Sensor device

• US 8,393,213 B2
• Filed: 12/07/2009
• Issued: 03/12/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Panasonic Corporation (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Panasonic Corporation (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Uemura, Takeshi
• Primary Examiner(s): CHAPMAN JR, JOHN E
• Application Number:
  US12/632,122
• Publication Number:
  US 20100154539A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,191 Days
• Field of Search: 735/10, 735/040.4, 735/041.2, 735/140.1
• US Class Current: 73/510
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 19/56 Turn-sensitive devices using vibrating masses, e.g. vibratory angular rate sensors based on Coriolis forces
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/10 by using measurements of speed or acceleration G01C21/24, G01C21/26 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/16 by integrating acceleration or speed, i.e. inertial navigation
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 25/005 initial alignment, calibration or starting-up of inertial devices
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 21/00 Testing or calibrating of apparatus or devices covered by the preceding groups

Abstract

An sensor device with high detection accuracy. A time-point measurement unit is provided for measuring time-point information and adding the time-point information to an angular velocity sensing signal and an acceleration sensing signal. The angular velocity sensing signal and the acceleration sensing signal are linked by the time-point information. This structure enables output of the angular velocity sensing signal and the acceleration sensing signal linked by the time-point information. Accordingly, the angular velocity sensing signal can be accurately corrected using the acceleration sensing signal. The detection accuracy of the sensor device thus improves.

Claims

1. A sensor device comprising:

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

an acceleration sensor for outputting an acceleration sensing signal; and

a time-point measurement unit for measuring time-point information and adding the time-point information to the angular velocity sensing signal and the acceleration sensing signal independently; and

an output circuit for receiving the angular velocity sensing signal added with time-point information from the angular velocity sensor and the acceleration sensing signal added with the time-point information from the acceleration sensor, the output circuit for outputting an interlinked signal generated from the angular velocity sensing signal and the acceleration sensing signal based on the time-point information.

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;

an 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 a 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 a 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 the output circuit outputs the angular velocity sensing signal and the acceleration sensing signal in a digital format according to a time-division system.