Micromechanical sensor unit for detecting acceleration

• US 5,821,419 A
• Filed: 09/26/1996
• Issued: 10/13/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH (Continental AG)
• Original Assignee: Siemens AG
• Inventors: Schulze, Steffen, Mader, Gerhard, Noetzel, Jens
• Primary Examiner(s): Oda, Christine K.
• Application Number:
  US08/721,564
• Time in Patent Office: 747 Days
• Field of Search: 280/735, 200/61.44, 200/61.45 R, 340/436, 73/493, 73/514.01, 73/514.16, 73/514.38
• US Class Current: 73/493
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 15/0802 Details
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 15/135 by making use of contacts which are actuated by a movable inertial mass
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 2015/0817 for pivoting movement of the mass, e.g. in-plane pendulum
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 2015/0828 the mass being of the paddle type being suspended at one of its longitudinal ends
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 21/00 Testing or calibrating of apparatus or devices covered by the preceding groups

Abstract

A micromechanical sensor unit for detecting acceleration has pendulums each with a spiral spring and a seismic mass. Supports each being connected to a respective one of the pendulums, and position sensors, each two of the position sensors is associated with a respective one of the pendulums. Each position sensor and an associated pendulum form a switch with a defined triggering threshold and at least two switches respond to the same direction of acceleration. At least one switch is a safing sensor with a separate tap of a sensor signal.

Claims

1. A control device for triggering a safety device in a motor vehicle, comprising;

a common carrier;

an ignition circuit;

an acceleration sensor unit being of micromechanical construction and disposed on said common carrier, said acceleration sensor unit supplying sensor signals;

an evaluation circuit evaluating said sensor signals and supplying an ignition signal to said ignition circuit;

a safing sensor being of micromechanical construction and disposed on said common carrier supplying a further sensor signal to said ignition circuit for the detection of acceleration;

said ignition circuit triggering the safety device when said ignition signal and said further sensor signal are present at said ignition circuit simultaneously;

said safing sensor having a pendulum with a spring and a seismic mass, a support being connected to said pendulum and a position sensor, said position sensor and said pendulum forming a switch with a defined triggering threshold;

said acceleration sensor unit having at least one pendulum with a spring and a seismic mass, at least one support being connected to said at least one pendulum, and at least two position sensors, each of said at least two position sensors being associated with said at least one pendulum for forming a switch with a defined triggering threshold; and

said switch formed from said safing sensor and at least one switch formed from said acceleration sensor unit responding to the same direction of acceleration.

2. The control device recited in claim 1, wherein said common carrier is a semiconductor chip.

3. The control device recited in claim 2, wherein said ignition circuit is disposed on said semiconductor chip.

4. The control device as recited in claim 3, wherein said evaluation circuit is disposed on said semiconductor chip.