Rate-of-rotation sensor and method for operating a rate-of-rotation sensor

• US 8,443,666 B2
• Filed: 11/10/2008
• Issued: 05/21/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Classen, Johannes, Gracki, Sebastian
• Primary Examiner(s): CHAPMAN JR, JOHN E
• Application Number:
  US12/747,846
• Publication Number:
  US 20100326188A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,653 Days
• Field of Search: 735/041.2, 735/10
• US Class Current: 73/504.12
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 19/5755 the devices having a single sensing mass

Abstract

A rate-of-rotation sensor having a substrate and a first Coriolis element are provided, an excitation arrangement being provided for the excitation of vibrations of the first Coriolis element in a first direction, a first detection arrangement being provided for detecting a first deflection of the first Coriolis element in a third direction running generally perpendicular to the first direction; characterized by the first Coriolis element being developed as balancing rocker.

Claims

1. A rate-of-rotation sensor, comprising:

a first Coriolis element, the first Coriolis element being a balancing rocker;

an excitation arrangement adapted to excite vibrations of the first Coriolis element in a first direction;

a second Coriolis element, the excitation arrangement adapted to excite vibrations of the second Coriolis element in the first direction;

a first detection arrangement to detect a first deflection of the first Coriolis element in a third direction which is perpendicular to the first direction; and

a second detection arrangement to detect a second deflection of the second Coriolis element in a second direction, which is perpendicular both to the first direction and to the third direction.

2. The rate-of-rotation sensor as recited in claim 1, wherein an axis of rotation of the balancing rocker runs parallel to a main extension plane of a substrate on which the sensor is formed, the balancing rocker having an asymmetrical mass distribution with respect to an axis of rotation, and the axis of rotation extending parallel to one of the first direction or to the second direction.

3. The rate-of-rotation sensor as recited in claim 1, wherein the first detection arrangement includes a first detection arrangement component and a further first detection arrangement component, an axis of rotation extending between the first detection arrangement component and the further first detection arrangement component.

4. The rate-of-rotation sensor as recited in claim 1, wherein the first detection arrangement includes a first detection arrangement component and a further first detection arrangement component, a plane running parallel to an axis of rotation extending between the first detection arrangement component and the further first detection arrangement component.

5. The rate-of-rotation sensor as recited in claim 1, wherein the first detection arrangement includes a first detection arrangement component and a further first detection arrangement component, a plane running parallel to the third direction extending between the first detection arrangement component and the further first detection arrangement component.

6. The rate-of-rotation sensor as recited in claim 1, wherein the first Coriolis element is affixed on a frame using first springs, the frame is fixed in place on a substrate on which the sensor is formed using third springs, and the excitation arrangement excites the frame to vibrations.

7. The rate-of-rotation sensor as recited in claim 6, wherein the first springs include torsion springs including one of slot or ladder structures, the first springs having a soft design only with respect to the torsion about the axis of rotation.

8. The rate-of-rotation sensor as recited in claim 6, further comprising:

a third detection arrangement to detect the vibration of the frame;

wherein at least one of the third detection arrangement and the excitation arrangement is a comb structure.

9. The rate-of-rotation sensor as recited in claim 6, further comprising:

at least one of first stops, second stops and third stops, the first stops to restrict a first movement of the first Coriolis element in at least one of the first, second and third direction, the second stops to restrict a second movement of the second Coriolis element in at least one of the first, second and third direction, and the third stops to restrict a third movement of the frame in at least one of the first, second, and third direction.

10. The rate-of-rotation sensor as recited in claim 6, wherein at least one of a mass distribution of the frame, a placement of the third springs, and a mirror-symmetrical design of the rate-of-rotation sensor with respect to an axis of symmetry parallel to the first direction is adapted to balance the frame with respect to the vibration.

11. The rate-of-rotation sensor as recited in claim 1, wherein the second Coriolis element is affixed on a frame using second springs, the frame is fixed in place on a substrate on which the sensor is formed using third springs, and the excitation arrangement excites the frame to vibrations.

12. The rate-of-rotation sensor as recited in claim 11, wherein at least one of the second and the third springs include meander-type U-springs, the second springs having a soft design only in the second direction, and the third springs only in the first direction.

13. The rate-of-rotation sensor as recited in claim 1, wherein the second detection arrangement is a comb structure disposed together with the second Coriolis element in a plane running parallel to a main extension plane of a substrate on which the sensor is formed.

14. The rate-of-rotation sensor as recited in claim 1, wherein the first detection arrangement is disposed in the third direction in an overlapping manner with respect to the first Coriolis element.

15. A method for operating a rate-of-rotation sensor, the sensor including a first Coriolis element, the first Coriolis element being a balancing rocker, an excitation arrangement adapted to excite vibrations of the first Coriolis element in a first direction, and a first detection arrangement to detect a first deflection of the first Coriolis element in a third direction which is perpendicular to the first direction, the sensor further including a second Coriolis element, the excitation arrangement adapted to excite vibrations of the second Coriolis element in the first direction, and a second detection arrangement to detect a second deflection of the second Coriolis element in a second direction, which is perpendicular both to the first direction and to the third direction, the method comprising:

generating, by the first detection arrangement, at least one first and one further first detection signal, the first and the further first detection signal being a function of a rotary motion of the rate-of-rotation sensor about a second axis parallel to the second direction; and

generating a second detection signal and a further second detection signal by the second detection arrangement, the second and the further second detection signal being a function of a rotary movement of the rate-of-rotation sensor about a third axis parallel to the third direction.

16. The method as recited in claim 15, wherein the first detection signal is generated by a first detection arrangement component, and the further detection signal is generated by a further detection arrangement component.

17. The method as recited in claim 15, wherein the first and the further first detection signal are analyzed differentially.

18. The method as recited in claim 15, wherein the second and the further second detection signal are analyzed differentially.