Sensor element for providing a sensor signal, and method for operating a sensor element
First Claim
1. A sensor element for providing a sensor signal, comprising:
- a measuring element having first, second, third and fourth contact terminals;
a first output terminal and a second output terminal;
switching equipment for connecting the first or fourth contact terminals to the first output terminal, and for connecting the second or third contact terminals to the second output terminal;
a unit for applying a controlled variable between the first and second contact terminals or between the third and fourth contact terminals;
a control unit so as to, in a first measuring cycle,in a first measuring phase, apply a first controlled variable having a first polarity between the first and second contact terminals, connect the third contact terminal to the second output terminal, and connect the fourth contact terminal to the first output terminal so as to provide a first measurement value, subsequentlyin a second measuring phase, apply a second controlled variable, having a polarity opposed to the first polarity, between the first and second contact terminals, connect the third contact terminal to the second output terminal, and connect the fourth contact terminal to the first output terminal so as to provide a second measurement value;
subsequentlyin a third measuring phase, apply the first controlled variable having the first polarity between the third and fourth contact terminals, connect the first contact terminal to the first output terminal, and connect the second contact terminal to the second output terminal so as to provide a third measurement value;
subsequentlyin a fourth measuring phase, apply the second controlled variable, having the polarity opposed to the first polarity, between the third and fourth contact terminals, connect the first contact terminal to the first output terminal, and connect the second contact terminal to the second output terminal so as to provide a fourth measurement value;
subsequentlya determinator for determining the sensor signal, configured to provide the sensor signal on the basis of a difference between the first measurement value and the second measurement value, and a difference between the third measurement value and the fourth measurement value.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method for operating a sensor element having two contact terminal pairs, comprises steps of providing a first measurement value by applying a first controlled variable having a first polarity between the first terminal pair, and coupling the second terminal pair with output terminals; providing a second measurement value by applying a second controlled variable, having an opposed polarity, between the first terminal pair, and coupling the second terminal pair to the output terminals; providing a third measurement value by applying the first variable between the second terminal pair, and coupling the first terminal pair with the output terminals, providing a fourth measurement value by applying the second variable between the second terminal pair, and coupling the first terminal pair with the output terminals; and determining a sensor signal on the basis of a difference between the first and second values and a difference between the third and fourth values.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. A sensor element for providing a sensor signal, comprising:
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a measuring element having first, second, third and fourth contact terminals; a first output terminal and a second output terminal; switching equipment for connecting the first or fourth contact terminals to the first output terminal, and for connecting the second or third contact terminals to the second output terminal; a unit for applying a controlled variable between the first and second contact terminals or between the third and fourth contact terminals; a control unit so as to, in a first measuring cycle, in a first measuring phase, apply a first controlled variable having a first polarity between the first and second contact terminals, connect the third contact terminal to the second output terminal, and connect the fourth contact terminal to the first output terminal so as to provide a first measurement value, subsequently in a second measuring phase, apply a second controlled variable, having a polarity opposed to the first polarity, between the first and second contact terminals, connect the third contact terminal to the second output terminal, and connect the fourth contact terminal to the first output terminal so as to provide a second measurement value;
subsequentlyin a third measuring phase, apply the first controlled variable having the first polarity between the third and fourth contact terminals, connect the first contact terminal to the first output terminal, and connect the second contact terminal to the second output terminal so as to provide a third measurement value;
subsequentlyin a fourth measuring phase, apply the second controlled variable, having the polarity opposed to the first polarity, between the third and fourth contact terminals, connect the first contact terminal to the first output terminal, and connect the second contact terminal to the second output terminal so as to provide a fourth measurement value;
subsequentlya determinator for determining the sensor signal, configured to provide the sensor signal on the basis of a difference between the first measurement value and the second measurement value, and a difference between the third measurement value and the fourth measurement value. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method for operating a sensor element, the sensor element including a measuring element having first, second, third and fourth contact terminals, first and second output terminals, a switching equipment for connecting the first or fourth contact terminals to the first output terminal and for connecting the second or third contact terminals to the second output terminal, an applicator for applying a controlled variable between the first and second contact terminals or between the third and fourth contact terminals, and a control unit for controlling the switching equipment and the applicator for applying a controlled variable, the method for operating the sensor element comprising the steps of:
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providing a first measurement value in a first measuring phase, wherein the control unit, for providing the first measurement value, applies a first controlled variable having a first polarity between the first and second contact terminals, connects the third contact terminal to the second output terminal, and connects the fourth contact terminal to the first output terminal;
subsequentlyproviding a second measurement value in a second measuring phase, wherein the control unit, for providing the second measurement value, applies a second controlled variable, having a polarity opposed to the first polarity, between the first and second contact terminals, connects the third contact terminal to the second output terminal, and connects the fourth contact terminal to the first output terminal;
subsequentlyproviding a third measurement value in a third measuring phase, wherein the control unit, for providing the third measurement value, applies the first controlled variable having the first polarity between the third and fourth contact terminals, connects the first contact terminal to the first output terminal, and connects the second contact terminal to the second output terminal;
subsequentlyproviding a fourth measurement value in a fourth measuring phase, wherein the control unit, for providing the fourth measurement value, applies the second controlled variable, having the polarity opposed to the first polarity, between the third and fourth contact terminals, connects the first contact terminal to the first output terminal, and connects the second contact terminal to the second output terminal; and determining a sensor signal on the basis of a difference between the first and second measurement values and a difference between the third and fourth measurement values.
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10. A sensor element for providing a sensor signal, comprising:
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a measuring element comprising two pairs of contact terminals; a pair of output terminals; a controllable switch for coupling either the first or second pair of contact terminals with the pair of output terminals; a bias unit for applying a controlled variable between the first or second pair of contact terminals; a control unit for controlling the controllable switch and the unit to couple one of said pairs of contact terminals with said pair of output terminals and the other pair of contact terminals with said bias unit. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method for operating a sensor element to provide a sensor signal, the sensor element including a measuring element having two pairs of contact terminals, the method comprising the steps of:
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providing a first measurement value in a first measuring phase by applying a first controlled variable having a first polarity between the first pair of contact terminals, and coupling the second pair of contact terminals with output terminals;
subsequentlyproviding a second measurement value in a second measuring phase by applying a second controlled variable, having a polarity opposed to the first polarity, between the first pair of contact terminals, and coupling the second pair of contact terminal to the output terminals;
subsequentlyproviding a third measurement value in a third measuring phase by applying the first controlled variable between the second pair of contact terminals, and coupling the first pair of contact terminals with the output terminals, subsequently providing a fourth measurement value in a fourth measuring phase by applying the second controlled variable between the second pair of contact terminals, and coupling the first pair of contact terminals with the output terminals; and determining a sensor signal on the basis of a difference between the first and second measurement values and a difference between the third and fourth measurement values. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23)
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Specification