal corresponding to the vibration mass;

feeding a second test signal, having a second frequency that is different from the first frequency, in at the feed-in electrode;

recording a second response signal corresponding to the vibration mass; and

evaluating the first response signal and the second response signal.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first test signal is fed into a feedback control circuit for regulating the vibration of the vibration mass of the inertial sensor and the first response signal is recorded, wherein the second test signal is fed into the feedback control circuit and the second response signal is recorded, and wherein the two response signals are evaluated.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the second frequency is indivisible by the first frequency.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein a voltage is applied to the feed-in electrode that is constant during the functional checking, to add a respective voltage level of the first test signal and the second test signal to the applied voltage.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein the feedback control circuit includes a controller for a controller electrode for regulating the vibration of the vibration mass, and wherein a filtering, preconnected to the controller, of the fed-in test signals is performed.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein before the evaluation of the first response signal and the second response signals, a low pass filtering of the first response signal and the second response signal is performed.

7. An inertial sensor, comprising:

a vibration mass;

a feed-in electrode for exciting a vibration of the vibration mass for feeding in a first test signal having a first frequency and a second test signal having a second frequency that is different from the first frequency;

a recording device for recording a first response signal and a second response signal, respectively, corresponding to the vibration mass; and

an evaluation device for evaluating the first response signal and the second response signal.

8. The inertial sensor of claim 7, further comprising:

a feedback control circuit for regulating the vibration of the vibration mass.

9. The inertial sensor of claim 7, wherein the feed-in electrode is configured to feed in the second test signal having a second frequency, which is not divisible by a first frequency of the first test signal.

10. The inertial sensor of claim 7, wherein a voltage source is connected to the feed-in electrode for applying a voltage that is constant during a functional checking of the inertial sensor.

11. The inertial sensor of claim 8, wherein the feedback control circuit includes a controller for a controller electrode for regulating the vibration of the vibration mass and a filter for filtering the first test signal and the second test signal fed into the feedback control circuit being preconnected to the controller.

12. The inertial sensor of claim 7, wherein a low pass filter for a low pass filtering of the first response signal and the second response signal is preconnected to the evaluation device.