Sensor device with timewise linked sensing signals

• US 8,276,448 B2
• Filed: 12/07/2009
• Issued: 10/02/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Panasonic Corporation (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Panasonic Corporation (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Uemura, Takeshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Kwok, Helen C.
• Application Number:
  US12/632,066
• Publication Number:
  US 20100154540A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,030 Days
• Field of Search: 735/11, 735/10, 735/041.2, 735/041.4, 735/041.6, 735/143.2, 735/142.9, 734/93, 735/140.1
• US Class Current: 73/511
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/12 executed aboard the object being navigated; Dead reckoning
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/16 by integrating acceleration or speed, i.e. inertial navigation

Abstract

An sensor device with high detection accuracy. The sensor device includes an angular velocity sensor for outputting an angular velocity sensing signal, an acceleration sensor for outputting an acceleration sensing signal, and an output circuit for outputting the angular velocity sensing signal and the acceleration sensing signal. The output circuit outputs signals in a digital format according to the time-division system, so as to link timewise the angular velocity sensing signal and the acceleration sensing signal detected at the same timing as one signal.

Claims

1. An sensor device comprising:

an angular velocity sensor for outputting an angular velocity sensing signal;

an acceleration sensor for outputting an acceleration sensing signal; and

an output circuit for outputting the angular velocity sensing signal and the acceleration sensing signal;

wherein the output circuit links timewise the angular velocity sensing signal and the acceleration sensing signal detected at the same timing and outputs, in a digital format according to a time division system, a linked angular velocity sensing signal and acceleration sensing signal as one signal.

2. The sensor device of claim 1, wherein the angular velocity sensor includes:

a drive circuit for outputting a drive signal that drives an angular velocity sensor element;

the angular velocity sensor element for receiving the drive signal from the drive circuit;

a first detection circuit for taking a response signal from the angular velocity sensor element; and

a first processing circuit for receiving the response signal from the first detection circuit, the first processing circuit extracting and outputting the angular velocity sensing signal from the response signal.

3. The sensor device of claim 1, wherein the acceleration sensor includes:

a bias circuit for outputting a bias signal;

an acceleration sensor element for receiving the bias signal;

a second detection circuit for taking a response signal from the acceleration sensor element; and

a second processing circuit for receiving the response signal from the second detection circuit, the second processing circuit extracting and outputting the acceleration sensing signal from the response signal.

4. The sensor device of claim 1, wherein a delay circuit is provided in one of the angular velocity sensor and the acceleration sensor.